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Jacqueline Antwi-Danso …NSERC Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the David A. Dunlap Department for Astronomy & Astrophysics
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In the 1990s, astronomers discovered two distant, massive galaxies that had completely stopped, or quenched their star formation. The discovery marked a complete shift in everything astronomers thought they knew about how galaxies formed.
Massive galaxies like the Milky Way took several billion years to form. But those newly discovered galaxies did so in just a fraction of that time.
“The discovery meant that these galaxies were older than the age of the universe, which is physically impossible,” says Jacqueline Antwi-Danso, the NSERC Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the David A. Dunlap Department for Astronomy & Astrophysics.
“When we look at the formation histories of these distant quenched galaxies, the observations suggest that they formed too quickly and too early compared to what we see in cosmological simulations.”
Antwi-Danso is tackling one of astronomy’s biggest challenges in her search to find the earliest distant quenched galaxies in the universe. She is particularly interested in how these galaxies formed and when they stopped forming stars.
Astronomers have discovered several more distant, quenched galaxies at increasingly earlier periods in the universe’s history. These galaxies are more massive than the Milky Way and yet formed within a billion years of the Big Bang (which happened nearly 14 billion years ago). In other words, they formed their stars extremely rapidly, unlike any galaxy observed in the present-day.
So, what does this all mean for astronomers? The extreme star formation processes implied by these observations of distant quenched galaxies are uncomfortably close to the limits permitted by galaxy formation physics. Therefore, trying to understand these objects in more detail is a high priority research area for astronomers.
Massive galaxies like the Milky Way have up to a trillion stars and are characterised by luminous, spiral-like arms of active star formation. Meanwhile, distant, quenched galaxies are composed of old stars and look like relics: small orange-red blobs. This is because their light has been “stretched out” to infrared wavelengths due to the expansion of the universe, which also makes them fainter and harder to spot.
At U of T, Antwi-Danso is building on significant findings from a study she participated in as a PhD student at Texas A&M University. Using the 8-metre telescope at the Gemini South Observatory based in Chile, the FENIKS collaboration surveyed large areas of the sky to increase the chances of finding these rare massive galaxies. They designed and installed two new imaging filters on the telescope to push the boundary of what was possible with ground-based infrared telescopes. The survey led to two critical discoveries.
The first was the identification of two new distant quenched galaxies. The discovery confirmed existing knowledge about the formation histories of distant galaxies, “namely, that these galaxies form too early and too quickly based on what theory predicts,” Antwi-Danso explains.
The study also highlighted that astronomers can reliably use ground-based telescopes to observe distant quenched galaxies as far back as 12.5 billion years into history of the universe. To detect them at earlier times than this, space-based data is required.
Additionally, astronomers are rethinking long-standing models of galaxy formation as they observe distant quenched galaxies with supermassive black holes at their centers emitting energetic radiation.
This is important, Antwi-Danso says, because the differing models for light emission from stars and supermassive black holes can affect estimates of the physical properties of these distant galaxies.
As more questions arise, there is an increasing need to ensure the accuracy of the physical properties of distant quenched galaxies derived from modeling their observations. Fortunately, there have been significant technological advancements to address this need.
Harnessing the power of space-based technology
The next stages of Antwi-Danso’s research involve further exploration of those two distant galaxies she discovered from Chile. To do so, she’s leveraging the power of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Distant galaxies are hard to detect because their emitted light is shifted to infrared wavelengths, where the earth’s atmosphere blocks most of the light. The sky in the infrared is about 10,000 times brighter than the typical distant massive galaxy. This makes it extremely difficult to detect the most distant quenched galaxies using ground-based telescopes.
The JWST – which launched in December 2021 – is about 100 times more sensitive than the largest ground-based infrared telescopes and can observe galaxies in a fraction of the time of its predecessors.
In fact, it has doubled the number of spectroscopic observations of the most distant, quenched galaxies within only two years of operation. Before its launch, astronomers had spectra of only 35 of these galaxies observed within the first two billion years of the universe’s history.
To further observe those two galaxies, Antwi-Danso will use data from the JWST to examine their spectra – the light emitted by these galaxies over a range of wavelengths – which can reveal information like chemical composition. Insights will help provide a more accurate understanding of their formation histories to compare with updated cosmology simulations, and, hopefully, offer new answers about possible tensions between theory and observations.
Additionally, Antwi-Danso is part of the Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS), a multi-institutional collaboration that uses gravitational lensing — a phenomenon where a massive object acts as a cosmic magnifying glass — to study the building blocks of the earliest galaxies.
Within that collaboration, Antwi-Danso is also a researcher on the Technicolor Survey, which employs multiple filters on the JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera to observe quenched galaxies at wavelengths that are inaccessible from the ground.
“We want to find galaxies that contain the first generations of stars, and then model their observations with galaxy formation models to infer their physical properties and star formation histories,” Antwi-Danso says.
With the technological advantages provided by the JWST to push the boundaries of distant galaxy observations, Antwi-Danso’s research will provide valuable insight into understanding how early galaxies came to be.
“We’re really excited to see where the results lead and to compare those observations with current theoretical predictions for these distant massive galaxies.”
For nearly a year, one of the most revered stools in the Asante Kingdom remained vacant, leaving a quiet but unmistakable sense of expectation hanging over the Manhyia Palace.
Every sitting of Asanteman Council, every major traditional ceremony, and every conversation within royal circles carried the same lingering question: Who would become the next Asantehemaa?
Last Monday, that long wait finally gave way to certainty and historic celebration.
In a development warmly received across the length and breadth of the Asante Kingdom, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, formally accepted the nomination and welcomed the newly enstooled Asantehemaa in a grand ceremony steeped in age-old tradition at the Manhyia Palace.
Born Margaret Serebour, the 79-year-old retired educationist has ascended the revered Kusiamoah Stool. She has been enstooled under the stool name Nana Yaa Akyaa II, officially becoming the 15th Asantehemaa in the rich history of the Asante Kingdom.
The historic enstoolment marks the end of months of quiet consultations and meticulous traditional processes following the passing of Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III in August 2025.
Since her demise, the prestigious office of Asantehemaa—one of the highest traditional institutions in Ghana—had remained vacant, with Asanteman patiently awaiting the customary selection of a worthy successor.
Nana Yaa Akyaa II brings an impeccable and deeply historic royal pedigree to the stool.
She is a direct granddaughter of Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh I, the legendary Asante monarch who, alongside Nana Yaa Asantewaa, was exiled to the Seychelles islands by the British after the Anglo-Asante War.
Furthermore, she is a niece of Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II and a biological sister of the late Nana Akwasi Agyemang, the prominent, long-serving former Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.
A devout Christian, the new Queen mother is also a well-known, dedicated worshipper at the Anglican Church in AshTown, Kumasi.
Palace sources describe Nana Yaa Akyaa II as a woman widely admired within the Royal family for her humility, patience, calm disposition, and unique ability to unite people.
These qualities are regarded as essential for the occupant of an office that seamlessly blends moral authority, cultural stewardship, and traditional leadership.
An opinion leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that Manhyia is once again witnessing a moment of profound historical and cultural significance—one that closes a chapter of waiting and opens a vibrant new page in the centuries-old story of the Asante Kingdom.
Within the constitutional and cultural framework of the Asante Kingdom, the Asantehemaa occupies a position second only to the Asantehene.
She serves as the ultimate custodian of the royal matrilineal lineage and bears the singular responsibility of nominating a successor to the Golden Stool whenever the throne becomes vacant.
Beyond her critical role in succession, she operates as a trusted co-ruler and adviser to the Asantehene, acts as the ultimate leader of women in Asanteman, and serves as a vital arbiter in family and customary disputes.
With her formal customary rites completed on Thursday, July 9, and her acceptance by the Asantehene finalised, Nana Yaa Akyaa II begins her historic reign, anchoring the ancient traditions of Asanteman into a modern era.
The development also paves the way for the preparation of the final funeral rites of the late Nana Yaa Konadu Yiadom III, as ‘Dote Yie’ had already been observed.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The Member of Parliament for Damongo and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has called for stronger environmental legislation to enable African countries to fully benefit from nature-based solutions while building climate resilience, creating jobs and promoting sustainable economic growth.
He said although several African countries, including Ghana, had made significant progress in developing policies to protect the environment and promote carbon markets, stronger legal backing was needed to ensure their long-term implementation and attract greater investment.
Mr. Jinapor made the call during a panel discussion at a public lecture organised by the Research and Innovation Directorate (RID) of the University of Ghana and the Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA) to commemorate the 2026 Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA) at the Cedi Conference Centre of the university on Tuesday.
Speaking on the theme, “Africa at a Crossroads: Can Nature-Based Solutions Deliver Climate Resilience, Jobs, Equity and Justice?”, Mr. Jinapor stressed that research should not remain in academic journals but must influence public policy and national development.
He said research should also be linked to business and financing so that scientific discoveries could be transformed into practical solutions that improved livelihoods and generated economic value.
According to him, governments across Africa must demonstrate political commitment by establishing policies and regulatory systems that would enable their countries to benefit from the growing global market for nature-based solutions.
Mr. Jinapor said Ghana had already taken important steps by developing a national framework for carbon trading, creating opportunities for communities to benefit financially from environmental conservation.
He disclosed that the country had successfully distributed about five million dollars through a benefit-sharing arrangement under its carbon market programme to support local communities and researchers.
The former Lands and Natural Resources Minister also highlighted Ghana’s achievements in responsible forest management, noting that the country was among the first in the world, alongside Indonesia, to issue Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licences for legally sourced timber exported to international markets.
He said successive governments had continued to strengthen environmental policies and expand certified forest resources to meet international standards.
Contributing to the discussion, the Regional Director for West and Central Africa of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Mr. Balla Moussa Sidibé, said Africa’s future depended on protecting and restoring nature rather than exploiting it for short-term economic gains.
He described climate change as one of the continent’s biggest development challenges, affecting agriculture, food security, water resources, livelihoods and economic growth.
According to him, forests, wetlands, mangroves and healthy soils were strategic natural assets capable of reducing climate risks, improving food security and creating sustainable jobs if properly managed.
Mr. Sidibé cited the Congo Basin as one of the world’s most important ecosystems because of its role in storing carbon, conserving biodiversity and regulating rainfall, saying its protection was critical not only for Africa but for the global climate.
He called for increased investment in ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture, ecotourism and other green sectors to create employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
Other panelists called for stronger collaboration among universities, governments and research institutions across Africa, arguing that countries facing similar environmental challenges should share knowledge and expertise instead of working in isolation.
They also stressed the need for trust, transparency and fairness in research partnerships to ensure the benefits of collaboration were shared equitably.
Touching on Monday’s floods in parts of Accra, the panelists said years of wetland destruction and poor land-use planning had significantly worsened flooding in the capital.
They explained that wetlands such as the Densu Delta and Sakumo Ramsar sites naturally absorb floodwaters and protect biodiversity but had come under increasing pressure from encroachment and degradation.
The Director of the Research and Innovation Directorate of the University of Ghana, Professor David Dodoo-Arhin, said the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa had become an important platform for promoting research, innovation and partnerships that addressed Africa’s development challenges.
He urged government, industry and academia to deepen collaboration to ensure research produced practical solutions that improved livelihoods and supported sustainable development.
He urged African governments to invest more in nature-based solutions, strengthen environmental laws and translate research into practical policies capable of building climate-resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies for future generations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
