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New analysis throws wrench in formation theory of spirals in galaxies

The uncertainty of science: A new analysis of over 6000 galaxies suggests that a long-held model for the formation of spirals in galaxies is wrong.

[Edwin] Hubble’s model soon became the authoritative method of classifying spiral galaxies, and is still used widely in astronomy textbooks to this day. His key observation was that galaxies with larger bulges tended to have more tightly wound spiral arms, lending vital support to the ‘density wave’ model of spiral arm formation.

Now though, in contradiction to Hubble’s model, the new work finds no significant correlation between the sizes of the galaxy bulges and how tightly wound the spirals are. This suggests that most spirals are not static density waves after all.

Essentially, we still have no idea why spirals form in galaxies.

Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.


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"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News

4 comments

  • Phill O

    Water, Earth, Fire and Air theory of matter dominated for quite awhile.

  • Terrence

    My theory is that two flat galaxies merge by spiraling in on each other. The galactic centers produce density waves that are the arms of the new galaxy.

  • pzatchok

    My idea is its in part related to the age of the galaxies.

    Not counting Galaxies that have interacted with other galaxies.

    The older the galaxy the longer it has had to compress, and like water going down a drain it starts to spin and then swirl creating “Arms” or waves.
    The number of arms is random or at least related to varying matter densities in the swirling galaxy.

    I look at theories like this are in the end trying to set rules to the seeming randomness of the universe, without knowing 99% of the factors.

  • wayne

    here, there, and everywhere…

    Sackler Lecture:
    “Galaxy Evolution in 3D”
    Lisa Kewley 2016
    https://youtu.be/Sxn_J5M1wzU
    54:46

    Joel Primack:
    “New Insights on Galaxy Formation from Comparing Simulations”
    Talks at Google 2017
    https://youtu.be/JFKZBuf1EZI
    1:00:01

    “An Electric Universe View of Stellar and Galactic Formation”
    Natural Philosophy Alliance 2012
    https://youtu.be/M2_H58oGHS0
    43:16

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