The slow death of most galaxies
arXiv:1610.01144 · doi:10.1038/521164a
Abstract
For most galaxies, the shutdown of star formation was a slow process that took four billion years. An analysis of thousands of galaxies suggests that 'strangulation' by their environment was the most likely cause. See Letter on page 192 of Peng, Maiolino and Cochrane (2015), Nature, vol. 521.
This a nearly final draft of a News and Views appeared on Nature in May 2015. It also summarises the content of the talk "Shutdown and downsizing" that I presented at the EWASS meeting "How galaxies live and die: the onset and end of star formation across cosmic time" (Athens, Greece, 6th July 2016)