How galaxies formed and evolved to become the beautiful objects we see today is a hot topic in current astrophysics. This question is deeply connected to cosmology and the origin of the universe. The research at Stockholm University in this area extends from nearby star-forming galaxies to the end of the "dark age", when the first stars and galaxies in the universe were formed.
According to our current understanding, the universe originated in an ultra‑hot, ultra‑dense state that rapidly expanded, a process we call the Big Bang, and has continued to expand ever since. In the 13.8 billion years between then and the present day, the first galaxies assembled and grew, large scale structures and galaxy clusters condensed, and our own Milky Way was formed.
The extragalactic research done at Stockholm University covers many aspects of this process, from the first objects that light up in the universe, to large evolved galaxies in the cosmic backyard. Galaxy scientists at Stockholm University use data from major flagship telescopes on the ground and in space, as well as leveraging data from advanced computer simulations. Combining various approaches, the interplay between stars and gas in star forming galaxies can be studied over a wide range of physical scales and across cosmic time.
