Space scientists discover 'mysterious objects' that could solve two cosmic mysteries

Space scientists discover 'mysterious objects' that could solve two cosmic mysteries Astronomers have discovered 84 'hypersoft X-ray sources' – mysterious objects in other galaxies that emit unusually low-energy X-rays but intense levels of ultraviolet radiation, and could help solve two long-standing cosmic mysteries Space scientists have revealed they've uncovered "mysterious objects" behaving in ways never witnessed before. Astronomers spotted them emitting remarkably low-energy X-rays while producing powerful bursts of ultraviolet radiation. The team identified 84 of these "hypersoft X-ray sources" - dubbed this because they emit such low-energy X-rays - across six separate galaxies they examined, utilising publicly accessible data from the Chandra archive. They suggested the newly detected objects in distant galaxies might help resolve not just one, but two enduring puzzles in astrophysics: which stars ultimately become Type Ia supernovae, and what causes electrons to be stripped from gas between stars in certain galaxies. Mustafa Muhibullah from the University of Alabama, who headed the research, said: "We've never encountered a group of objects that act like this. Of course, the next step was to try to figure out what these things are. "These clandestine X-ray sources are actually among the most energetic objects in galaxies, and they could be solving two cosmic mysteries at once." Scientists believe that certain white dwarf systems drawing material from companion stars might ultimately explode as a supernova - designated as Type Ia - which is vital for calculating the universe's expansion. These supernovae were instrumental in uncovering the fact that this expansion is speeding up. Astronomers have spent many years searching for the stars that transform into Type Ia supernovae, yet have so far drawn a blank. Study co-author Jimmy Irwin, also of the University of Alabama, said: "If we could find a way to spot these Type Ia supernova explosions before they go off, that would be really important. Right now, we study them after they've exploded, and astronomers have struggled to understand what is actually ignited." Another enigma that these hypersoft X-ray sources could shed light on is what strips electrons from gas between stars in certain galaxies. Understanding this electron-stripping process is crucial, as it can impact the rate at which stars form and shape the life cycles of galaxies. While hot, massive stars contribute to this process, they don't fully account for what is driving this stripping. The extraordinarily high levels of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the hypersoft X-ray sources could prove to be a critical factor. Researchers have confirmed that further observations are now being planned to determine the precise nature of these objects and examine their influence on shaping galaxies. The findings have been published in a paper featured in Nature Astronomy.