Webb Telescope Finds an Imbalance in Galaxy Rotations: What Could It Mean?
Sam Veiner – April 11, 2025
Kansas University researcher finds a puzzling fact about our universe. Seemingly, about two-thirds of galaxies maintain clockwise rotational velocity, and about on-third rotate counter-clockwise (relative to the milky way). This may seem like an astronomical anomaly, maybe a result of large sample-size, and pure chance. However, the large sample size of galaxies, 263 examined, made by the James Webb Telescope points to a phenomenon which is not quite understood.
“The analysis of the galaxies was done by quantitative analysis of their shapes, but the difference is so obvious that any person looking at the image can see it,” Shamir, the Kansas researcher stated. “There is no need for special skills or knowledge to see that the numbers are different. With the power of the James Webb Space Telescope, anyone can see it.”
The leading theories about the rotational imbalance vary. Some scientists, such as theoretical physicist Nikodem Poplawski claim a novel theory. “A preferred axis in our universe, inherited by the axis of rotation of its parent black hole, might have influenced the rotation dynamics of galaxies, creating the observed clockwise-counterclockwise asymmetry,” A theory that the universe was birthed with an intrinsic rotational momentum gained from its formation in a black hole is leading in the community, but more evidence is needed to garner widespread support for the idea.
Other scientists are skeptical of Poplawski claim. The doppler shift may overrepresent galaxies rotating in the same direction as the milky way in the study, due to the Brighter appearance of said galaxies. Whether the doppler shift is enough to resolve the two-thirds difference is unconfirmed.
Credits: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/james-webb-space-telescope-reveals-that-most-galaxies-rotate-clockwise-180986224/ | https://www.nikodempoplawski.com/ | https://phys.org/news/2025-03-puzzling-jwst-galaxies-deep-universe.html | https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/538/1/76/8019798?login=false
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