A large number of small molecular clouds (left) cannot form the same population of stars as one very large cloud (right). This has a significant influence on the evolution of galaxies. Credit: Eda Gjergo A team of astrophysicists from Nanjing University and University of Bonn have demonstrated that, rather than being random, the mass of new stars born inside a star cluster is actually governed by a defined process of self-regulation. Their work has been published in the journal Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics . How galaxy size shapes newborn stars When a galaxy welcomes new stars, they are usually formed in star clusters inside vast gas clouds. While some of these stars inside such clusters are small, cool and dim, others possess 10 times the mass of our sun and a hundred thousand times higher brightness—but also a shorter lifespan as a result. These differences in initial mass have a significant influence on a galaxy's luminosity.…