Latest news with #&Astrophysics
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
What lies between the stars? Astronomers map a mysterious ‘interstellar tunnel' of plasma stretching from our solar system to distant stars
Astronomers have discovered evidence of a strange 'interstellar tunnel', a channel of hot, low-density plasma stretching out from our solar system toward distant stars. The finding, made using the eRosita X-ray telescope , sheds new light on the hidden structures of our galactic neighborhood and challenges long-held assumptions about the emptiness of space. For decades, the general conception among scientists has been that the Sun sits inside a peculiar region called the Local Hot Bubble , a vast cavity about 300 light-years across, created by ancient supernova explosions . These blasts heated the surrounding gas and carved out a bubble of hot, thin plasma. Until now, it was thought of largely as an isolated feature. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo This analysis, led by Dr. L. L. Sala and colleagues from the Max Planck Institute and published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, shows the bubble may be more connected than previously believed. Data reveal a tunnel-like structure extending toward the Centaurus constellation, and possibly another pathway leading toward Canis Major. Mapping space with X-rays Live Events The breakthrough came from the eRosita X-ray telescope, part of the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma mission. It captured faint X-ray emissions from hot gas, then astronomers combined eRosita's results with older ROSAT data to map temperature differences and structures around the solar system. Their painstaking survey divided the sky into thousands of sections, extracting signals from warm gas and dust cavities. This revealed the faint glow of the Local Hot Bubble, and, unexpectedly, the presence of tunnel-like channels branching outward. Old theories, new evidence The idea of cosmic 'backroads', channels connecting regions of hot, thin gas, was suggested decades ago. However, evidence was lacking. The new findings confirm at least part of those earlier theories, showing that supernova explosions may have left behind a patchwork of linked cavities that shape how energy and matter flow through the Milky Way. What these tunnels could mean The tunnels are not literal passageways, but low-density corridors in space where hot plasma has carved paths between star-forming regions. These features help explain how stellar winds, dust, and cosmic rays travel across the galaxy. The study also found that the thermal pressure inside the Local Hot Bubble is lower than expected, which means the bubble might be open-ended in some directions, allowing these interstellar 'channels' to extend further. Are spaces really void? It is easy to picture space as empty, but that idea is misleading. The regions between stars are far from a perfect vacuum; they are filled with gas, dust, plasma, radiation, and magnetic fields. The Local Hot Bubble, the vast cavity surrounding our solar system, is a striking example of how violent events like supernovas can sculpt this interstellar material into surprising forms. When stars explode, they blast out matter and energy that heat and churn the medium around them. Over millions of years, these forces create stark differences in density, temperature, and composition. What looks like a void is, in reality, a complex and dynamic environment. The new study from the Max Planck Institute suggests that the bubble's internal pressure is lower than once thought, hinting that it may be open in certain directions. That could explain the tunnel-like channels of hot plasma extending toward distant constellations. Still, much remains uncertain. Some regions appear to form continuous chains of cavities, while others are closed off. Understanding these tangled structures will require sharper data and more advanced models. What is clear is that appearances deceive: space may look calm, but it carries the scars of ancient stellar upheavals. Our solar system wandered into the Local Hot Bubble a few million years ago, long after nearby stars had exploded. Now we find ourselves near its center, not by design, but by coincidence. It is as if we stumbled into the aftermath of a great cosmic event, arriving late to a party whose fireworks ended millions of years before humanity even existed. What comes next Researchers say more sensitive X-ray missions and 3D mapping will be needed to understand these structures fully. Future work may reveal how widespread such tunnels are, how they influence galactic dynamics, and whether they connect into a larger network of super bubbles across the Milky Way.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
James Webb Space Telescope identified Milky Way's cosmic twin from the universe's first billion years
Astronomers have discovered Zhúlóng, an enormous spiral galaxy observed as it was just 12.8 billion years ago, challenging current theories about galaxy formation . Identified through the James Webb Space Telescope 's PANORAMIC survey, Zhúlóng shows a well-defined spiral structure—unexpected for such an early stage in the universe. Until now, spiral galaxies were rarely seen beyond 11.5 billion years ago. With a diameter of 62,000 light-years and a stellar mass comparable to the Milky Way, Zhúlóng suggests that mature, organized galaxies may have formed much earlier than scientists once believed. Zhúlóng: A mature galaxy born in the universe's first billion years Astronomer Mengyuan Xiao and his team from the University of Geneva state, "Zhúlóng reveals that mature galaxies formed much earlier than previously thought, within the first billion years following the Big Bang." Their research, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, describes the galaxy's 'highly evolved structure,' which includes a classical quiescent bulge, a star-forming disk, and grand-design spiral arms. These spiral arms stretch from the nucleus to the galaxy's outer regions, defining its grand-design spiral shape. Such complex features are typically seen in older galaxies, making Zhúlóng's early development—just one billion years after the Big Bang—especially significant and challenging earlier models of galaxy formation. Consequences of James Webb Space Telescope identified-twin galaxy formation and evolution "Our discovery provides essential constraints for models of massive galaxy formation and the origins of spiral structures in the early universe," the researchers state. Earlier, it was assumed that the development of spiral galaxies was a slow process, with these structures forming predominantly after the first billion years of cosmic history. However, the detection of Zhúlóng suggests that the processes responsible for galaxy formation, such as star settling into disks and the formation of spiral arms, might have occurred much more rapidly. This challenges existing models and calls for a reassessment of factors like gas dynamics, star formation rates, and the role of dark matter halos. Zhúlóng's swift evolution within 800 million years after the Big Bang offers a new benchmark for astrophysical models and simulations aimed at understanding the early universe. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo A Milky Way twin like never before found by James Webb Space Telescope 'Zhúlóng stands out due to its striking resemblance to the Milky Way in terms of shape, size, and stellar mass,' says Xiao. With a diameter of around 62,000 light-years and a mass comparable to that of the Milky Way, Zhúlóng is a close cosmic relative despite its ancient origins. The galaxy's central black hole appears inactive, indicating a decline in its star formation rate, which is estimated to be between 20 and 155 solar masses per year. This suggests a shift from a highly active star-forming phase to a more mature, stable state. The galaxy's well-formed classical bulge and star-forming disk further confirm its advanced structural development, providing a rare glimpse into the Milky Way's early evolutionary stages. A new timeline perspective of Galaxy after James Webb Space Telescope's discovery The discovery of Zhúlóng in such an early stage suggests that massive galaxies could form up to ten times faster than previously believed. This revised timeline challenges traditional views on the pace of cosmic evolution during the first billion years after the Big Bang. Investigating the factors that enabled Zhúlóng's rapid formation will provide insights into the conditions of the early universe, including the availability of cold gas, star formation efficiency, and feedback from black holes or supernovae. As the JWST continues its study of the Cosmic Dawn, findings like Zhúlóng will enhance our understanding of how the universe evolved from its primordial state to a structured cosmos filled with complex galaxies like the Milky Way. Also read: 8 interesting scorpion facts that will blow your mind: Know about their characteristics, origin and more
