The Digital Press

JWST observations reveal that massive quiescent galaxies about 9-10 billion years ago retained significant rotation, indicating their star formation shutdown didn’t destroy their disk-like structures. This helps explain how these early galaxies evolve into today’s massive elliptical galaxies.

Why it matters: Rotation persists in early massive quiescent galaxies, challenging ideas that quenching destroys disk structures.

The big picture: Younger quiescent galaxies show more rotation, linking galaxy age to rotational support over cosmic time.

Stunning stat: All 10 measured galaxies have rotational velocities between 117-345 km/s and are classified as fast rotators.

The stakes: Understanding rotation loss through mergers clarifies how early rotating galaxies become today’s slow-rotating ellipticals.