Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have discovered that some of the universe’s oldest galaxies are much brighter and heavier than previously thought. This finding challenges the standard model of galaxy formation and lends credibility to an alternative theory, modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND).
According to a new study published in The Astrophysical Journal, JWST observations show that these ancient galaxies should be dimly lit, but they’re instead unusually bright. This deviation from predictions made by the standard model of galaxy evolution suggests that MOND might be more accurate.
MOND proposes that for gravitational pulls 10 trillion times smaller than those on Earth’s surface, Newton’s laws break down and must be replaced by new equations. While initially proposed to explain faster-than-expected galaxy rotations, MOND has had some successes in explaining other phenomena.
However, the theory remains widely rejected due to its inability to explain a wide range of cosmological phenomena. In contrast, dark matter theories can accurately predict many observations but fail to do so for those accurately predicted by MOND.
The study’s lead author, Stacy McGaugh, notes that “the bottom line is, ‘I told you so.’ I was raised to think that saying that was rude, but that’s the whole point of the scientific method: Make predictions and then check which come true.”
The discrepancy between JWST observations and standard model predictions remains a mystery. While supermassive black holes growing faster than expected could be a possible explanation for the additional brightness, this idea raises its own set of problems.
The study highlights the need to reconcile two competing theories, with MOND making successful predictions that cannot be dismissed as coincidental. Despite the ongoing debate, the discovery sheds new light on galaxy formation and the nature of gravity at large scales.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/cosmology/the-bottom-line-is-i-told-you-so-jwst-observations-upend-standard-model-of-how-galaxies-form-new-study-claims