The future of galaxies and the fate of intelligent life
We investigate the influence of recent advances in research on the gaseous content of the universe on our knowledge of star formation histories of spiral galaxies. The discovery of low-redshift population of absorbers and first steps made in understanding of the transition between high-reds...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Astronomical Observatory, Department of Astronomy, Belgrade
1999-01-01
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| Series: | Serbian Astronomical Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-698X/1999/1450-698X9959079C.pdf |
| Summary: | We investigate the influence of recent advances in research on the gaseous
content of the universe on our knowledge of star formation histories of
spiral galaxies. The discovery of low-redshift population of absorbers and
first steps made in understanding of the transition between high-redshift
intergalactic and low-redshift galactic population of QSO absorption systems
significantly reshape our picture of the gaseous content of the universe. It
turns out that large quantities of gas which has not been astrated or
astrated only weakly are bound to galaxies at later epochs, and present a
potential reservoir of gas not only for solution of the gas consumption
puzzle in spiral disks, but also a fuel for future star formation. This
baryonic transition, although still hard to establish quantitatively, is a
result of the simple physical processes. The resulting increase in the star
formation timescales of spiral galaxies has some interesting consequences for
the long-term future development of life and intelligent observers in the
galactic context. Admittedly highly speculative, this qualitative picture may
hopefully provide a motivation for detailed numerical modelling of the
physical processes involved. |
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| ISSN: | 1450-698X 1820-9289 |