11-billion-year-old galaxy found to be oldest spiral galaxy
Australia-based astronomers have confirmed that a galaxy, existing from 2.6 billion years after the Big Bang, is the oldest spiral galaxy ever discovered. Using gravitational lensing, the team witnessed the formation of the galaxy's first spiral arms, going back 11 billion years in time. The unique A1689B11 galaxy is forming stars 20 times faster than younger galaxies, said the researchers.