Astrophysicists use ‘space archaeology’ to trace the history of a spiral galaxy

By Lisa Kewley, Director of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Smithsonian Institution

Billions of years ago, a young spiral galaxy began to grow in a crowded part of the universe. It pulled in gas and small companion galaxies, slowly building up the bright central region and sweeping spiral arms we see today.

In a new study published in March 2026, my colleagues and I used this galaxy’s chemical fingerprints to reconstruct its life story in detail.

Astronomers want to know how spiral galaxies like our own Milky…

Read complete article

~	Julius Malema: South Africa’s performative revolutionary is facing his biggest battle

~	Informal workers in Lagos are left to cope with devastating floods alone: why things must change

~	In Sudan, a migrant community reveals a resistance to malaria: the genetic study helping shape medicine

~	New York Considers Measures to Rein in ICE

~	Angus Taylor promises to index income tax to inflation in big tax gamble

~	Grattan on Friday: Taylor’s bold budget reply is a mix of sound and dubious policy commitments

~	How the world can avoid millions going hungry when supply chains collapse

~	Westlife at 25: how the boyband emerged during Ireland’s economic boom

~	Pregnancy is a chance to reshape family eating habits before the baby arrives

~	How severe has the economic impact of the Iran war been for the Gulf states?