The Milky Way galaxy is more chaotic than expected

Astronomers at Leiden Observatory created hundreds of galaxy models similar to the Milky Way. During the study, scientists ran simulations under almost identical conditions, changing the position of only one star slightly. The results showed that even the smallest change significantly affects the spiral arms and the rotation speed of the central part of the galaxy over time. This is reported by Ixbt.com reports .

This phenomenon is similar to the "butterfly effect," proving that small fluctuations can alter the entire structure of a galaxy. Previously, scientists believed that such local changes in systems consisting of billions of stars would balance each other out, but new research has refuted this view.

Researchers also identified the cause of discrepancies in previous scientific models. Often, to simplify the calculation process, stars are modeled as diffuse clouds rather than point objects. This artificially reduces gravitational interactions and hides the true chaotic dynamics in the galaxy.

Nevertheless, the galaxy retains its basic spiral shape. Scientists believe that the ability to predict the exact structure of the Milky Way is lost after about one million years. This is considered a very short period compared to the 10-billion-year age of the galaxy.