New results from the James Webb Space Telescope show that spiral galaxies were prevalent just 2 billion years after the universe formed, indicating a faster timeline for galaxy development. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Astronomers have revealed that spiral galaxies appeared more frequently in the early universe than previously believed, based on new findings using 
Vicki Kuhn, a graduate student in Mizzou’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, led the study. Kuhn’s passion for studying astronomy began during high school. Credit: Sam O’Keefe / University of Missouri
Understanding Spiral Galaxy Formation
This insight could help scientists develop a better understanding of how spiral galaxies such as the 
Some of the spiral galaxies studied by the researchers in the study. Credit: Vicki Kuhn
Enhancing Knowledge With Advanced Technology
Using recent images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the scientists found that nearly 30% of galaxies have a spiral structure about 2 billion years after the universe formed. The discovery provides a significant update to the universe’s origin story as previously told using data from NASA’s DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad43eb
Additional co-authors are Alec Martin, Julianna Bayless, Ellie Gates and AJ Puleo. This project was supported by University of Missouri Research Council grants and the Missouri Space Grant Consortium.
This study was presented by Kuhn at the 244th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Madison, Wisconsin.
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