Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Galaxy Mergers May Not Stifle Star Formation After All, According to Illustris TNG

The JWST captured this image of a pair of merging galaxies named Arp 107. New simulations show that mergers like this, which are common, are not responsible for quenching galaxies. This contradicts the current understanding of galaxy mergers where a merger creates a powerful quasar that then stifles star formation. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

In recent years, the idea that galaxy mergers are responsible for quenching galaxies has grown in importance. This paradigm says that galaxies merge, their black holes form a powerful quasar, and that quasar stifles star formation. But new results from the IllustrisTNG simulations shows that this paradigm may not be accurate.



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