Astronomers Discover Space Tornadoes Surrounding Milky Way Black Hole

Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have discovered long, narrow filaments of gas, described as 'space tornadoes,' swirling around the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. This discovery was made in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), a turbulent region rich in dust and gas, where the intense gravitational forces create complex dynamics. Led by Kai Yang from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the research team found that these filaments are spatially offset from star-forming regions, suggesting a new mechanism for gas dispersal in the galaxy. The CMZ is characterized by shock waves and high-density material, complicating observational efforts but offering insights into the nature of molecular clouds. The findings challenge existing models of gas behavior in this region and highlight the dynamic processes at play in the galactic core. Further analysis of the filaments may reveal more about their role in the life cycle of the galaxy's material.