New Findings Spiral Galaxies More Common in Early Universe than Thought
TapTechNews July 6th news, astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope discovered that in the early universe, spiral galaxies are more common than previously expected.
Scientists using the recently captured images by the Webb Space Telescope (JWST) found that about 2 billion years after the universe formed, nearly 30% of galaxies have a spiral structure.This discovery provides important insights into the cosmic origin story told previously using data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
TapTechNews translated the interview content of the co-author of this study, Associate Professor Yicheng Guo from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Missouri:
Scientists' previous consensus was that most spiral galaxies developed around 6 to 7 billion years after the universe formed.
However, our research shows that spiral galaxies were already prevalent as early as 2 billion years later. This means that the rate of galaxy formation is faster than we previously thought.
Using advanced instruments such as JWST, we can study more distant galaxies in more detail than ever before.
The spiral arms of galaxies are fundamental features that astronomers use to classify galaxies and understand how they form over time. Although we still have many questions about the past of the universe, analyzing these data helps us discover more clues and deepen our understanding of the physics that shapes the nature of the universe.
Vicki Kuhn, a graduate student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Missouri who led this study, said:
Understanding the time when spiral galaxies formed in the universe has always been a hot question in astronomy, which helps us understand the evolution and history of the universe.
Regarding how spiral arms form, there are many theoretical viewpoints, but the formation mechanisms of different types of spiral galaxies may vary.
These new information helps us better match the physical characteristics of galaxies with theories and create a more comprehensive timeline of the universe.