SCIENCE
The James Webb Telescope's Surprise: Rethinking Gravity
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USASat Nov 16 2024
The James Webb Space Telescope has found some bizarre things while peeking at the far corners of the universe. It spotted ancient galaxies that are big and bright, like they've been there forever. This is weird because our usual theories say they should be small and dim, slowly pulled together by something called dark matter.
Dark matter is like an invisible force that's supposed to guide galaxy formation. But the James Webb Telescope sees galaxies all grown up already, even when we look back in time. This leaves scientists scratching their heads.
One theory, called MODIFIED NEWTONIAN DYNAMICS (MOND), has a different idea. It suggests that galaxies formed quickly without dark matter's help. Scientists from Case Western Reserve University think the telescope's findings back up this alternative theory.
MOND was first suggested in 1983 and singles out areas with tiny gravitational forces, like the ones JWST sees at the universe's edges. It argues there's no need for dark matter to explain galaxy rotation speeds.
The current theory, Lambda-CDM, is like the star student in class. It's been around for a while and nails most tests. It says dark matter shapes galaxies and the larger structures in the universe. But now, JWST is handing it a bad grade with these new observations.
The debate continues. While some think Lambda-CDM still has its strengths, others are excited about how MOND is challenging the norm. It's like having two opposing sports teams, each with their own fans and arguments.
In the end, science is about making predictions and seeing if they hold up. JWST's discoveries might just shift the game, making the dark matter debate more interesting.
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questions
Can you explain the discrepancies observed in galaxy rotation curves that MOND aims to address?
What are the implications of the JWST's findings for the existence of dark matter?
If dark matter is supposed to be invisible, why did the JWST manage to see it?