Declining star formation not caused by simple 'fuel crisis,' new measurements suggest
New measurements from the FAST telescope indicate that the decline in star formation in the universe is not simply due to a lack of fuel. Researchers found that the supply of neutral atomic hydrogen has remained relatively stable despite a significant drop in star birth rates.
Why it matters
This challenges existing models of galaxy evolution and forces astronomers to reconsider the mechanisms driving cosmic star formation.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source FAST and DESI reshape our view of cosmic evolution. Credit: National Astronomical Observatories of China and Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of CAS The universe has been having fewer and fewer stellar "babies." Over the past 4.5 billion years, the rate of star birth has crashed to less than half of what it once was. But here's the twist: the most essential "fuel" for making stars has barely decreased.
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