Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery within the Local Hot Bubble, a vast structure that contains our solar system. Led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, they found an interstellar tunnel leading toward Centaurus, potentially connecting our solar system to other regions of the galaxy.
The Local Hot Bubble, formed by supernova explosions millions of years ago, spans 1,000 light-years and has a unique structure that allows it to isolate objects inside from its extreme temperatures. Using the powerful eROSITA X-ray telescope, the team mapped the bubble in unprecedented detail and discovered an unexpected tunnel through the cooler interstellar medium.
The finding supports a 1974 theory suggesting that galaxies are interconnected by hot bubbles and tunnels. The discovery of this tunnel towards Centaurus strengthens the hypothesis and raises questions about similar structures throughout the Milky Way. Scientists believe the tunnel may act as a conduit linking the bubble to other regions, such as the Gum Nebula, and hope it will lead to further understanding of the galaxy’s formation and evolution.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/1-5-million-km-from-earth-scientists-discover-space-tunnel-that-could-link-us-to-other-worlds-186430-13-11-2024