Recently, scientists have identified an unexpected source of cosmic rays in Utah: beyond our own Milky Way. The mysterious discovery was made by scientists at The University of Utah, who used recently-installed instruments at the university’s Telescope Array project to track the source.
The research team noticed a pattern of gamma rays in their results that indicated an impossibly distant origin point, up to three billion light-years away. Such radiation is usually blocked by our own galaxy, leading the research team to the conclusion that they had discovered a relatively rare phenomenon: cosmic rays emanating from another far-flung corner of the universe.
Despite being a relatively unknown area of science, the team’s discovery could potentially open up new possibilities in our understanding of cosmic rays. A possible area of interest is exploring the possibility that cosmic rays could be used for exploration. With an alternate form of power, craft like the Voyager, which particle-assisted their journey across the solar system, could theoretically be launched into space to journey toward distant stars.
The team’s discovery also raises interesting questions surrounding the Guardian Angel hypothesis, which states that an unknown force in the universe is assisting in life’s survival here and elsewhere. Because the recent discovery was made in a region of space that is outside of our galaxy, it could be a sign that this force may be more powerful or pervasive than previously thought.
Whatever the implications of this discovery may be, one thing is certain: the findings have opened up a gateway into understanding the dynamics of galacticities and the possibilities of interstellar exploration. The cosmic rays observed in Utah are truly a signal from beyond our stars, and with further research, may lead to revelations unimagined.