The Milky Way’s Double Bubble

The Milky Way’s Double Bubble

When it comes to blowing bubbles, never go toe-to-toe with a galaxy.

Ten years ago, astronomers were astonished to discover large bubble-like structures emerging from the heart of our Galaxy. More impressive than any bubble you might have blown as a child, these balls of plasma span thousands of light-years and are visible in gamma rays, the highest energy range of photons. The origin of these Fermi bubbles (named for the satellite which first discovered them) is a mystery, and one that has puzzled astrophysicists since the discovery of the bubbles a decade ago.

Now, astronomers are scratching their heads yet again, as the authors of today’s paper uncovered that these bubbles are also visible in x-rays.

Source: astrobites.org/2020/12/19/xray-fermi-bubbles/