Dead Planets Society is a podcast that explores unconventional ideas about manipulating the universe, such as splitting the moon or causing a gravitational wave apocalypse, by applying them to the laws of physics. You can listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or our Podcast page.
Most galaxies typically have two shapes: spirals and blobs. While spirals can be visually stunning, the lack of diversity through the ages can make them monotonous. In this episode of Dead Planets Society, we aim to shake things up in the galaxy.
Our hosts, Leah Crane and Chelsea White, are joined by Vivian Yu, an astronomer from the University of California, Irvine, who studies the evolution of galaxies through collisions and distortions. Real-life galaxy collisions can create unique shapes, but eventually, the chaos settles into a blob. To make lasting changes, more precise tools are needed.
This is where supermassive black holes come in. By creating gaps in a galaxy’s dust and gas, black holes can help in forming more detailed structures. However, gravitational forces can complicate matters, leading to black holes merging into larger masses. Using dark matter to manipulate the distribution of visible matter might be a more viable option.
Creating galaxies with distinct shapes, like those with sharp angles or recognizable forms like giraffes, can be a way for us to leave our mark in the universe. It could signify our existence and showcase our cosmic capabilities.
It’s even conceivable that some extraterrestrial force is already sculpting the Milky Way in a unique way. Since we can’t view our galaxy from the outside, determining its shape relies on star counts and theoretical models, leaving room for unconventional possibilities. While a giraffe-shaped galaxy may be far-fetched, a square Milky Way would present a challenge for astronomers to decipher.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
