Unexpected Discovery: Galaxies Resemble Bananas
Astrophysics research using the James Webb space telescope has revealed stunning new insights into the form of early galaxies. Contrary to expectations of discs or spheres, these young galaxies bear a striking resemblance to bananas, cigars, and surfboards. A group of scientists who analyzed images captured by the telescope during the dawn of time have come to this intriguing conclusion[source].
ViRAZH PANDYA, a postdoctoral researcher at Colombian University and the lead author of the study, describes this finding as both amazing and unexpected. It builds upon previous observations made with the Hubble telescope, which hinted at similar phenomena. The upcoming publication of the scientists’ work in the Astrophysical Journal, titled “Galaxies are bananas,” has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the formation and growth of galaxies[source].
This groundbreaking discovery may also provide insights into the mysterious nature of dark matter, which constitutes a significant portion of the universe, yet remains elusive and invisible[source].
The researchers conducted an analysis of galaxy images in an area of the sky known as the Extended Groth Strip. They intend to expand their observations to other extensively studied regions of space. This will enable them to identify galaxies with diverse three-dimensional forms and conduct further spectroscopic observations[source].
According to prevailing theories, galaxies were seeded by random fluctuations in matter and energy density during a massive explosion. With its immense mirror and infrared sensors, the Webb telescope has the capability to observe the most distant and, therefore, earliest galaxies[source].
The researchers emphasize that they frequently observe cigar and banana-shaped galaxies rather than round or disk-like ones. These elongated forms are scarce in the present era but account for up to 80% of the galaxies in the CEERS sample, covering approximately 500 million years after the Big Bang