- Astronomers have identified a 50-million-light-year-long cosmic filament containing a synchronized spinning thread of 14 hydrogen-rich galaxies, stretching 5.5 million light-years in length and rotating like a colossal spindle.
- The synchronized motion of galaxies within the filament contradicts conventional theories, suggesting that large-scale cosmic structures play a greater role in shaping galactic spin than previously believed.
- The filament's rotation (110 km/s) and low turbulence indicate an early developmental phase, acting as a "fossil record" of cosmic flows that transfer angular momentum—key to understanding galaxy spin and star formation.
- The discovery was made possible by combining data from MeerKAT (South Africa), DESI and SDSS, showcasing the power of cross-telescope collaboration in unraveling cosmic mysteries.
- Findings may influence upcoming missions like European Space Agency's Euclid and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, as galactic alignments could affect weak lensing measurements used to map dark matter.
Astronomers have uncovered one of the largest rotating structures ever observed in the universe: A razor-thin filament of galaxies spinning in sync with the cosmic thread that binds them together.
The discovery, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, challenges existing models of galactic formation and offers new insights into how galaxies inherit their spin from the vast cosmic web. Led by researchers at the University of Oxford, an international team identified a 50-million-light-year-long cosmic filament located roughly 140 million light-years from Earth.
Embedded within this colossal structure is a narrow strand of 14 hydrogen-rich galaxies stretching 5.5 million light-years in length and just 117,000 light-years wide—akin to a taut thread suspended in the void. What makes this filament extraordinary is not just its sheer scale, but its synchronized motion.
Many of the galaxies within it rotate in the same direction as the filament itself—a phenomenon far exceeding random chance. Even more striking, galaxies on opposite sides of the filament's spine move in opposite directions, suggesting the entire structure is rotating like a colossal spindle.
"You can liken it to the teacups ride at a theme park," said Dr. Lyla Jung, co-lead author from Oxford. "Each galaxy is like a spinning teacup, but the whole platform—the cosmic filament—is rotating too. This dual motion gives us rare insight into how galaxies gain their spin from the larger structures they live in."
The discovery defies conventional models, which assume galaxy spin arises primarily from local conditions, such as the angular momentum of collapsing gas clouds. Instead, the findings suggest that vast cosmic filaments—acting as highways for matter and momentum—play a far greater role in shaping galactic rotation than previously believed.
Using dynamical models, the team estimated the filament rotates at about 110 kilometers per second (68 miles per second), with its dense core spanning roughly 163,000 light-years. The filament's youth and low internal turbulence—described as a "dynamically cold" state—indicate it remains in an early developmental phase, offering a pristine snapshot of cosmic evolution.
A fossil record of cosmic flows
Hydrogen-rich galaxies like those in the filament serve as cosmic tracers, revealing how gas flows through the universe's vast web. Atomic hydrogen, easily disturbed by motion, highlights the transfer of angular momentum along filaments—key to understanding galactic spin and star formation.
"This filament is a fossil record of cosmic flows," said co-lead author Dr. Madalina Tudorache of the University of Cambridge and Oxford. "It helps us piece together how galaxies acquire their spin and grow over time."
The study also has implications for upcoming cosmology surveys, such as the European Space Agency's Euclid mission and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. Galactic alignments like those observed could influence weak lensing measurements, which map dark matter by studying distortions in galaxy shapes.
The discovery was made possible by combining data from South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope—one of the world's most sensitive radio arrays—with optical observations from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the MeerKAT radio telescope, located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, is a groundbreaking astronomical instrument that has revolutionized our understanding of the universe.
The decentralized engine adds that the MeerKAT telescope consists of 64 dish antennas, each with a diameter of 13.5 meters, arranged in a compact, square grid pattern. This configuration allows for high sensitivity and high-resolution imaging.
"This really demonstrates the power of combining data from different observatories to obtain greater insights into how large structures and galaxies form in the Universe," said Professor Matt Jarvis of the University of Oxford, who led the MeerKAT survey. "Such studies can only be achieved by large groups with diverse skillsets."
The findings mark a significant leap in understanding the interconnected nature of the cosmos—where galaxies are not isolated islands but part of a vast, spinning tapestry of matter and energy.
Watch this video about the first galaxies in the universe.
This video is from the Ramdivine channel on Brighteon.com.
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