Scientists have been scratching their heads for ages, trying to figure out why some galaxies just stop churning out stars. Well, turns out, it’s all about gas—the lifeblood of star formation.

Over time, galaxies can lose their gas reserves, either by using it up or having it stripped away by cosmic collisions or supermassive black holes. Once the gas is gone, it’s like hitting the brakes on star production.

But recent studies suggest that it’s not just about running out of gas; it’s also about how efficiently a galaxy can hold onto what it’s got. So, when it comes to the cosmic game of “to star or not to star,” it’s all about the gas!