Recent findings using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have upended our understanding of galaxy formation, revealing that spiral galaxies were more prevalent in the early universe than previously thought. This challenges earlier timelines of galaxy development and suggests that the process occurred faster than previously believed.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are delving into the past to uncover new insights about the early universe. Given that light takes vast amounts of time to traverse space, they can now observe what galaxies looked like billions of years ago.
A new study by Mizzou researchers has shown that spiral galaxies were more common in the early universe than earlier theories suggested.
“Scientists previously believed that most spiral galaxies developed around 6 to 7 billion years after the universe formed,” said Yicheng Guo, an associate professor in Mizzou’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and co-author of the study. “However, our study indicates that spiral galaxies were already prevalent as early as 2 billion years after the universe’s formation. This means galaxy formation happened more rapidly than we once thought.”
Understanding Spiral Galaxy Formation
This insight could significantly advance our understanding of how spiral galaxies, such as our own Milky Way, have evolved over time.
“Determining when spiral galaxies formed in the universe is a critical question in astronomy because it helps us understand the evolution and history of the cosmos,” said Vicki Kuhn, a graduate student in Mizzou’s Department of Physics and Astronomy who led the study. “Numerous theories exist about how spiral arms are formed, but the mechanisms can vary among different types of spiral galaxies. This new information allows us to better correlate the physical properties of galaxies with theoretical models, thereby creating a more detailed cosmic timeline.”
Enhancing Knowledge With Advanced Technology
Using recent images from NASA’s JWST, the researchers discovered that about 30% of galaxies had a spiral structure around 2 billion years after the universe’s formation. This discovery updates the previously understood narrative of the universe’s origin, which was largely based on data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.
Studying distant galaxies with JWST gives scientists like Guo and Kuhn the chance to piece together the cosmic puzzle by interpreting these new findings.
“Advanced instruments like the JWST enable us to study distant galaxies in greater detail than ever before,” said Guo. “A galaxy’s spiral arms are crucial features used by astronomers to classify galaxies and understand their formation over time. Although many questions about the universe’s past remain, analyzing this data helps us uncover additional clues and enhances our understanding of the physics that shaped our universe.”