From the January 2002 Scientific American Magazine | 0 comments

The Gas between the Stars ( Preview )

Filled with colossal fountains of hotgas and vast bubbles blown by exploding stars, the interstellar medium is far more interesting than scientists once thought

Blowing Bubbles

Having identified these new, more energetic phases of the medium, astronomers have turned to the question of how the diverse components behave and interrelate. Not only does the interstellar medium cycle through stars, it changes from H2 to H i to H ii and from cold to hot and back again. Massive stars are the only known source of energy powerful enough to account for all this activity. A study by Ralf-J�rgen Dettmar of the University of Bochum in Germany found that galaxies with a larger-than-average massive star population seem to have atmospheres that are more extended or puffed up. How the stars wield power over an entire galaxy is somewhat unclear, but astronomers generally pin the blame on the creation of hot ionized gas.

Already a Digital subscriber? Sign-in Now
If your institution has site license access, enter here.

Read Comments (0) | Post a comment

You Might Also Like

Discuss This Article

Click here to submit your comment.

VIEW:



	Email:
	Name:
	Address:
	Address 2:
	City:
	State:

Subscription Center

Editor's Pick

Adapting to the Freshwater CrisisForward-thinking experts are getting a better handle on the growing global water shortage and coming up with innovative approaches to ensuring the security, safety and sustainability of this resource