Supernovas help 'clean' galaxies

[Judi Lynn]

Public Release: 26-May-2015
Supernovas help 'clean' galaxies

Supernovas just might be the maid service of the universe. It seems these explosions that mark the end of a star's life work hand-in-hand with supermassive black holes to sweep out gas and shut down galaxies' star-forming factories.

Michigan State University


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Jets erupting from a supermassive black hole, such as the one in Centaurus A (shown in this color composite image), might clear the way for
supernovas to sweep out gas and stop star formation.
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Supernovas just might be the maid service of the universe.

It seems these explosions that mark the end of a star's life work hand-in-hand with supermassive black holes to sweep out gas and shut down galaxies' star-forming factories.

Recent research, led by Michigan State University astronomers, finds that the black holes located at the cores of galaxies launch fountains of charged particles, which can stir up gas throughout the galaxy and temporarily interrupt star formation.

But unless something intervenes, the gas will eventually cool and start forming stars again.
One mega-outburst from the black hole, though, could heat the gas surrounding the galaxy enough to let supernovas take over and mop up the mess. A celestial cleaning partnership might help astronomers understand why some massive galaxies stopped forming stars billions of years ago.

More:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-05/msu-sh052615.php

[TexasTowelie]

1. The teabaggers will want to check their green cards

since they are opposed to illegal aliens. :groan:

[tblue37]

2. Odd phrasing, as though stars are "junk" than needs to be cleaned up. I guess if you're a

really OCD god, you might prefer empty space, just as a tidy housekeeper likes a well swept floor and an uncluttered desk, but otherwise the idea that all that gas and all the stars it coalesces to form are like embarrassing dust bunnies under the bed is just weird.

[LuvNewcastle]

3. I thought the same thing.

I wasn't aware that we had a dirty universe. Maybe we need astronauts to carry Swiffers out on their missions.

[MisterP]

4. yeah, clean them of LIFE: we're on to you Berserkers!

go devour some other star system!