"Harvard Astronomers Uncover Slow Oscillation of Mysterious Galactic 'Wave'"
TL;DR
Astronomers have discovered the Radcliffe Wave, a wave-shaped chain of star-forming clouds stretching across the Milky Way, and believe that our solar system passed through it about 13 million years ago. This structure, which is the largest coherent structure ever seen in our galaxy, is oscillating like a traveling wave. The wave's origin remains a mystery, with possibilities including a dwarf galaxy collision or a sequence of supernovae causing the disturbance. Scientists are now investigating the geological and biological records for signs of Earth being affected by supernova explosions during its transit through the Radcliffe Wave.
Topics:scienceastronomy#astronomy#earths-history#galactic-structure#milky-way#radcliffe-wave#supernovae
- Astronomers say mysterious galactic 'wave' may have once washed over Earth The Washington Post
- Astronomers observe the Radcliffe Wave oscillating Phys.org
- A Mysterious Wave-Like Structure in Our Galaxy Found to Be Slowly Slithering ScienceAlert
- 'The Wave is Waving': Harvard Astronomers Discover Radcliffe Wave's Oscillation | News Harvard Crimson
- The Radcliffe Wave is Waving | Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Harvard CfA
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