Recently, a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) aims to understand the connection between gravitational instabilities and galaxy evolution.
- It examined the relationship between gravitational instabilities, star formation, gas fraction, time scale for instability growth, and galaxy morphology.

The study analysed data from 175 galaxies taken from the Spitzer Photometry and Accurate Rotation Curves (SPARC) database.
Spiral galaxies, like the Milky Way, were found to have higher star formation rates, lower stability, lower gas fractions, and shorter time scales for gravitational instability growth.
- This suggests that gravitational instabilities in spiral galaxies rapidly convert gas into stars, depleting the gas reservoirs.
The study compared stability levels in nearby galaxies with those observed at high redshift, providing insights into the connection between gravitational instabilities and galaxy evolution.
- The results suggest that galaxies with marginal stability levels undergo intense, short-term star formation, depleting gas reserves, while highly stable galaxies have slower, long-term star formation processes.
The study highlights the need for future investigations into the impact of gravitational instabilities on the morphological evolution of galaxies across different redshifts.

Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

· The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) is an autonomous research institute headquartered in Bengaluru, India.

· It receives full financial support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

· IIA specializes in conducting research in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, and related disciplines.

· The institute was established in the year 1971, marking its founding date.