Why do hundreds of strange filaments at the Milky Way’s core seem to align with a black hole that barely stirs? The latest radio glimpses pose a sharper question: what happened there that we can still see, but no longer feel?
New radio images from South Africa’s MeerKAT array reveal a crowded scene near Sagittarius A*, where a forest of threadlike structures has come into focus. Unlike the towering vertical filaments cataloged before, hundreds of shorter strands 5 to 10 light-years long lie sideways yet all point toward the black hole. Led by Farhad Yusef-Zadeh and published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the study argues these are unhealed scars from violent eruptions, possibly about 6 million years ago. The find refreshes the picture of a nucleus where stars, gas and dust move to the hidden rhythms traced by radio waves.
The mysterious filaments unveiled near our galaxy’s heart
At the very center of the Milky Way lies a chaotic yet fascinating region, home to colossal forces that shape our galaxy. Recent findings from 2023 reveal hundreds of enigmatic filament-like structures near Sagittarius A*, the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole. Could these be remnants of an explosive past? Farhad Yusef-Zadeh and his team ventured into the depths of this glowing nucleus, armed with cutting-edge technology, to find out.
A dynamic core under the lens
To understand these discoveries, it helps to picture the galactic nucleus, a dense hub of stars, dust clouds, and persistent cosmic activity. At its center resides Sagittarius A*, weighing in at over 4 million suns and exerting a powerful gravitational pull. This is no tranquil corner of the universe.
Researchers used the MeerKAT telescope, a state-of-the-art radio observatory in South Africa, to map this labyrinth in unprecedented detail. Its 64 parabolic dishes unlocked radio frequencies hidden from traditional optical tools, shedding light on phenomena shrouded in obscurity. What they found paints a vivid picture of the galaxy’s tumultuous heart.
The story in the filaments
Stretching across 5 to 10 light-years, these newly discovered filaments stand apart from previously known ones. Unlike the vertical lines identified in past studies, these filaments are shorter, curiously horizontal, and fewer in number. Most notably, they all seem to point toward Sagittarius A*, almost as if tracing the echoes of something immense.
Hundreds of sideways filaments were found near the black hole.
Previous research recorded over 1000 vertical filaments.
Each has a distinct orientation and position, hinting at specific events in the past.
Yusef-Zadeh suspects they could be “unhealed scars” from violent energy eruptions millions of years ago. One hypothesis is that these filaments are relics of activity from 6 million years past when Sagittarius A* might have unleashed jets of energy into the galactic core, reshaping its surroundings.
Uncovering cosmic memory
What makes these discoveries fascinating is their potential to rewrite parts of our galaxy’s history. Think of them as silent witnesses, whispering about Sagittarius A*’s once volcanic temper. While the black hole appears calm today, these remnants hint that it was not always so. Past studies showed immense energy bubbles towering over the galaxy’s core. Now, these filaments further enrich the evolving narrative of chaotic eruptions shaping the galactic center.
This research also underscores the importance of radio astronomy. Tools like MeerKAT add depth to what we know about such complex environments, offering glimpses into processes too vast or ancient to witness directly. While questions remain about how these filaments formed and their exact connection to Sagittarius A*, one thing is clear: the heart of the Milky Way still pulses with untold stories.