Bubble of secrets: Here’s what the new 3D map of a gigantic cosmic cavity tells us about the universe

Subject: Science & tech

Section :Space

Context:

New research on a giant cosmic cavity that surrounds the solar system could reveal the universe’s secrets, including questions about the origins of stars.

Details:

Researchers from the Center for Astrophysics (CfA) Harvard & Smithsonian have generated a 3D magnetic map of the cavity called Local Bubble.

Local bubble:

The Local Bubble is a 1,000-light-year-wide cavity or a superbubble.
Local Bubble is thought to have originated from supernovae roughly 14 million years ago.
- Supernova is a cosmic explosion occurring when stars meet their end.
Other superbubbles also exist in the Milky Way.
Space is full of these superbubbles that trigger the formation of new stars and planets and influence the overall shapes of galaxies.
Superbubbles are comparable to holes in swiss cheese. Supernova explosions blow holes in the cheese. New stars form around these holes.
- Mechanisms powering the formation and expansion of the Local Bubble are not well-understood.
- There is little information on how magnetic fields likely impact the bubble and local star formation.

Mapping of local bubble:

They used Gaia and Planck– space-based observatories launched by the European Space Agency (ESA).
- Gaia was used to identify the location and local concentration of cosmic dust. This helped them trace the boundaries of the Local Bubble.
- Planck provided information on the magnetic alignment of cosmic dust.
- This alignment can indicate the orientation of the magnetic field acting on the dust particles, allowing the researchers to generate a 3D magnetic field orientation on the surface of the Local Bubble.