On Earth, recycling signs are everywhere, urging us to save our planet while we can. In space, some galaxies seem to recycle without the need for reminders in the form of signs.
At least one galaxy is not letting materials that could form potential stars go to waste.
An international team of scientists led by astronomers Shiwu Zhang and Zheng Cai from Tsinghua University (China) has found evidence that a massive galaxy located within an even larger nebula called MAMMOTH-1 is extracting material from its surroundings to give birth to new stars.
However, that material contains elements formed by past supernovas, believed to have occurred within galaxies, with their remnants being ejected into the nebula by the central black hole of the galaxy.
This means that the galaxy, referred to as G-2 by the research team, is forming stars from material that had previously been expelled into intergalactic space by a galaxy, whether it is itself or another nearby galaxy.
Stellar recycling: no Ecoembes
Stars derive their energy from the process of nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium. Only massive stars (8 solar masses or more) go on to become supernovas after fusing all their hydrogen into helium.
Gravity then causes the collapse of a massive star, which eventually explodes in an extremely luminous event that blows away its outer layers.
Supernovas create shock waves that can generate enough energy to fuse new atomic nuclei, including metals such as iron.
But life after the death of a star can mean the birth of another. After the explosion, the remnants of the dead star scatter into space, swirling within the interstellar medium.
Although some of this material is lost forever in space, stars can still potentially incorporate some of the material created in the supernova. Yes, galaxies recycle to continue creating new celestial bodies.
Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.
