Galaxies are often observed in clusters that contain "red and dead" galaxies that can no longer form new stars. New research, however, reveals enormous "cosmic tsunamis" can resurrect these dead galaxies back to life.

An international team of astronomers compared these galaxies to cities. Not only stars but thousands of galaxies can be gathered in close proximity. In the course of billions of years, these clusters can merge with others, a growth similar to cities that absorb nearby towns as they expand.

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When these clusters collide, a massive shock wave of energy is released can trigger the birth of a brand new generation of stars causing these dormant galaxies to explode into new life.

This study marks the first time evidence was found among the galaxies of this cosmic tsunami effect.

This evidence was observed during a merging galaxy cluster called CIZA J2242.8+5301, also dubbed as "Sausage", located 2.3 billion light years away, said astronomers Andra Stroe and David Sobral from the Leiden Observatory, Netherlands and the University of Lisbon, Portugal.

With the aid of telescopes Isaac Newton and William Herschel on La Palma, Spain along with the Subaru, CFHT (Canada France Hawaii Telescope) and the Keck telescopes in Hawaii, researchers found this particular cluster of galaxies transformed by a shock wave that triggered a new wave of star formation.

It was first assumed galaxies wouldn't be affected by this shock wave but apparently these galaxies have a lead role in this phenomenon since the comatose galaxies in the Sausage cluster are now coming back to life and stars are being churned out at an unprecedented rate.

This shock wave is travelling at an incredible nine million kilometers per hour. It occurred one billion years ago following the collision of the two original clusters. Due to their enormous distances, scientists are just starting to observe this event.

Scientists found out this huge shock wave works by causing turbulence in the galactic gas, triggering a collapse that later led to the formation of super dense, cold gas clouds. This creates a nursery for the formation of new stars that can bring these galaxies back to life.

Sobral said since this shock wave can produce infant stars at a very fast rate, they will become short lived and will explode as supernovae after just a few million years.

These explosions will emit massive amounts of gas that will be hurled away from the galaxies that they will soon run out of fuel. The clusters will become comatose once again and a second resurrection is no longer possible.

This study is in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

TagsHow Cosmic Tsunamis Can Resurrect Dead Galaxies, cosmic tsunamis, dead galaxies, cosmic tsunamis dead galaxies