The habitability trade-off: Chemical decoupling and quenching in massive galaxies

¹ Astronomical Observatory, Volgina 7, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
² Faculty of Mathematics, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia

^★ Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Received: 21 February 2026
Accepted: 18 May 2026

Abstract

Massive galaxies experience complex evolutionary processes, including mergers and gas accretion, which can disrupt the chemical equilibrium between their stellar and gaseous components. Using the IllustrisTNG (TNG100) simulation at z = 0, we investigated the prevalence and physical properties of such chemically decoupled systems within the massive star-forming galaxy population. We identify a substantial subpopulation (∼31.5% of the sample) that exhibits systematic stellar-gas decoupling, characterised by a metal-rich stellar component coexisting with a diluted gas reservoir. These non-equilibrium galaxies are closely linked to recent merger activity and partial quenching, and display systematically suppressed star-formation rates and reduced gas fractions, consistent with a transitional evolutionary phase. We then examined the implications of this phase for galaxy-scale habitability prescriptions by applying a terrestrial planet abundance proxy that combines stellar mass, gas-phase metallicity, and the rate of sterilising events. Despite their diluted gas reservoirs, non-equilibrium galaxies dominate the high end of the inferred present-day habitability proxy distribution, exceeding equilibrium systems by more than an order of magnitude. We interpret this as a habitability trade-off: the same gas dilution and quenching processes that reduce the efficiency of future terrestrial planet formation simultaneously create a transient phase of suppressed radiation hazards for existing planets. The Andromeda galaxy (M31) shows qualitative similarities to this chemically decoupled population, suggesting that galaxies exiting their peak star-forming phase represent a distinct and highly relevant demographic for galaxy-scale habitability. Galactic habitability is therefore intrinsically time-dependent.