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The Milky Way galaxy: a swirling disk of dust and gas. 

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Dust makes up less than one percent 
of the Milky Way's total visible matter

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but is widespread throughout the galaxy.

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Scientists think many elements that make up dust 

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originate from exploding stars. 

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In some regions of the galaxy, gas and dust collect into denser blobs. 

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These blobs have enough matter 
to gravitationally collapse

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sparking the formation of young stars

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surrounded by disks of gas

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and dust that could eventually form planets.

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By studying the dust strewn between stars, scientists can learn about 

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the galaxy-wide recycling of elements 
from star birth to star death.