Thus, the problem had been pushed back a level: the shape of the initial mass function appeared to directly mimic the shape of the mass distribution of the prestellar cores.
The stellar initial mass function is a fundamental parameter that not only encodes the astrophysics of star formation, but is also crucial for interpreting most extra-galactic observations.
By nailing down what percentage of stars have a particular mass within a cluster, or the Initial Mass Function (IMF), scientists can better interpret the light from distant galaxies and understand the formation history of stars in our universe.