Mysterious "space tunnel" discovered leading to Earth's habitat

(NLĐO) - Scientists have just identified an interstellar tunnel connecting the constellation Centaurus and the Local Hot Bubble (LHB), where Earth belongs.

Earth and the entire solar system are contained within an invisible but unusual cosmic structure called the LHB, a vast, low-density, unusually hot cavity spanning 1,000 light-years at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy.

A research team has been working to map this giant LHB bubble and has discovered a strange interstellar tunnel.

3D map of the bubble structure to which Earth belongs (gray-blue), with the location of the Solar System (Sun) marked - Image: MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE

In a study recently published in the scientific journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, a research team led by Dr. Michael Yeung from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (Germany) used the eROSITA X-ray telescope to explore the LHB.

Researchers divided eROSITA's observations of the X-ray sky into approximately 2,000 parts and meticulously studied the X-ray light in each part to create a three-dimensional map of the LHB.

This reveals much about the bubble, from its asymmetrical expansion to evidence of uneven temperature distribution, confirming that the structure was formed by a series of supernova explosions.

It also revealed that this "bubble" was a rough structure, not round like a bubble, resembling an ancient creature with many spines.

Furthermore, the 3D map also revealed a surprise: This bubble is not closed, but has a tunnel-like structure connecting directly to the constellation Centaurus, standing out in the colder interstellar environment surrounding it.

We still don't know exactly what this tunnel connects to in this constellation region.

There are several large objects in that direction, including the Gum Nebula, another nearby bubble, and several molecular clouds.

It could also be a clue that the galaxy consists of a network of interconnected hot bubbles and interstellar tunnels, an idea proposed in 1974 and still lacking much evidence.

Scientists are continuing their research to explain this space tunnel. They hope it may help answer many questions about how galaxies formed.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/phat-hien-duong-ham-vu-tru-bi-an-noi-den-noi-trai-dat-tru-ngu-196241110102005316.htm