Julian Gough · The Egg and the Rock · 2022–2025

Gough Blowtorch — CNS Predictions vs JWST

Julian Gough extended Lee Smolin's Cosmological Natural Selection to make specific observational predictions about early-universe structure — then JWST launched. This tool tracks those predictions against the data, and models the "Blowtorch Theory" of AGN jets carving cosmic structure.

CNS predictions vs JWST observations
Confirmed Massive galaxies exist at unexpectedly high redshift (z > 10)
CNS prediction (Gough 2022)
If the universe is optimised by CNS for supermassive black hole formation, early structure formation should be accelerated beyond ΛCDM predictions. Massive galaxies should exist at z > 10, earlier than standard cosmology expects.
JWST observation (2022–2024)
JWST found multiple galaxy candidates at z = 10–16 with stellar masses of 10⁹–10¹¹ M☉ — 10–100× more massive than ΛCDM predicts at those epochs. The "Universe-breakers" (Labbe et al. 2023) caused significant theoretical revision.
Confirmed Supermassive black holes at very high redshift
CNS prediction
CNS optimisation for BH production predicts that SMBHs should form early and abundantly. The "recombination epoch" should be optimised for SMBH seeding, not merely for hydrogen atom formation.
JWST observation
JWST detected SMBHs at z > 6, including GN-z11 at z = 10.6 (~1.6×10⁶ M☉) and quasars with SMBHs of 10⁸–10⁹ M☉ at z ~ 7. Standard seeding mechanisms struggle to grow to these masses on the available timescale.
Partial / in progress AGN jet feedback shaped large-scale structure (Blowtorch Theory)
Blowtorch Theory (Gough 2025)
Sustained, powerful jets from early SMBHs actively carved the large-scale structure we observe — galaxies, cosmic voids, and filaments. The universe's web is not just a passive result of gravity and dark matter but was actively sculpted by AGN outflows.
Current observational status
AGN feedback is well-established in quenching star formation. Large-scale jet-driven cavities are observed in galaxy clusters. Whether jets shaped the cosmic web at the scales Gough proposes remains an active research question. eROSITA and JWST surveys are relevant.
Open prediction Dark matter anomalies explained by CNS-modified gravity
CNS prediction
Gough argues CNS predicts a universe without conventional dark matter — the apparent DM signal arises from CNS-modified gravitational dynamics near cosmic structure. This is falsifiable and distinguishable from ΛCDM + DM.
Status
Not yet conclusively tested. JWST rotation-curve data for high-z galaxies and Euclid weak-lensing maps will provide strong tests of this claim. This is the most speculative and most falsifiable of Gough's predictions.
Blowtorch model — AGN jet power vs structure formation
Jet parameters
10⁹ M☉
0.900
z = 6
10%
Blowtorch outputs at current parameters
BZ jet power (P_BZ) —
Jet luminosity distance at z —
Energy injected over active lifetime —
Equivalent supernova count —
Hubble time at redshift z —
Adjust parameters to see the blowtorch output.
References
Gough, J. (2022). Cosmological Natural Selection predictions. The Egg and the Rock (blog). theeggandtherock.com Gough, J. (2025). "The Blowtorch Theory." The Egg and the Rock. (Preprint/blog — AGN jets carving large-scale cosmic structure.) Labbé, I., et al. (2023). "A population of red candidate massive galaxies ~600 Myr after the Big Bang." Nature, 616, 266–269. doi:10.1038/s41586-023-05786-2 (JWST "Universe-breakers" — massive early galaxies inconsistent with ΛCDM.) Smolin, L. (1992). "Did the Universe Evolve?" Classical and Quantum Gravity, 9, 173–191. (CNS original hypothesis.) Blandford, R. D., & Znajek, R. L. (1977). MNRAS, 179, 433–456. doi:10.1093/mnras/179.3.433 (BZ jet power mechanism.)