Tag: cosmic shocks
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Astronomers Finally Explain the Ghostly Radio Relics in Space
Unraveling a Celestial Mystery: What Are Radio Relics? In the vast tapestry of the universe, galaxy clusters collide in cataclysmic, slow-motion mergers. Amid these colossal events, vast, ghostly arcs emerge—diffuse radio emissions that span millions of light-years. These structures, known as radio relics, have puzzled astronomers for decades. Now, a combination of detailed observations and…
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Astronomers finally explain the strange physics of ghostly ‘radio relics’ in space
What are radio relics and why do they glow? Galaxy clusters—the universe’s largest gravitationally bound structures—often collide in slow-motion mergers. These cosmic clashes generate enormous shock waves as gas and dark matter interact at colossal scales. Embedded in the hot, X-ray-emitting plasma of these clusters are radio relics: vast, arc-shaped ribbons of diffuse radio emission…