Scientists find mysterious cosmic tunnel linking our solar system to distant parts of the galaxy

Researchers mapping a bubble of superheated gas that surrounds our solar system found a surprise, there is a tunnel that may link ours with another.© University of Warwick/Mark Garli (via REUTERS)

New out of this world discoveries about the wonders of space never cease amaze and excite one’s imagination. As we attempt to become a multi-planet species recent research has mapped a “interstellar tunnel” from our solar system pointing toward the constellation Centaurus.

That is direction in which our nearest neighboring star, Proxima Centauri, is located as well as another superbubble. In fact, the scientists believe that there may be an entire network of tunnels connecting to other bubbles throughout the galaxy.

Earth’s solar system in the center of a space bubble

The Earth and our solar system with it are currently at the center of a bubble in space known as a Local Hot Bubble (LHB). This is an area of hot, low-density gas which has been theorized to exist since 1974.

Using data from the eROSITA All-Sky Survey, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) were able to map in detail our LHB and create a 3D model of it. At the same time, they discovered a large-scale temperature gradient in the bubble indicating how it was formed.

Scientists find mysterious cosmic tunnel linking our solar system to distant parts of the galaxy