Astronomers have discovered a massive barred spiral galaxy, named J0107a, that existed when the universe was only 2.6 billion years old. This discovery, detailed in a recent Nature study, challenges existing models of galaxy formation and evolution.
Observed using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, along with data from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, J0107a boasts a well-defined bar structure typically seen in more mature galaxies. Its mass is over ten times that of the Milky Way, and it exhibits a star formation rate 300 times higher. The galaxy's bar funnels gas into its center at an astounding rate, fueling rapid star birth.
The existence of such a developed barred spiral galaxy so early in the universe suggests that galaxies could evolve much faster than previously thought. This finding prompts a re-evaluation of current cosmological theories regarding galactic structure formation in the early universe. The research, led by Shuo Huang, highlights the importance of studying J0107a to understand the evolution of barred spiral galaxies, including our own Milky Way.