The latest research reveals that the early galaxies in the universe were more organized and developed faster than previously believed. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers from Durham University have discovered evidence of bar formation in galaxies when the universe was just a few billion years old.
Bars, which are elongated strips of stars found in disk or spiral galaxies like our Milky Way, play a crucial role in regulating star formation within a galaxy. The presence of bars indicates that galaxies have reached a stable, mature phase in their evolution.
Unlike previous studies with the Hubble Space Telescope, the JWST’s enhanced sensitivity and wavelength range have allowed researchers to observe bar formation in galaxies even further back in time, challenging existing theories of galaxy evolution in the early universe.
Lead researcher Zoe Le Conte noted, ”The early galaxies are evolving at a much faster pace than we anticipated. The discovery of bars in galaxies at such an early stage suggests that the universe was more settled than previously believed, forcing us to reconsider our understanding of early galaxy evolution.”
2024-04-24 05:00:03
Original from phys.org