Hierarchical structure formation is a cosmological model that describes how the universe evolves from small, simple structures to larger, more complex ones, often involving the merging of smaller entities to form bigger systems. This process plays a vital role in shaping the formation and distribution of galaxies, leading to the diversity of galaxy types and their environments. As smaller structures collapse under gravity, they create gravitational wells that attract more mass, eventually resulting in the formation of galaxy clusters and large-scale structures in the universe.
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