Carbon, the building block of life on Earth, owes its existence to the fiery crucibles of stars. Alongside elements like oxygen and iron, carbon is forged in the intense nuclear reactions of stars and subsequently scattered across the universe when these stars meet their end in spectacular supernova explosions. These elements are not static wanderers in the cosmos; instead, they embark on a fascinating journey within galaxies, shaped by dynamic forces that sustain the ongoing formation of stars, planets, and even life.
Recent research conducted by a team of scientists from the United States and Canada has uncovered that carbon and other stellar-forged elements circulate through their host galaxies via massive streams of material, known as the circumgalactic medium (CGM). This medium acts like a colossal conveyor belt, transporting elements far into intergalactic space before gravity and other forces pull them back into the galactic core. The process is a vital part of a cosmic recycling system that fuels star formation and planetary creation.
Described as a “galactic train station”, the CGM continuously expels and retrieves material. This medium is enriched with heavy elements such as carbon and oxygen, ejected during the explosive deaths of stars. The findings, detailed in a paper published in Astrophysical Journal Letters, highlight the CGM’s critical role in ensuring galaxies have the raw materials necessary to sustain the cycle of stellar and planetary formation.
We now understand that the CGM is not just a passive cloud of gas but a dynamic reservoir that actively participates in the life cycle of galaxies, explained Samantha Garza, lead author and researcher at the University of Washington. Her team’s findings suggest that elements like carbon, which are fundamental to life, may have spent extended periods outside their galaxies before re-entering to form stars, planets, and potentially life forms.
The researchers used the Hubble Space Telescope’s Cosmic Origins Spectrograph to study light from distant quasars—ultra-bright beacons in the cosmos. As this light passes through the CGM of star-forming galaxies, it is absorbed by elements like carbon. The team’s observations revealed carbon extending as far as 400,000 light-years from the galaxy—roughly four times the Milky Way’s diameter.
The study also identified carbon circulating in the CGM at lower temperatures than previously observed, providing new insights into the medium’s composition. We’ve confirmed that the CGM acts as a significant reservoir of carbon and oxygen, which is periodically drawn back into the galaxy, Garza said. This interplay is essential for keeping galaxies active and replenishing the materials needed for star and planet formation.
Understanding the CGM’s behavior offers clues about the evolution of galaxies and the eventual cessation of star formation. As galaxies age, the recycling process within the CGM slows, leading to reduced star production. The research suggests that interruptions in the CGM’s contributions could explain why some galaxies become barren over time.
Future studies aim to explore the full extent of elements within the CGM and compare its behavior in star-forming galaxies versus those where star formation has ceased. This work could illuminate why and how galaxies transition into “stellar deserts”, marking the end of their evolutionary journey.
SOURCES
Samantha L. Garza, Jessica K. Werk, et al., The CIViL* Survey: The Discovery of a C iv Dichotomy in the Circumgalactic Medium of L* Galaxies. ApJL 978 L12. DOI 10.3847/2041-8213/ad9c69
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