‘Interstellar highway’: A hidden tunnel could link us to distant worlds

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

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Bubble Universe

The solar system drifts inside a colossal, million-degree void. This cosmic bubble spans 1,000 light-years but remains eerily undetectable to human senses.

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Supernova Sculptor

Massive star explosions likely carved out this immense cavity, blasting interstellar gas away. The result? A vast, X-ray-filled expanse surrounding our solar system.

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Not a Sphere

New X-ray maps reveal the Local Hot Bubble isn’t a perfect sphere. Instead, it stretches and expands unevenly, shaped by galactic forces and past stellar detonations.

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Hidden Tunnel

A mysterious interstellar tunnel toward Centaurus was discovered, allowing hot gas to escape. Could this be part of a larger cosmic network of interconnected voids?

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Galactic Highways

Scientists suspect the Milky Way is crisscrossed with tunnels linking massive superbubbles. If true, our galaxy is more like Swiss cheese than a smooth disk.

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Sun’s Cosmic Ride

Our solar system isn’t special—it’s just passing through this giant bubble. A few million years ago, we weren’t inside it. In cosmic time, we’re merely visitors.

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X-Ray Mystery

For decades, unexplained X-rays bombarded Earth. Now, we know they originate from this vast hot bubble—confirming a 50-year-old astronomical theory.

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Galactic History Book

The Local Hot Bubble holds clues to past supernovae. By studying its structure, scientists can reconstruct the explosive history of our region of the Milky Way.

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More Bubbles Await

Experts warn that climate change, war, and industrial farming are wiping out crop diversity. Svalbard could be the key to feeding future generations, no matter what happens.

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