Mysterious Rings of Radio Light Discovered Linking Galaxies Across Vast Distances
Astronomers have identified a new class of cosmic structure – colossal rings of radio light stretching millions of light-years, appearing to connect galaxies in a previously unknown way. The discovery,made possible by a combination of volunteer citizen scientists and advanced radio telescope data,challenges existing understanding of how galaxies interact with and shape their surrounding environments.
These structures, dubbed “ORCs” (Odd radio Circles), are unlike anything seen before and can only be detected using radio telescopes like LOFAR, a network spanning the Netherlands and other European countries. The recent findings, published in the Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, reveal not only a previously identified double-ring ORC but two additional examples, offering clues to their formation and prevalence in the universe.
The discovery originated with volunteers meticulously scanning deep space maps, identifying unusual patterns that automated systems might have overlooked. One newly discovered ORC, RAD J122622.6+640622, features a galaxy nearly 3 million light-years across with a jet curving to form a radio ring approximately 100,000 light-years wide. Another, RAD J142004.0+621715, showcases a 1.4 million light-year galaxy with a ring at the tip of a jet and a narrower jet on the opposite side.
Scientists theorize these rings are created by powerful galactic winds ejecting material into space, sculpting it into these enormous structures following explosive events in the central galaxies. “ORCs and radio rings are not isolated curiosities,” explained Pratik Dabhade, a coauthor from the National Center for Nuclear Research in Poland. “They are part of a broader family of exotic plasma structures shaped by black hole jets, winds, and their environments.”
The finding underscores the complex and dynamic interplay between galaxies and their surroundings,suggesting galaxies have a greater capacity to influence the cosmos than previously thought. Further research is planned to determine the exact mechanisms driving ORC formation and to assess how common these structures are throughout the universe.
