The Birth and Death of Galaxies

This week we conclude our month-long journey through galaxies by exploring one of the biggest questions in astronomy: how galaxies are born, evolve, and eventually die.We begin in the aftermath of the Big Bang, tracing how tiny fluctuations in matter slowly grew into the first galaxies. Along the way, we explore starburst galaxies, galactic recycling, and the remarkable realization that the elements making up planets, oceans, and even human beings were forged inside ancient generations of stars.Then we dive into one of the universe’s greatest mysteries: supermassive black holes. Why do most galaxies appear to contain them? Where did these enormous black holes come from? And did galaxies create black holes, or did black holes help create galaxies? We’ll also explore active galactic nuclei, quasars, and the astonishing discovery that some black holes may have formed far earlier than astronomers once believed possible.Finally, we examine the groundbreaking discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope and the ancient galaxies it has revealed, galaxies appearing surprisingly massive and chemically evolved only a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. We close by looking toward the distant future, where galaxies fade into quiet “red and dead” remnants, and where strange objects like jellyfish galaxies reveal that even galaxies themselves can slowly suffocate and die.Plus:This week’s night sky for May 24–30, 2026The mythology and zodiac lore of LeoA look at the Blue Moon arriving on May 31stPlanet visibility for Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and SaturnAnd a deep sky visit to Messier 87 — the galaxy whose supermassive black hole became the first ever directly imaged by humanity.Connect with us on Bluesky @startrails.bsky.socialIf you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee! Also, check out music made for Star Trails on our Bandcamp page!Podcasting is better with RSS.com! If you're planning to start your own podcast, use our RSS.com affiliate link for a discount, and to help support Star Trails.