Analyzing data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope over the past 13 years, NASA astronomers have discovered an unexpected signal emanating from outside the galaxy, the origin of which is unexplained. Francis Reddy of NASA’s Space Flight Center called the phenomenon “unexpected and previously unexplained outside our galaxy.” The Fermi telescope observes the range of gamma waves produced during powerful releases of energy such as supernova explosions. Scientists looked at telescope data to find out more information about the so-called cosmic microwave background radiation, also known as the cosmic microwave background. CMB radiation typically has a dipole structure, with one side hotter than the other. Astronomers believe this is due to the movement of the solar system.

Instead of the expected structure of the cosmic microwave background, researchers found a signal containing some of the most energetic cosmic particles ever discovered. “This is a completely serendipitous discovery,” says cosmologist Alexander Kashlinsky of the University of Maryland and NASA Space Flight Center. “We found a much stronger signal in a different part of the sky than what we were looking for.” A paper describing the results was published this week in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. NASA astrophysicist Chris Schroeder said: “We discovered a gamma-ray dipole, its peak in the southern sky, away from the Cosmic Microwave Background, and it was 10 times more intense than expected.” ” he said. Scientists believe the observed phenomenon is related to similar cosmic gamma rays recorded at Argentina’s Pierre Auger Observatory in 2017. Astronomers believe that the two phenomena may have a common origin because of their similar structures. They hope to discover more causes of the mystery or develop alternative explanations for both features.

NASA’s unexpected discovery could help astronomers confirm or refute ideas about how the dipole structure of the cosmic microwave background forms. “The discrepancy in the size and orientation of the CMB dipole could provide insight into physical processes that occurred in the very early universe, perhaps when the universe was less than a trillionth of a second old.” says one of the researchers. Author: Fernando Atrio Barrandera. atrial balandera).

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