unexpected anomalies_12The existence of a network of tunnels of hot gas that thread interstellar space was first suggested nearly 30 years ago by Don Cox and Barry Smith of the University of Wisconsin. In their model, energetic galactic supernova explosions create fast-moving expanding bubbles of hot gas that collide with the surrounding cold gas of interstellar space, which in turn becomes compressed into thin shells. Eventually, these shells of cold gas meet other expanding hot cavities and break up to form small tunnels or pathways between the expanding voids, Welsh said.
The new results also show that the local void of gas extends out of the galactic disk and stretches into the overlying galactic halo region. In this view of the galaxy, the cavity appears as a tube-like "chimney" that links the gas in the galactic disk with that of the halo. Galactic chimneys have been widely observed in other galaxies and are thought to be responsible for venting the hot and ionized gas expelled in supernova explosions into galaxy halos. Active vents seen in other galaxies have been labeled "galactic fountains" and the gas falling back into the disk, "galactic rain."
Exerpts of
"3-D map of local interstellar space shows sun lies in middle of hole piercing galactic plane ", by By Robert Sanders.
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