Have you ever thought that the space around us is more “crowded” than we imagine? Imagine a huge cosmic dance, where our galaxy, the Milky Way, and its neighbor Andromeda, are already starting to merge, much earlier than previously thought. A fascinating thought, right? That’s what a group of scientists recently discovered, and the implications are extraordinary.
According to a study published in the prestigious journal Nature Astronomythe two galaxies are not simply close together in space; their outer boundaries could already overlap And interact. But how is this possible? Scientists have redefined the boundaries between interstellar space and what they call the “circumgalactic medium” (CGM), a sort of cloud of gas that envelops galaxies. This cloud, which represents about 70% of the mass of a galaxy, extends much farther than previously thought, so much so that it comes into contact with the Andromeda cloud.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Until now, we thought that the collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda would occur in about four billion years. However, the latest observations suggest that this collision could be already started. An idea that could change the way we think about the universe around us.
Have you ever wondered what this means for the future of the universe? Are we really in a phase of cosmic transformation? Probably yes.
Scientists, using cutting-edge technology and telescopes such as the WM Keck Observatory in Hawaii, have observed in detail this boundary, located about 100,000 light-years away from our galaxy. It is an extraordinary discovery: “For the first time we have photographed this halo of matter around a galaxy“, said Professor Emma Ryan-Weber of Swinburne University. This “cloud” of gas surrounding galaxies is strikingly different from the interiors of galaxies themselves. The gas in the CGM is heated by phenomena that do not occur in galaxies, such as diffuse emissions from other galaxies or cosmic shocks.
But what does this discovery really mean?
Scientists hope to better understand how galaxies evolve, how they take in and release gas, and how these dynamics affect star formation. The CGM, in fact, plays a crucial role in this processas it acts as a sort of reservoir that influences the birth and death of stars.
Think about it: we are discovering how the “Heart” of galaxies. How is our universe changing and how could these discoveries impact our future knowledge? It is not fascinating imagine that we are observing the cosmic dance of two huge galaxies meeting?
And now, what can you do? Continue to follow our discoveries on iCrewPlay and stay up to date with the latest news from the scientific world. Who knows what other surprises the universe has in store for us!
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