Summary:
- The Gaia space observatory has discovered that our Milky Way galaxy is filled with groups of stars that are gravitationally bound together, forming "stellar streams."
- These stellar streams are remnants of smaller galaxies that were torn apart and absorbed by the Milky Way over billions of years, leaving behind these long, thin chains of stars.
- By mapping these stellar streams, scientists can better understand the history and evolution of our galaxy, as well as the dark matter that shapes the structure of the Milky Way.