STRANGE SIX

SIX GALAXIES THAT STUMPED THE WORLD

These 6 galaxies are too big to exist according to our understanding of the formation of the universe. Read on to find out plausible theories about galaxies!

RETHINKING

The James Webb Space Telescope discovered galaxies that are simply too big and well formed- much like the Milky Way- to exist. It is estimated that they may have formed about 500 to 700 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was just 3% of its current age. However, as of our understanding, cosmologists and astronomers claim this feat to be impossible since galaxies need time to mature. Hence, are scientists missing crucial stages regarding the evolution of the universe?

Given the name “Universe Breakers”, they challenge our beliefs as these six strange galaxies, could be a 100 billion times the size of the sun and thus debunk our previous understanding of the universe. Findings suggest that the dark ages, a period when the universe cooled down and gas coalesced to form stars and galaxies, may not have been as dark as we thought.

OR?

These 6 galaxies could very well be blackholes or other cosmological objects that we were unaware existed. Thus, teams plan to observe spectrum images to confirm the discovery and revise existing models.

FORMATION OF GALAXIES

Following the big bang, matter in the universe spread out more and more thinly over time. Gravity, at the same time, pulled this diffused matter into denser clumps, which as a result ( in some cases ) was strong enough to pull in more matter to make it grow. As these clumps increased in mass, size and density, so did its own gravitational force. Through this process, the first proto-galaxies were able to form within the first 100,000 years of the universe. Next, in the evolution of galaxies, comes a conflict between the “top-down” and “bottom-up” theories.

Top-down

The first clumps to collapse took the form of giant gas clouds which were comparable in total mass to present day galaxies. And these gases collapsed and density increased, some stars began forming early on before the gas had stabilised into a rotating disc. Its these stars that form an elliptical component of a galaxy. Whereas, younger stars formed inside the thinner disc component

Bottom up

Given the name of “Hierarchal Clustering Model”, this theory introduced two new factors: Dark matter and galactic mergers. Dark matter in galaxies, affect their rotation and rates; hence, playing a role in the original formation of galaxies. This theory does not assume that proto-galaxies are the same size as ones in the present day, unlike the “top-down” theory. Instead, it states that they must have been much smaller compared to those in the present since overtime galaxies have faced multiple collisions and mergers.

A PICTORIAL EVOLUTION

1. THE BIG BANG