Interstellar tunnel discovered: Could it be the cosmic gateway to new stars?

Story by Gisselle Acevedo • 13h • 3 min read

The recent discovery of an interstellar tunnel near our solar system has captured the attention of the scientific community. This tunnel, stretching towards the constellation of Centaurus, could be a gateway to other stars, opening up new possibilities for galactic exploration. The research, led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, has provided an unprecedented view of the Local Hot Bubble (LHB), a vast low-density cavity surrounding our solar system.

The LHB, extending at least 1,000 light-years, is a region that emits X-rays due to its scorching temperature of a million degrees. However, its atoms are so sparse that this extreme heat has little effect on the matter within. This environment has allowed life on Earth to thrive undisturbed, yet the bubble itself remains an astronomical mystery that scientists are eager to unravel.

Using the eROSITA X-ray telescope, the research team has created the most detailed map of this cosmic bubble to date. Located 930,000 miles from Earth, eROSITA avoids interference from our planet's hydrogen halo, providing a pristine view of the sky in X-rays. This advancement has allowed scientists to analyze the bubble's structure with unprecedented detail.

The analysis revealed that the LHB is not a uniform sphere but expands more easily in a direction perpendicular to the galactic plane. This irregular shape suggests that the bubble's evolution was influenced by multiple factors beyond simple supernova explosions. Michael Freyberg, a scientist at MPE, compared the bubble's shape to that of a bipolar nebula, but with key differences.

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/interstellar-tunnel-discovered-could-it-be-the-cosmic-gateway-to-new-stars/ar-AA1AghS2