A NASA spacecraft could detect particles aliens entering our solar system. The discovery, made by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX, in English), provides the most complete view to date of the materials that fill the space from the rest of the galaxy. The researchers are confident that these new measurements will provide clues on how and where our system was formed, the forces that shaped history and other stars of the galaxy.
This type of experiment is very difficult because of a magnetic bubble that surrounds the solar system and protects us from being hit by the interstellar wind. Most of the particles carried by these winds is hit by the bubble, which only lets through those that have no electric charge. After about 30 years, these particles are captured by the solar gravity. This is where the IBEX, which orbits the Earth, can capture them.
 |
| IBEX spacecraft, which detected the particles |
So far the only element coming from other systems to be received by any nature was helium, for over 10 years. But this time the IBEX detected three other types of atoms: hydrogen, oxygen and neon - the raw material that are formed new stars and planets. They found 74 oxygen atoms for every 20 of neon. In the solar system, this ratio is 111 atoms of oxygen to the same 20. This difference may provide clues about the formation of our system and other stars.
Source Galileu.
No comments:
Post a Comment