‘Milky Way has lumpy halo in which stars are recycled’ | NOW

Astronomers at the University of Iowa have discovered that the Milky Way, the galaxy in which our solar system resides, is surrounded by a “lumpy halo.” This substance consists of hot gases and matter, which are continuously expelled at the birth and death of stars.

According to the researchers, the halo, also called the circumgalactic medium, acts as a kind of nursery for stars. About ten billion years ago it was the breeding ground for the Milky Way itself.

American astronomers suspect that dying stars ‘return’ gas to the galactic clump. According to that theory, new stars are born from that same gas. “For example, the Milky Way is concerned with recycling,” say the astronomers.

According to the researchers, the halo could also contain dark matter. This matter is not observable with current technology, but scientists suspect that more than a quarter of the universe consists of this.

The astronomers made the discovery on the basis of observations made with the HaloSat, a satellite that receives X-rays from the halo. Most of the X-rays were present in places where the most stars are formed.

The findings from the study were published Monday in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy.

– .