Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
New JWST data reveals a shocking imbalance in galaxy spins — two-thirds of deep space galaxies rotate the same way, defying expectations of a random universe.
If galaxies mostly spin one way, did the universe itself begin rotating? This bold idea could challenge everything we know about cosmic origins, says researcher Lior Shamir.
Credit: NASA
Analyzing 263 galaxies, Shamir found a stunning rotational bias, so clear that even non-experts can see the pattern in JWST’s breathtaking images.
Credit: NASA
In a random universe, galaxies should spin equally clockwise and counterclockwise — but JWST shows a surprising cosmic preference, raising big questions.
Credit: NASA
One theory suggests the universe is inside a giant black hole, explaining its spin — an idea that would rewrite the rules of cosmology if proven true.
Another possible cause? The Doppler effect — light from galaxies spinning opposite to the Milky Way appears brighter, skewing what we see from Earth.
If Doppler effects are the cause, our cosmic distance measurements could be wrong, forcing astronomers to rethink the universe’s expansion rate and age estimates.
Recalibrating distances could explain why some galaxies seem older than the universe itself, solving one of cosmology’s most puzzling contradictions.
Representative pic
Whether due to cosmic spin or observational bias, this discovery shakes the foundations of physics, pointing to deep flaws or gaps in current cosmology.
Credit: NASA, ESA