Comparing the spectrum to that of Markarian 231, another ULIRG, showed that it had 50 times the water vapor of that galaxy. This made it the largest mass of water in the known universe—100 trillion times more water than that held in all of Earth's oceans combined. Its discovery shows that water has been prevalent in the known universe for nearly its entire existence; the radiation was emitted 1.6 billion years after the Big Bang.
Comparing the spectrum to that of Markarian 231, another ULIRG, revealed it had 50 times more water vapor than that galaxy. This made it the largest mass of water in the known universe—100 trillion times more water than all Earth's oceans combined. Its discovery indicates that water has been widespread throughout the universe for nearly its entire existence; the radiation was emitted 1.6 billion years after the Big Bang.