A recent x-ray map of the sky has giant bubbles clearly visible surrounding the Milky Way galaxy. There are two theories about what is causing the giant bubbles. The first is that a wave of stars popped up and exploded called a starburst galaxy. The second, and more likely, is a supermassive black hole that sits at the galaxy’s heart. Despite being quiet today, a large cloud of gas likely strayed too close.
Key Takeaways:
- There was a bang in the center of the Milky Way around 15 million to 20 million years ago.
- It could have been a wave of tens of thousands of stars popped into being and promptly blew up also known as a starburst galaxy.
- Or it could have been the supermassive black hole that sits at the galaxy’s heart.
“The results, which Nature published on December 9, have moved a decades-old idea from the fringe into the mainstream.”
