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The universe has many secrets, and the new find made by astronomers has left researchers looking for explanations. A giant spiral galaxy, referred to as the Big Wheel, has been discovered with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and it seems to contradict all current models of the formation of galaxies.
At just two billion years old, the Big Wheel is already 98,000 light-years across—roughly the same size as the Milky Way, which has had over 13 billion years to grow. This is a very important question: How did this galaxy get so big so fast?
Here we will deconstruct all you should know about this revolutionary find, how it revolutionizes our theory of the universe’s early formation, and what scientists think could be behind this surprising cosmic anomaly.
What is the Big Wheel Galaxy?
A Galaxy That Shouldn’t Exist
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have found a never-before-seen spiral galaxy that shouldn’t exist according to current scientific models.
- The Big Wheel galaxy is estimated to be two billion years old.
- It measures 98,000 light-years across, the same size as our home galaxy, the Milky Way.
- Galaxies of this size were not expected to form so early in the universe’s history.
Why is This Discovery Shocking?
Our understanding of galaxy formation suggests that large galaxies take billions of years to grow. The fact that the Big Wheel already reached such an enormous size so early in the universe’s evolution is something that scientists cannot yet explain.
According to Themiya Nanayakkara, an astronomer at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia:
“The Milky Way has had an extra 10 billion years to grow compared to the Big Wheel, so finding such a massive galaxy at such an early stage in the universe is surprising.”
This means that the Big Wheel is the largest two-billion-year-old galaxy ever discovered, making it an extreme outlier in cosmic history.
How Did the Big Wheel Galaxy Grow So Fast?
Astronomers have been busy developing theories to account for the Big Wheel’s surprising size and shape since its discovery.
1. The Rapid Merger Theory
One possible explanation is that the Big Wheel didn’t grow slowly over billions of years, but instead formed through a series of rapid galaxy mergers.
- Merging galaxies can combine their stars, gas, and dark matter to form larger galaxies in a short period.
- The Big Wheel may have merged with multiple smaller galaxies in quick succession.
- This process could have allowed it to reach its current massive size much faster than expected.
Nanayakkara explains:
“If this were just one unusual case, it wouldn’t be a big deal for our theories. But if we keep discovering more galaxies like this, we may need to rethink our understanding of how galaxies form and grow.”
2. A Densely Packed Cosmic Neighborhood
Another factor that could have helped the Big Wheel grow so quickly is its location in a very dense part of the universe.
- Researchers discovered that in the Big Wheel’s area of the universe, galaxies are 10 times more densely packed than elsewhere in the universe.
- This density could have caused galaxy mergers to be more common and rapid, accelerating the Big Wheel’s development.
- However, despite these collisions, the Big Wheel managed to maintain its spiral structure, which is very unusual for galaxies that grow through mergers.
3. Perfectly Aligned Gas Flow
One more key factor in the Big Wheel’s rapid growth could be how gas and matter flowed into the galaxy.
- In many galaxies, too many chaotic mergers can disrupt the spiral structure.
- However, in the case of the Big Wheel, the incoming gas must have been perfectly aligned with its rotation, helping it grow quickly without getting destabilized.
- This unusual alignment, scientists say, could have been the “perfect combination” that enabled the galaxy to expand so rapidly.
Why This Discovery Matters
The Big Wheel galaxy pushes all we have learned about how galaxies form. If additional galaxies similar to this one are discovered, scientists could be forced to revise their ideas about how the early universe progressed.
1. A More Complex Early Universe
- Astronomers previously thought that the early universe was mostly populated by small, irregular galaxies that would take billions of years to grow.
- However, the Big Wheel suggests that massive galaxies may have formed much earlier than expected.
- This could mean the early universe was much more dynamic than we previously believed.
2. Redoing Galaxy Development Theories
- he Big Wheel’s discovery might compel researchers to rethink current beliefs about how galaxies develop.
If more such galaxies are found, researchers may need to develop new models that account for rapid galaxy growth through mergers and aligned gas inflow. - This might transform our understanding of the universe and how galaxies such as the Milky Way were created.
3. The James Webb Space Telescope
- The James Webb Space Telescope has been crucial in making this discovery possible.
- Unlike older telescopes, JWST can see deeper into space and further back in time.
- This allows scientists to study galaxies from the universe’s earliest days and uncover surprises like the Big Wheel.
