Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the universe, revealing a massive cosmic filament approximately 50 million light years long that is spinning. This filament, a vast structure made up of galaxies and dark matter, serves as a framework for smaller cosmic formations, significantly influencing the evolution of galaxies within it.
A team of researchers led by the University of Oxford identified a remarkably thin line of 14 hydrogen-rich galaxies measuring just 5.5 million light years in length but only 117,000 light years wide. This slender arrangement is embedded within the larger cosmic filament, which contains over 280 galaxies in total.
Unique Motion of the Structure
What sets this discovery apart is not only the filament’s immense size but also its distinct motion. The galaxies are not randomly aligned; many are spinning in the same direction as the filament itself. Analysis of the movement of galaxies on either side of the filament’s central spine shows that they move in opposite directions, a clear indicator of the entire structure’s rotation. Researchers estimate a rotation velocity of 110 kilometres per second and a radius for the filament’s dense core of approximately 163,000 light years.
This dual motion—individual galaxies spinning while the entire structure rotates—provides significant insights into the mechanics of angular momentum acquisition in galaxies. Current theories propose that galaxies primarily gain their spin through interactions with their surrounding environments. However, this discovery suggests that large-scale rotation may have a more profound impact on galaxy spins than previously understood.
Implications for Understanding Cosmic Structures
The filament appears to be in an early stage of evolution, characterized by an abundance of gas-rich galaxies and low internal motion—a condition astronomers refer to as “dynamically cold.” This state indicates that the filament remains relatively undisturbed since its formation. The hydrogen-rich galaxies within this structure are particularly valuable for studying gas flow along cosmic filaments. Atomic hydrogen, the essential fuel for star formation, is sensitive to motion, making it an excellent indicator of how material funnels through these routes into galaxies.
This significant discovery resulted from a collaborative effort that combined data from South Africa’s MeerKAT Radio Telescope with optical observations from various surveys mapping the Cosmic Web. This multi-wavelength approach allowed scientists to reveal the coherent spin alignment of the galaxies and the bulk rotation of the filament, highlighting the efficacy of using multiple telescopes to uncover phenomena that would remain hidden from a single observational source.
Overall, this finding not only enhances our understanding of cosmic structures but also raises intriguing questions about the mechanisms driving galaxy formation and evolution across the universe.
