{"id":458922,"date":"2025-12-20T00:55:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T00:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/458922\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T00:55:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T00:55:15","slug":"unprecedented-discovery-astronomers-find-largest-spinning-structure-in-the-universe-that-defies-models","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/458922\/","title":{"rendered":"Unprecedented discovery: astronomers find largest spinning structure in the Universe that defies models"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new study has revealed something extraordinary at the heart of the cosmic web: a massive chain of galaxies, 140 million light-years away, all rotating in perfect sync. The finding challenges long-held theories about how galaxies form and move\u2014and could reshape our understanding of how the Universe evolved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the research comes from an international team led by the University of Oxford. Their work describes a chain of galaxies embedded in a spinning cosmic filament\u2014the largest rotating structure ever observed. Based on dynamic models, the team calculated a rotation speed of about 110 km per second.<\/p>\n

The Universe\u2019s cosmic scaffolding<\/p>\n

Cosmic filaments are the biggest known structures in existence. Made up of galaxies and dark<\/strong> matter<\/strong><\/a>, they form the vast network of threads\u2014often called the \u201ccosmic web\u201d\u2014that shapes the large-scale structure of the Universe. These filaments act like highways, carrying matter and energy toward galaxies. Studying them helps scientists understand how galaxies acquire both their spin and the gas<\/strong> they need to form stars.<\/p>\n

Discovery of a spinning chain of galaxies<\/p>\n

In this case, the researchers identified a line of 14 hydrogen-rich galaxies stretching 5.5 million light-years long and 117,000 light-years wide, all within a larger filament spanning 50 million light-years. The same structure contains more than 280 galaxies.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s most remarkable is that most of these galaxies<\/strong><\/a> rotate in the same direction as the filament itself\u2014a phenomenon that current models can\u2019t fully explain.<\/p>\n

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NEW: Researchers have found a \u2018razor-thin\u2019 string of galaxies rotating together inside a giant cosmic filament 140 million light-years away \u2013 one of the largest spinning structures ever seen.<\/p>\n

Find out more \u2b07\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/DsQKGTPibj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) December 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What it means for galaxy formation<\/p>\n

The discovery suggests that the flow of matter through cosmic filaments may influence galaxy rotation far more than previously thought\u2014and for a much longer time. The young, gas-rich galaxies studied here are still forming stars, offering scientists a rare opportunity to observe galactic evolution in progress.<\/p>\n

This breakthrough gives astronomers a clearer picture of how galaxies gain their rotation and evolve within the grand architecture of the cosmos. It\u2019s a major step forward in understanding the forces that have shaped the Universe<\/strong><\/a> since its earliest days.<\/p>\n

Dr. Lyla Jung, co-lead author of the study and a physicist at Oxford, explains it this way: \u201cWhat makes this structure so extraordinary isn\u2019t just its size\u2014it\u2019s the way everything spins together. Imagine a carousel of teacups at an amusement park. Each galaxy spins like a teacup, but the entire platform\u2014the cosmic filament\u2014is rotating too. That dual motion gives us an unprecedented glimpse into how galaxies inherit their spin from the larger structures around them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The research relied on data from South Africa\u2019s 64-antenna MeerKAT<\/strong> radio telescope, combined with other radio and optical observations. Together, these insights offer the most detailed look yet at the complex structure and movement of the cosmic web.<\/p>\n

\"decourt-remy\"<\/p>\n

R\u00e9my Decourt<\/p>\n

Journalist<\/p>\n

Born shortly after Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon in 1969, my journey into space exploration has been entirely self-taught. A military stay in Mururoa sparked my formal education in space sciences, and early sky-watching experiences in an astronomy club ignited my passion. I founded flashespace.com, transitioning from sky observation to a deep interest in space missions, satellites, and human and robotic exploration. Since 2010, I’ve been part of Futura’s editorial team, covering space news and working as a freelance writer with extensive international field experience in space-related sites.<\/p>\n

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