The night sky is a tapestry of mystery. When you peer into the vastness, it is easy to assume that cosmic objects scatter themselves randomly. Yet new research suggests that there is a curious pattern to galaxy rotations—one that just might imply the entire Universe was born spinning. More radically, some astronomers are even revisiting the notion that we all live inside a colossal black hole.
In a paper drawing on JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) data, astronomer Lior Shamir of Kansas State University reports an asymmetry in the rotational distribution of galaxies billions of light-years away. Under conventional models, spins across such vast distances should be balanced, with about as many galaxies spinning clockwise as counterclockwise. Instead, Shamir’s findings show a clear skew, prompting speculation about alternative cosmological theories—including the audacious idea that the Universe itself may be the interior of a black hole.
Below, we delve into the details of Shamir’s new findings, explore the radical black-hole cosmology concept, and discuss the more mundane possibility that we are being fooled by the rotation of our own Milky Way. Along the way, we will see how a deeper understanding of galaxy spin could transform our picture of cosmic evolution.
A Puzzling Lack of Randomness
Galaxies, those sprawling collections of stars, dust, and dark matter, can spin in only two directions: clockwise or counterclockwise. Because the Universe is believed to be isotropic—appearing more or less the same no matter which direction you look—astronomers expect approximately 50 percent of galaxies to spin one way, while the other 50 percent spin the other way. Indeed, if galaxies formed from random fluctuations in cosmic gas and dark matter, such a balanced distribution should be the natural outcome.
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Yet, Shamir’s recent paper claims otherwise. He analyzed the spins of 263 galaxies, whose light has traveled between 5 and 10 billion years to reach our telescopes. These galaxies represent a snapshot of cosmic history stretching back more than half the age of the Universe. According to Shamir, 158 of these galaxies rotate clockwise, while 105 rotate counterclockwise—a measurable and statistically significant difference.
“The analysis of the galaxies was done by quantitative analysis of their shapes,” Shamir says, “but the difference is so obvious that any person looking at the image can see it. There is no need for special skills or knowledge to see that the numbers are different. With the power of the James Webb Space Telescope, anyone can see it.”
If confirmed by additional research, this imbalance could overturn some core assumptions. Shamir had already suspected a rotational asymmetry from earlier studies, and this new dataset bolsters his case. Moreover, he observed that the asymmetry becomes more pronounced at greater distances, implying it was stronger when the Universe was younger. Naturally, that raises the question: What if the Universe itself was born spinning?
The Black Hole Cosmology Hypothesis
Among the potential explanations for this cosmic tilt is a concept that might seem lifted from science fiction: black hole cosmology. This proposal suggests that our entire Universe is the inside of a black hole. Specifically, it posits that when a massive star collapses into a black hole in one universe, the interior of that black hole could form the basis of a new universe. From that vantage point, what we experience as the Big Bang might be akin to an event horizon forming in another realm.
Could it be that our Universe “inherited” a spin from such a parent black hole? If so, that inherited rotation might manifest in a global bias, showing up in galaxies that appear to predominantly spin in one direction. As outlandish as it sounds, black hole cosmology has circulated for decades, engaging a small but active group of theoretical physicists who contend that it can resolve certain paradoxes in modern cosmology.
“If the Universe was indeed born rotating, it means that existing theories about the cosmos are incomplete,” Shamir says. “One explanation is that the Universe was born rotating. That explanation agrees with theories such as black hole cosmology, which postulates that the entire Universe is the interior of a black hole.”
Even if the idea of “our Universe in a black hole” seems too wild to accept, the basic concept of cosmic rotation is not inherently contradictory. Physicists have contemplated rotating universe models before, one of them being the “Gödel universe,” a theoretical solution to Einstein’s field equations that exhibits a global spin. Such models never gained mainstream acceptance because observations suggested that large-scale rotation was absent. Now, the conversation may need to be reopened.
A Possible Illusion: The Milky Way’s Influence
A less sensational explanation is that the Milky Way’s own spin introduces a subtle bias in our observations. Astronomical surveys capture light that has traveled billions of years, but the vantage point from which we do the observing could distort how we measure galaxy spins. If our home galaxy’s rotation skews the appearance of distant galaxies, some might look clockwise while others appear counterclockwise merely due to the geometry of observation.
“If that is indeed the case, we will need to re-calibrate our distance measurements for the deep Universe,” Shamir says. “The re-calibration of distance measurements can also explain several other unsolved questions in cosmology such as the differences in the expansion rates of the Universe and the large galaxies that according to the existing distance measurements are expected to be older than the Universe itself.”
This is not the first time astronomers have had to revise distance measurements or incorporate observational biases into cosmic models. For instance, the so-called “Hubble tension” refers to the discrepancy in measured expansion rates of the Universe when comparing local observations to early-Universe markers such as the cosmic microwave background. If observational biases alter how we measure galactic spins or distances, it could be a hidden factor affecting multiple cosmic puzzles.
Cosmic Structure and Galaxy Spin
Beyond these debates, there is broad consensus that the Universe contains large-scale structures—vast filaments of dark matter that crisscross space and anchor galaxies together in a gravitational web. Within this web, galaxies form clusters, superclusters, and other massive cosmic arrangements. Despite the structured nature of these webs, galaxy spin orientation was long believed to be effectively random. Yet Shamir’s research challenges that assumption, possibly revealing a cosmic “handedness.”
Evidence for such a pattern has existed in pockets. Some smaller studies have suggested that local galaxies might rotate predominantly one way, but those findings never fully convinced the broader community. The advantage of the new JADES dataset is its depth, capturing galaxies far back in time, potentially providing a clearer cosmic perspective.
Potential Consequences of a Rotating Universe
If the Universe is rotating, the implications are profound. For starters, it suggests that the initial conditions at the Big Bang included some angular momentum. That scenario might rewrite the timeline of cosmic evolution, reframing how structures formed and how dark matter distributed itself. Additionally, a rotating Universe could help or hinder attempts to unify general relativity with quantum mechanics, the long-sought “holy grail” of theoretical physics.
On the other hand, discovering that we merely underestimated the Milky Way’s influence would also be significant. It would require a major recalibration of cosmic distances, potentially resolving anomalies like the apparent existence of “galaxies older than the Universe.” By adjusting the fundamental distance scale, astronomers might find that some of these incongruities vanish.
Next Steps and Future Observations
Shamir’s results, intriguing as they are, must undergo rigorous verification. Astronomers will be eager to see if independent teams examining the same JADES data or other surveys—such as those from ground-based telescopes or future space missions—arrive at similar conclusions. Additionally, software tools and classification methods must ensure no inherent biases creep in, such as incorrectly attributing spin directions due to faint signals or resolution issues.
If subsequent observations confirm a real asymmetry, the field of cosmology may pivot toward deeper investigations of cosmic rotation. The black hole cosmology concept, while still a fringe idea, might gain traction as astronomers look for ways to account for a Universe that has a universal spin. Alternatively, new calibrations of observational data could thoroughly debunk the asymmetry in a different way.
Either outcome propels science forward. A discovered flaw in our distance measurements would help refine all sorts of cosmological parameters. A proven cosmic spin would lead to the biggest revision in cosmology since the discovery of dark energy.
Is Our Universe Really in a Black Hole?
As wild as it sounds, the notion of our Universe dwelling in a black hole continues to have its defenders. The mathematics can get complicated, but some theorists argue that it explains questions like what truly happens at a black hole’s event horizon and why our Universe’s properties seem so finely tuned. If Shamir’s spin study ultimately corroborates that idea, it would go down as one of the most consequential breakthroughs in the history of science.
Yet caution is warranted. The Universe is notoriously tricky to probe on its largest scales, and observational illusions have misled astronomers before. For many in the field, the Milky Way–influence explanation remains more plausible and requires fewer radical changes to established theory. Still, a black hole Universe is no longer relegated solely to theoretical musings if the data continue to show a strong directional bias.
Conclusion
In the cosmic game of discovery, each new data release is a puzzle piece that either reinforces established theories or forces us to rethink them. Shamir’s findings, drawn from the powerful imaging of the James Webb Space Telescope, imply that galaxies across the eons may share a preferred direction of spin. Whether this arises from a primordial rotation of the entire cosmos—hinting that we live in a black hole—or simply from the vantage point of the Milky Way, remains to be seen.
What is certain is that this surprising asymmetry prompts a fresh burst of creativity in cosmological thinking. If distance measurements indeed need recalibration, that could help solve long-standing riddles like the Universe’s inconsistent expansion rates. If, on the other hand, black hole cosmology gains evidence, the repercussions would be seismic, reshaping how we understand our cosmic origins and destiny. For now, the best approach is to keep looking deeper, harness the power of our telescopes, and let the Universe itself illuminate the truth—whatever it may be.
