Indian astrophysicist Dr Ronaldo Laishram has led the discovery of the ancient Loktak Protocluster, a massive early-universe galaxy structure dating back about 12.6 billion years, providing key insights into galaxy formation and cosmic evolution.

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• Indian scientist Dr Ronaldo Laishram led the discovery of the Loktak Protocluster, an ancient galaxy cluster forming in the early universe.
• The structure is about 12.6 billion years old, when the universe was nearly 1.2 billion years old.
• It is described as a “city of galaxies,” where young galaxies are still forming and clustering under gravity.
• The discovery helps scientists understand how galaxies evolve in dense environments compared to isolated regions.
• It was observed using advanced instruments like the Subaru Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
• The protocluster provides insights into dark matter distribution, star formation, and cosmic web development.
• It was named after Loktak Lake in Manipur, symbolising interconnected floating structures similar to galaxy clusters.
• The research was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, confirming its scientific validation.