>>Images taken by NASA’s Spitzer Space telescope are providing insight into the phenomenon of “killer” galaxies that, when they merge, shut down star formation within the new united galaxies. The collision and mixing of a pair of galaxies under the right (or wrong) conditions can disrupt the processes that allow stars to form, effectively dooming the merged galaxy.<<

>>According to NASA, when two galaxies merge, one of the perils is that the merged galaxy may end up with a supermassive black hole at the center that sucks most of the available gas and dust, preventing new stars from emerging. Another possibility is that the merger will generate shock waves from the giant black hole that will blow away gas and dust, again shutting down star formation.<<

https://newatlas.com/killer-galactic-unions-star-formation/58675/

> when two galaxies merge, one of the perils is that the merged galaxy may end up with a supermassive black hole at the center that sucks most of the available gas and dust, preventing new stars from emerging. Another possibility is that the merger will generate shock waves from the giant black hole that will blow away gas and dust, again shutting down star formation.

Neityer of those scenarios makes sense. Supermassive black holes suck up dust exceedingoy slowly. And they don’t generate shock waves.

The only scenario i can see that fits is if both galaxies had run out of gas before the merger. The galaxies were not killed by the merger, they were already dead before the merger.

mollwollfumble said:

> when two galaxies merge, one of the perils is that the merged galaxy may end up with a supermassive black hole at the center that sucks most of the available gas and dust, preventing new stars from emerging. Another possibility is that the merger will generate shock waves from the giant black hole that will blow away gas and dust, again shutting down star formation.

Neityer of those scenarios makes sense. Supermassive black holes suck up dust exceedingoy slowly. And they don’t generate shock waves.

The only scenario i can see that fits is if both galaxies had run out of gas before the merger. The galaxies were not killed by the merger, they were already dead before the merger.

An interesting thought.