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Astronomers Puzzled to Find an Odd Radio Signal Coming From a Fracture in the Milky Way’s ‘Cosmic Snake’

The radio signal was coming from 'Galactic Center Snake', a bone which is a giant molecular filament, a part of a star formation.

BY SOMDATTA MAITY

PUBLISHED MAY 7, 2025

A composite image of the Crab Nebula showing the X-ray (blue), and optical (red) images superimposed. (Representative Cover Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by Optical: NASA/HST/ASU/J. Hester et al. X-Ray: NASA/CXC/ASU/J. Hester et al.)

The Milky Way galaxy contains many intriguing phenomena. One of them is giant structures called 'bones,' stated IFL Science. The massive bodies garnered more interest when a strange radio signal was recorded from one of them. Findings regarding this signal were published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Image of a Pulsar (Representative Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by Composite by Jayanne English, University of Manitoba; F. Schinzel et al.; NRAO/AUI/NSF; DRAO/Canadian Galactic Plane Survey; and NASA/IRAS) — Image of a Pulsar (Representative Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo Composite by Jayanne English, University of Manitoba; F. Schinzel et al)

Star formations with high mass often arrange themselves in giant molecular filaments (GMFs). The GMFS that exhibit spiral arms and also have considerable density are known as bones. To date, 20 such structures have been spotted in space by astronomers. The radio signal was coming from the bone named 'Galactic Center Snake.'

The observations were made by researchers on NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, according to Science Blog. 'Galactic Center Snake' has been estimated to be 230 light-years long and is present close to the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy. Experts had focused on the structure, because for decades two oddities labelled as 'kinks' had appeared on radio waves emitted from the structure. Monitoring of this structure revealed to them that it had suffered a fracture. After examinations, researchers identified the cause to be a neutron star. Experts concluded this with the help of accumulated X-ray and radio data.

The data showcased that the fracture site had features reminiscent of a rapidly spinning neutron star, also known as a pulsar. Such bodies, during supernova explosions, which give birth to them, often receive so much energy that they begin racing through space. The study claims that in one of these events, the pulsar probably interacted with Snake.

Past studies have shown that the bones are kept in place with the help of magnetic fields. These magnetic fields cause the energized particles in the structure to emit radio signals. Experts speculate that a high-speed pulsar traveling between the speeds of one and two million miles per hour smashed into the 'Galactic Center Snake.' The collision possibly disturbed the magnetic field structure in place, which warped the radio signal. This change produced the breaks that were noted in observations of radio signals. The finding sheds light on the interaction between magnetic fields and highly energized particles throughout the galaxy. Researchers are hopeful that insights from this observation could help experts in analyzing similar phenomena in other galaxies.

The team claims that they would need further observations to confirm their assertions about this particular bone in the Milky Way Galaxy, according to IFL Science. They also suggest that an eye should be kept on the 'Snake' stretching at the centre of the galaxy, even if it is far away.

Another team of researchers had detected what they believed to be a new millisecond pulsar in 'Snake,' according to Phys.org. It is unclear if it is the same pulsar that has been cited as the reason for Snake's fracture. Millisecond pulsar refers to those spinning neutron stars that have rotation periods below 30 milliseconds.