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Surprising revelation shows interstellar tunnel connecting Solar System to other stars

Written by Alisson Ficher
Published 13/11/2024 às 01:59
Discovery of the Centaur Tunnel broadens astronomers' view of a possible network of interstellar tunnels that connect the Solar System to other stars. (Image: reproduction/ Youtube)
Discovery of the Centaur Tunnel broadens astronomers' view of a possible network of interstellar tunnels that connect the Solar System to other stars. (Image: reproduction/ Youtube)

Astronomers have identified a new interstellar tunnel linking the Solar System to the constellation Centaurus, suggesting a complex network of hot plasma cavities between stars.

Astronomers have unraveled a new celestial mystery that could transform the way we understand the connections of the Solar system with the rest of the universe.

Recent data reveals the presence of an interstellar tunnel that crosses the void and projects towards the constellation Centaurus.

This tunnel, a cavity filled with hot plasma and nearly free of dust, expands the concept that these cosmic structures may be much more extensive and clean than previously thought, suggesting an invisible network of space corridors connecting distant regions of the universe.

However, there are more surprising details behind this discovery, made by an international team of astronomers.

Using the eROSITA space telescope, which has been scanning the sky in X-rays since 2020, they explored the structure and characteristics of this tunnel in depth.

In addition to the tunnel towards the constellation Centaurus, the study suggests that a complex web of tunnels could connect different parts of the cosmos, something that could change our understanding of the interactions between stars and galaxies.

The mystery of interstellar tunnels

These tunnels are low-density cavities that stand out for their “cleanliness”, harboring little or no dense interstellar material, but, on the other hand, filled with hot plasma.

In its analysis, eROSITA identified two such tunnels. The first is the well-known Β CMa tunnel, while the second runs towards the constellation Centaurus, located at specific longitude and latitude coordinates in the sky (315°, 25°).

According to the article published in the magazine Astronomy & Astrophysics, both tunnels appear to feature low dust density and hot plasma, suggesting the possibility of a vast network of cavities connecting “clean” areas of interstellar space.

According to the researchers, this network may be the result of stellar feedback events — that is, the impact of stellar explosions that expel dust and matter away from these regions, leaving them cleaner.

This creates a kind of corridor through which radiation waves and high-energy matter can move more freely and quickly.

The Local Hot Bubble: A Refuge in Space

Within this network of tunnels, our Solar System lies in a region known as the Local Hot Bubble, or Local Cavity, an area of ​​low density that appears as a “void” in the interstellar medium.

This space, filled with extremely hot and diffuse gas, is about a thousand light-years across and has a temperature high enough to emit X-rays, which were detected by eROSITA.

In addition to the Centaur tunnel, the eROSITA mission revealed other peculiarities of the Local Hot Blob, such as a curious temperature gradient. 

The northern hemisphere of the blob is significantly cooler than the southern hemisphere, a phenomenon that astronomers believe is related to supernova explosions that would have expanded and heated the region.

The origin of this temperature differential is still under investigation, but scientists speculate that it may be a clue to ancient cosmic events that shaped this region of space.

Another curious detail is the lack of dust in the Local Hot Blob, which also contributes to the “clean” character of this area in relation to other parts of the Milky Way.

According to researcher Gabriele Ponti of the Brera Astronomical Observatory in Italy, this absence of dust allows the hot plasma that emits X-rays to spread freely, keeping the bubble in a rarefied and nearly pristine state.

The Sun and its central position in the bubble

One of the most striking coincidences is the central position of the Sun in the Local Hot Blob. Although it is an interesting fact, scientists point out that this position is temporary.

The Sun and its system are always moving through the Milky Way, which means our current location in this bubble could change in a few million years. 

According to Gabriele Ponti, “it is pure coincidence that the Sun appears to occupy a relatively central position in the Local Hot Blob”, highlighting that the Solar system must have entered this bubble a few million years ago, a small interval in astronomical terms.

The Centaur Tunnel and its implications for astrophysics

Finally, the biggest advance is the identification of the Centauro tunnel, an interstellar tunnel that stands out for the minimal presence of interstellar dust.

This discovery was possible thanks to the high sensitivity of eROSITA, which offers a much higher resolution than its predecessor, ROSAT.

As Michael Freyberg of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany explained, the Centaur tunnel may be just one local example of a vast network of tunnels that hypothetically connect distant regions of hot plasma throughout the galaxy.

This would support long-held theories about the existence of corridors of hot matter between galactic regions, formed through continuous stellar explosions.

Open questions and future studies

Although the study has made progress in mapping the interstellar medium, many questions remain.

How might these interstellar tunnels impact the movement of cosmic particles? And how might the network of plasma cavities influence the environment around the Solar System?

Now that scientists have begun to unravel these mysteries, the question arises: How could the presence of this network of tunnels affect our understanding of the organization of the Milky Way? Could they facilitate the transport of particles between galaxies? What do you think? Could these tunnels pave the way for new theories about interstellar interactions? Let us know what you think!

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Santoro
Santoro
14/11/2024 17:56

Yes, this tunnel exists, it is possible to connect through portals using popular technology and this tunnel gave rise to the connection with AI's.

Alisson Ficher

Journalist graduated in 2017 and working in the field since 2015, with six years of experience in print magazines and over 12 thousand online publications. Specialist in politics, jobs, economics, courses, among other topics. If you have any questions, want to report an error or suggest a topic on the topics covered on the site, please contact us by email: alisson.hficher@outlook.com. We do not accept resumes!

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