From bulges to galaxies: Galaxy evolution revealed

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This project aims to hunt for the descendants of an allegedly near extinct species of galaxy, through the analysis of near-infrared satellite images of massive galaxies. Popular opinion has it that the compact, massive galaxies observed at great distances when the Universe was young are extinct, having evolved to become today's elliptically-shaped galaxies, but no credible mechanism to do so has been identified. This project tests the alternative notion that they still exist as the bulges of today's disc galaxies. This project will potentially change our understanding of how galaxies evolve.