High-energy cosmic rays may originate within the Milky Way galaxy The most energetic particles in the universe appear to emerge from sources within the Milky Way, our home galaxy. Cosmic rays are made of subatomic particles, such as protons and electrons, whose energies span a wide spectrum. Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays easily host tens of millions of times more energy than any particle accelerator can generate on Earth, but where they come from — and precisely what accelerates them to become some of the fastest in the universe — has intrigued scientists since the discovery of these phenomena in 1962. In the past, astronomers had managed to provide some solid evidence that cosmic rays come from sources residing outside the Milky Way. But now, a new study suggests they also originate from within the galaxy, blasting out from the leftovers of exploded stars, otherwise known as supernova remnants. The latest results are thanks to a se...
“The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can't imagine”