Symmetry on a Larger Scale

We previously discussed how vital symmetry is on a small scale, but is symmetry important on a large scale? Just to refresh everyone's memory, symmetry is significant as it contributes to the boiling point of a compound, can assist in determining the compounds structure, or can effect the bond strength (a symmetrical "hydrogen bond" is stronger than a regular "hydrogen bond"). Quasicrystalls, incredibly symmetrical crystals, are versatile and can be used in various situations, but they are only about 150 micrometers in size! So does symmetry only effect small particles or molecules? Well, this depends because last year, the discovery channel claimed that the Milky Way galaxy is symmetric. Yes, we have just claimed that a 150 micrometer crystal is symmetric and the a 100,000-120,000 light year galaxy is symmetric. Just to put that into perspective: 1 light year is equal to 9.46*10^21 micrometers.

Milky Way galaxy

Quasicrystal under a scanning electron microscope

If symmetry applied to smaller molecules is applied to the Milky Way, many questions rise. As stated before, when molecules are symmetric and stacked on top of each other, they are incredibly difficult to separate. Since galaxies move, what if another galaxy, symmetric like the Milky Way, stacks atop the Milky Way. There are though to be at least 500 billion galaxies in the universe, so there has to be at least 1 that is symmetric like the Milky Way. Will there be attractive forces so strong that these galaxies will turn into one galaxy? As previously stated, scientists are able to determine a compound structure, so will the symmetry of our universe allow us to discover our universe's "structure"? Will knowing that our universe is symmetric cut out half of the work for astronomers?

Image depicting galaxies moving moving close to each other

Now, how can the Milky Way galaxy be symmetric? Simply put, half of the Milky Way galaxy is virtually the exact mirror image of the other half. This is incredibly similar to many molecules who's right side is just a mirror image of its left side. So if our galaxy is symmetric, does this mean that another planet exactly the same as earth must be on the opposite side of the galaxy? How many other galaxies are symmetric and what will be the deleterious effects of symmetry? Is our universe symmetric? Only time will tell.