Scientists spot the largest-known rotating structure in the cosmos
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Researchers have discovered something extraordinary – a huge thread of galaxies, gas and dark matter, that are twisting around as though they are caught up in a slow-motion cosmic tornado and it could reveal how the MilkyWay was formed. The thread-like assembly, makes up a filament in the macrostructure of the universe called the cosmic web and sits around 140 million light-years from Earth. It was observed by scientists primarily using the MeerKAT radio telescope located in South Africa, which is an array of 64 interlinked satellite dishes. (Picture: Miguel Medina/ AFP via Getty Images)
What is Dark Matter?
Everything we see around us is made up of ordinary matter – stars, planets, moons and all the stuff on Earth. It can be seen in wavelengths from the infrared to visible light and gamma rays, but comprises only about 5% of the universe. However, dark matter does not absorb or reflect or emit light, but its presence is known through its gravitational effects on large scales. (Picture: Getty)
The discovery is huge, measuring about 50 million light-years long and 117,000 light-years wide. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles. Our Milky Way galaxy, is part of a filament in the cosmic web, measures roughly 100,000 light-years in diameter, as means of comparison. Researchers, in their new study, say the structure is populated by nearly 300 galaxies of various sizes as well as gas and dark matter, the mysterious invisible stuff estimated to make up 27% of the cosmos. (Picture: Lyla Jung)
Astrophysicist Dr Madalina Tudorache, co-lead author of the study, said: ‘We believe that the universe on very large scales is made of a network-like distribution of galaxies, gas and dark matter. This network is called the cosmic web, and it is formed of clusters, which are very dense clumps of matter, often formed of many groups of galaxies; voids – which are empty or almost empty regions of space; and filaments, which are strand-like structures which connect the very dense regions and border the voids.’ (Picture: Getty)
In the new study, the researchers found 14 nearby galaxies rich in hydrogen gas. This structure sits inside a much larger cosmic filament containing over 280 other galaxies. Many of these galaxies appear to be spinning in the same direction as the filament itself, far more than if the pattern of galaxy spins was random. The researchers say that the galaxies on either side of the filament’s spine are moving in opposite directions, suggesting that the entire structure is rotating. (Picture: Getty)
The researchers likened what they see in this filament to the amusement park attraction kown as a teacup ride. Co-lead Dr Lyla Jung said: ‘What makes this structure exceptional is not just its size, but the combination of spin alignment and rotational motion. You can liken it to the teacups ride at a theme park. 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.’ (Picture: Getty)
This is also one of the largest spinning structures we have seen. Dr Jung continued: ‘This is the largest individual spinning structure so far detected. Statistically, we believe there are other spinning structures, some of which could be larger. However, we have not been able to detect them directly with our current data and telescopes.’ The researchers also say this filament appears to be a young, relatively undisturbed structure. They say that its large number of gas-rich galaxies and low internal motion, known as a dynamically cold state, suggest it’s still in an early stage of development. (Picture: Getty)
