Buckle Up: NASA-Funded Study Explores Turbulence in Molecular Clouds
NASA Press Release
October 30, 2024
NASA-Funded Study Explores Turbulence in Molecular Clouds
Turbulence is a common phenomenon in the universe, from the Earth’s atmosphere to the vastness of space. In molecular clouds, the birthplace of stars, turbulence plays a crucial role in shaping the formation and evolution of stars and planetary systems.
A new study, funded by NASA’s Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) program, has delved into the nature of turbulence in molecular clouds. The study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, provides new insights into the complex dynamics of these cosmic clouds.
Molecular clouds are vast regions of gas and dust where stars are born. They are composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of other elements. Turbulence within these clouds is generated by various mechanisms, including supernova explosions, stellar winds, and magnetic fields.
The study, led by Dr. Mark Heyer of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, used data from the Submillimeter Array (SMA) telescope in Hawaii to observe the turbulence in a nearby molecular cloud called Taurus. The SMA is a radio telescope that allows astronomers to study the cold gas and dust in molecular clouds.
The researchers found that the turbulence in Taurus is driven by multiple mechanisms, including supernova explosions and stellar winds. They also found that the turbulence is highly variable, with regions of high and low turbulence coexisting within the cloud.
“Our study provides a detailed look at the nature of turbulence in molecular clouds,” said Dr. Heyer. “We found that turbulence is a complex phenomenon that is driven by multiple mechanisms and that it varies significantly within a cloud.”
The findings of this study have implications for understanding the formation and evolution of stars and planetary systems. Turbulence is thought to play a role in the fragmentation of molecular clouds, which leads to the formation of stars. It can also affect the accretion of material onto stars and planets, shaping their size and composition.
“Understanding the nature of turbulence in molecular clouds is essential for understanding how stars and planets form,” said Dr. Edwin Bergin, the APRA program scientist at NASA Headquarters. “This study provides valuable new insights into this complex phenomenon.”
Additional Information:
- The study, titled “Turbulence in the Taurus Molecular Cloud: A Multi-Scale Analysis,” was published in the October 30, 2024, issue of Nature Astronomy.
- The Submillimeter Array (SMA) is a radio telescope located on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. It is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
- The Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) program is a NASA research program that supports theoretical and observational studies of astrophysics.
Media Contact:
- Dwayne Brown
- NASA Headquarters, Washington
- 202-358-1726
- dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov
Buckle Up: NASA-Funded Study Explores Turbulence in Molecular Clouds
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