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Scientists discover tiny galaxy that pressed 'pause' for 2.5 billion years


Published on 2025-01-20 17:22:18 - MSN
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  • Webb Telescope reveals how galaxies can dodge death by taking a break from star formation In a nutshell Scientists discovered that a tiny galaxy called Leo P took a 2.5-billion-year break from forming stars during its early life
  • yet somehow survived,

Scientists have discovered a tiny galaxy, named J0613+52, which appears to have paused its star formation for about 2.5 billion years. This galaxy, located approximately 270 million light-years away, was observed using the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. The findings, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, indicate that J0613+52 stopped forming stars around 10 billion years ago, possibly due to a lack of gas or external influences like interactions with other galaxies. This "quenching" of star formation makes J0613+52 an intriguing subject for understanding the lifecycle of galaxies, particularly how and why some galaxies cease to produce new stars. The galaxy's small size and its long period of inactivity provide a unique case study in the field of galactic evolution.

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