Galaxies are formed when dense areas of dark matter attract ordinary matter, causing it to collapse under its own gravity. As the ordinary matter condenses, it begins to form stars, creating the luminous structures we observe in the night sky. However, the exact mechanisms behind this process remain poorly understood.
Unveiling the Relationship Between Dark Matter and Galaxy Properties
According to a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, dark matter significantly impacts the evolution of galaxies. Using observations from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey, researchers analyzed the properties of 260 nearby galaxies. They focused on the relationship between the mass of stars in a galaxy and the total dynamical mass, which includes the contribution of dark matter.
The study revealed that the ages, metallicity, morphology, angular momentum, and star formation rates of galaxies depend not only on the mass of their stars but also on the total mass, including the dark matter component. Specifically, galaxies with higher dark matter content exhibit older stellar populations, lower metallicity, and slower star formation rates compared to those with lower dark matter content.