Science and Technology
In News: Researchers from the Center for Astrophysics (CfA) | Harvard & Smithsonian have generated a 3D magnetic map of the cavity called Local Bubble.
Local Bubble:
- It 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 –
- Superbubbles are comparable to holes in Swiss cheese – Supernova explosions blow holes in the cheese and new stars form around these holes
Significance:
- Superbubbles trigger the formation of new stars and planets and influence the overall shapes of galaxies
- Star-forming regions occur along the bubble’s surface.
About the study:
- Mechanisms powering the formation and expansion of the Local Bubble are not well-understood
- Further, there is little information on how magnetic fields likely impact the bubble and local star formation.
- To generate a magnetic map of the Local Bubble, Gaia and Planck were used — 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
- It is expected to improve the 3-D map’s accuracy with technology and a clearer understanding of the Local Bubble
Source: DTE
Previous Year Question
Q.1) Which of the following is/are cited by the scientists as evidence/evidences for the continued expansion of universe? (2012)
- Detection of microwaves in space
- Observation of redshift phenomenon in space
- Movement of asteroids in space
- Occurrence of supernova explosions in space code
Which of the following statements are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 only
- 1, 3 and 4
- None of the above
