**A New Pathway in Space: Recent Research Reveals 'Interstellar Tunnel' Connecting Our Solar System to Distant Stars**
A team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy has made a groundbreaking discovery, finding that the `local hot bubble' surrounding our solar system is not only a low-density, high-temperature region but also contains an `interstellar tunnel' that could be connected to distant star systems. This finding, published in the journal **Astronomy and Astrophysics**, has shed light on the previously unknown characteristics of our solar system's environment and provided new insights into the galaxy's structure.
The `local hot bubble' was formed approximately 300 million years ago as a result of a supernova explosion. By combining data from the eROSITA telescope with earlier X-ray observations, researchers have created a three-dimensional map of the hot gas surrounding our solar system. The study reveals that the local bubble has a temperature gradient and extends outwards in a hot, ionized gas `tunnel' towards the direction of the constellation Scorpius. These tunnels could have been shaped by young star winds or ancient supernova events.
Scientists believe that these `interstellar tunnels' may be part of a larger network of gas, revealing how supernovae reshape interstellar material. This discovery has not only changed our understanding of the environment surrounding our solar system but also provided a new perspective for studying the structure of the galaxy. Future high-precision observations will further uncover the properties of these tunnels and their impact on interstellar material and cosmic radiation.