Astronomers have potentially altered our understanding of the Milky Way's history by uncovering evidence of several ancient mergers. This new information suggests that the galaxy's formation involved more significant collisions than previously recognized.
The research was conducted using data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which provided critical insights into the galaxy's past. A novel clustering algorithm played a key role in analyzing this data.
These findings, published on June 12, 2026, may prompt a reevaluation of established theories regarding the Milky Way's evolution and its interactions with other celestial bodies.