The speed at which spiral galaxies spin determine whether they are fat and bulging or whether they are shaped like flat discs, new research shows.
The research led by the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research in Perth found spiral galaxies which rotate faster are flat while slower-spinning galaxies of the same size tend to bulge.
The study looked at how cold gas moves in 16 spiral galaxies between ten and 50 million light years from Earth.
Co-author Danail Obreschkow said the paper is a step forward to understanding the diversity of galaxies in the universe.
Read more at International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research