Astronomers discovered that gamma radiations from UFOs, or ultra-fast outflows from galaxies nearby for the first time have been detected. This discovery could help to shed some light on the origins of the Milky Way.
A group of researchers — led by those at Clemson University — used data from the Large Area Telescope onboard NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and a stacking technique to combine weak signals to find the gamma rays from UFOs.
UFOs should not be confused with extraterrestrials. These powerful winds come from black holes, which could have an impact on how big the black hole grows and the galaxy that hosts it.
All galaxies have supermassive black holes at their centers, including the Milky Way, which is home to Sagittarius A*.
For the first time, astronomers have discovered that gamma radiations from UFOs (ultra-fast outflows) from nearby galaxies emit gamma.
UFOs can be winds from black holes with supermassive masses. They could have an impact on the size of the black hole or the Galaxy.
While some of these black holes may be dormant others can be called active galactic nuclei.
In recent years, scientists have found that Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the middle of the Milky Way, is more active than previously thought, though it is not classified as active.
Chris Karwin, the lead author of the study, stated in a statement that the winds were difficult to find.
“Our gamma radiation observations reveal how supermassive Black holes can transmit a significant amount of energy towards their host galaxy.
“These UFOs cause shock waves which act like pistons. They also accelerate charged particles (known as cosmic rays) to speeds close to light speed.
Active black holes ‘eat up’ the material of surrounding celestial objects, which is called accretion.
Black holes are active because they eat the matter of celestial objects surrounding them. This process is known as accretion.
The winds play an important role in UFOs’ size and growth. They can also move gas over long periods of time, if strong enough.
According to the authors, this can alter the relation between the mass of central black holes and velocity dispersion stars in gallactic bulges.
Marco Ajello, study coauthor and author of the study said that the effect on galaxy was dramatic.
Winds play a significant role in galaxy size and development. If strong enough, they can move gas throughout the universe.
‘The black hole at the center of the galaxy and the galaxy itself have a mechanism to grow together in mass—and this is the mechanism.’
Karwin explained, “Gamma Rays are created by cosmic radiations.” It is possible that UFOs can be used to energize particles between extragalactic and gallactic cosmic, Karwin said.
The study could help give more insight into when Sagittarius A* stopped being active, Karwin noted.
‘Today, our black hole, Sagittarius A*, is not active, but it’s possible it was active in the recent past, maybe up until a few hundred years ago,’ Karwin said.
“Our model supports our hypothesis that the Fermi bubbles could be remnants from past UFO-like activity in the centre of the galaxy.”
The Astrophysical Journal published the study.