One of the biggest astrophysical mysteries is the disappearance of galaxies, and the reasons why this is happening may be unraveled in the near future.
A new study published by a group of researchers from the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) aims to answer these questions. The study shows that a phenomenon called 'incoming pressure outflow' is more common than previously thought, and the loss of gas by galaxies leads to their early death, as they are deprived of material to form new stars.
A detailed study of 11 thousand galaxies has shown a somewhat frightening trend – their gaseous life basis for the formation of stars is currently rapidly scattered throughout the local Universe.
According to Toby Brown, research director and doctoral student at ICRAR, galaxies are embedded in dark matter clouds, so-called dark matter halos.
“Existing galaxies can inhabit halos of various sizes, ranging from the masses characteristic of our Milky Way, to thousands of times more massive halos,” he said. 'As galaxies move through these large halos, the superheated intergalactic plasma between them releases its gas as a result of the rapid outflow of incoming pressure. It's like a giant cosmic broomstick that comes in and physically sweeps gas out of galaxies. '
Brown also noted that the loss of gas by galaxies leads to very disastrous consequences – galaxies lose the ability to form new stars, and existing stars age and cool, which leads to their gradual extinction. “The loss of fuel for star formation by galaxies will invariably lead to their death.”
