--- title: "Something Very Strange Seems to Be Synchronizing Distant Galaxies" description: "Galaxies millions of light years away seem to be connected by network of unseen forces, forcing them to move with each other in unexpected ways." date: "2019-11-11" modified: "2019-11-11" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/something-strange-synchronizing-distant-galaxies" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "ancient universe" - "Astronomy" - "big bang" - "the digest" --- # Something Very Strange Seems to Be Synchronizing Distant Galaxies ![Galaxies millions of light years away seem to be connected by network of unseen forces, forcing them to move with each other in unexpected ways.]() *\Image: Image via Piqsels/Victor Tangermann\* ## Massive Structures Galaxies millions of light years away seem to be connected by an unseen network of massive intergalactic structures, which force them to synchronize in ways that can't be explained by existing astrophysics, [*Vice* reports](). The discoveries could force us to rethink our fundamental understanding of the universe. “The observed coherence must have some relationship with large-scale structures, because it is impossible that the galaxies separated by six megaparsecs \[roughly 20 million light years\] directly interact with each other,” Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute astronomer Hyeop Lee told the site. ## In Sync There have been many instances of astronomers observing galaxies that seem to be connected and moving in sync with each other. [A study]() by Lee, published in *The Astrophysical Journal* in October, found that hundreds of galaxies are rotating in exactly the same way, despite being millions of light years apart. And a [separate study](), published in the journal *Astronomy and Astrophysics* in 2014, found supermassive black holes aligning with each other, despite being billions of light years apart. ## Spooky Action While current cosmological principles support the alignment and movement of ancient stars at a smaller scale, astronomers are puzzled by the much, much larger patterns across vast distances. But before they can draw any conclusions, they'll need more data — the body of work is still limited, as *Vice* points out. **READ MORE:** [There’s Growing Evidence That the Universe Is Connected by Giant Structures]() \[*Vice*\] More on the universe: *[Scientists: Something About the Universe Doesn’t Look Right]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()