NASA Discovers Mysterious Space X-Rays Emitted From Unknown Source In The Universe

NASA's Diffuse X-ray emission (DXL) sounding rocket has recently revealed an entire group of X-rays in space that is not emitted from any known source. Incidentally, the two known generators of X-ray emission in the solar system are solar wind which fills our star system and the Local Hot Bubble, a supposed region of hot interstellar material, which surrounds it.

In the last century, researchers realized that various types of light fill space, however, these cannot be seen by use. The light comprises of infrared signals emitted by galaxies and hot stars, as well as the cosmic microwave background that is generated from every corner of the Universe. Furthermore, it is this very light that forms into X-rays in space.

A recent study confirmed the prevalent belief and theories about the two sources of X-rays, which subsequently strengthened the ideas of the scientific community regarding the solar system's early history. However, the research also threw up a new cosmic mystery regarding the X-rays, that there exists an entire group of them in space whose origin is unknown because according to the measurement by DXL it is unlikely that they came from the Local Hot Bubble or the solar wind.

As per researchers, the Local Hot Bubble's temperature is not high enough to create X-rays in this energy range. "At higher energies, these sources contribute less than a quarter of the X-ray emission," said Yuvraj Uprety, study lead author.  "So there's an unknown source of X-rays in this energy range."

The DXL is a spacecraft that collects data to reveal where X-rays in space came from, and how to distinguish between those coming from solar winds and the ones from the Local Hot Bubble. The DXL was launched on December 12, 2012, from New Mexico's White sands Missile Range. The mission is supported via NASA's Sounding Rocket Program, and it was only through it that scientists have had concrete answers regarding the source of X-rays in space.