Science

NASA's Cosmic X-Ray Discovery: A Fractured 'Bone' in the Milky Way

2025-05-15

Author: Yu

Imagine taking an X-ray — not of your bones, but of our galaxy! NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has done just that, revealing an astonishing discovery: a fractured structure resembling a bone, located 26,000 light-years away in the Milky Way.

This remarkable 'cosmic bone,' officially named G359.13142-0.20005 (or simply G359.13, also known as the Snake), stretches over 230 light-years in length. The striking image combines data from the MeerKAT radio array in South Africa and the National Science Foundation’s Very Large Array in New Mexico, showcasing a visible fracture about a third of the way down this dazzling structure.

Experts believe this fracture was caused by a pulsar, an incredibly dense, spinning neutron star that emits beams of radiation. The pulsar is thought to have collided with G359.13 at a mind-boggling speed of between one million to two million miles per hour. Such an impactful encounter isn't just a cosmic accident; it dramatically affected the filament's magnetic field, causing the notable fracture.

Though this fascinating structure isn’t a bone in the traditional sense, it’s a testament to the grand scale of formations within our galaxy, created by intricate radio waves woven through magnetic fields at the Milky Way's center.

Given the scale of G359.13, scientists are less hopeful for a cosmic cast to mend this fracture. Instead, they suggest that it might naturally repair itself over millions of years — a slow process that underscores the enduring beauty and mystery of cosmic phenomena.

This captivating research has been detailed in the May 2024 issue of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, further illuminating the wonders of our universe.