Webb space telescope finds a giant galaxy that doesn’t spin

Webb space telescope finds a giant galaxy that doesn’t spin | ScienceDaily Science News from research organizations Webb space telescope finds a giant galaxy that doesn’t spin Date: May 7, 2026 Source: University of California - Davis Summary: Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have spotted something that shouldn’t exist—at least not so early in the universe. A massive galaxy, formed less than 2 billion years after the Big Bang, appears to have no rotation at all, a trait usually seen only in much older, evolved galaxies. This challenges current theories that young galaxies should still be spinning from their formation. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY A giant ancient galaxy that mysteriously doesn’t spin is rewriting what we thought we knew about how galaxies form. Credit: AI/ScienceDaily.com Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have uncovered an unexpected feature in a distant, early galaxy. Despite forming when the universe was still very young, this galaxy shows no signs of rotation. That behavior is typically seen only in very large, mature galaxies much closer to Earth, explained Ben Forrest, a research scientist in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Davis, and lead author of a study published May 4 in Nature Astronomy . "This one in particular did not show any evidence of rotation, which was surprising and very interesting," Forrest said. Why Galaxies Are Expected to Spin Current models suggest that galaxies begin spinning as they form. Gas flowing inward and the pull of gravity create angular momentum, setting these systems in motion. Over billions of years, galaxies can collide and merge, especially in dense clusters. These repeated interactions can either build up or cancel out rotation. As a result, some nearby galaxies show little overall spin and instead display stars moving in random directions. Because this transformation is thought to take a very long