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Astronomy

The Anatomy of a Starburst Galaxy: Triggers and Feedback

Quick fact

Starburst galaxies can form stars at rates up to 1,000 times higher than the Milky Way, but these intense episodes are short-lived, lasting only about 10 to 100 million years—a cosmic blink of an eye compared to a galaxy's lifetime.

Why this is interesting

You've probably seen images of galaxies, but have you ever wondered about those that burn through their fuel in a frantic, cosmic party? What makes a galaxy suddenly form stars a thousand times faster than normal, and why doesn't that furious activity last?