Manashimaya
Astronomers have once again been astounded by the discovery of a massive spiral galaxy by the James Webb Space Telescope, which contradicts accepted theories of cosmic evolution. This galaxy, known as the “Big Wheel,” was seen as it appeared only two billion years after the Big Bang, which is a remarkably small period in cosmic chronology. However, its enormous size calls into question all of the theories that astronomers had about how galaxies develop.
Spanning nearly 98,000 light-years across—comparable to our Milky Way—the Big Wheel’s presence in the early universe is baffling. Given that the Milky Way has had an additional 10 billion years to grow, discovering such a vast galaxy at such an early stage raises fundamental questions about the nature of cosmic evolution. How could a galaxy reach such a size so quickly?
Astronomers believe the answer may lie in the Big Wheel’s exceptionally dense surroundings. It exists in a region of space where galaxies are packed 10 times more densely than usual. This crowded environment likely facilitated rapid growth through mergers, yet these interactions were gentle enough to preserve its spiral structure. Additionally, the gas fueling the galaxy’s expansion appears to have aligned perfectly with its rotation, allowing it to grow without major disruptions.
The discovery of the Big Wheel was a rare event, with researchers estimating a less than two percent chance of finding such a galaxy. Now, astronomers are eager to identify more massive galaxies from the early universe to determine whether the Big Wheel is a true anomaly—or if it necessitates a complete reevaluation of galaxy formation theories.
