Scientists Measure Universe’s Most Powerful Winds for First Time

Scientists have for the first time measured the speed of hot gas erupting from the heart of the galaxy M82, which produces stars ten times faster than the Milky Way. This gas, moving over 3 million kilometres per hour, could drive a massive outflow of material stretching tens of thousands of light-years into space.

This discovery comes from the XRISM spacecraft, a collaboration between JAXA and NASA. Using its sensitive Resolve instrument, researchers captured X-ray emissions from superheated iron at the core of M82. The research, published on 25 March in Nature, addresses a long-standing question: what drives the powerful outflow observed in this galaxy?

M82 is a starburst galaxy, meaning it consumes gas rapidly, leading to extreme phenomena such as violent winds and colossal outflows. These processes are crucial for understanding galaxy evolution and star formation.

The measurement relied on the Doppler effect, where the movement of light sources shifts its spectrum. At M82’s centre, outwards-moving iron broadens its spectral lines, revealing a wind velocity exceeding 2 million miles per hour. The gas temperature was found to be about 45 million degrees Fahrenheit (25 million degrees Celsius), generating substantial outward pressure that pushes gas into lower-pressure regions.

The data aligns with theories that shockwaves from supernovae heat surrounding gas, starting large-scale winds. The results confirm that the hot inner wind is strong enough to expel four solar masses of gas from the galaxy annually, but three solar masses remain unexplained. This opens new questions for future research on whether this gas escapes M82 or recycles back into it.

How much do you know?

What was measured for the first time from the galaxy M82?

The speed of hot gas

The temperature of stars

The composition of dark matter

The distance to the galaxy

How fast is the hot gas from M82 moving?

Over 1 million kilometres per hour

Over 2 million kilometres per hour

Over 3 million kilometres per hour

Over 4 million kilometres per hour

What instrument on the XRISM spacecraft was used to capture data?

Resolve

Spectrum

Observation

Analysis

What type of galaxy is M82 classified as?

Elliptical galaxy

Spiral galaxy

Starburst galaxy

Irregular galaxy

The gas temperature in the center of M82 is approximately how many degrees Fahrenheit?

25 million

45 million

35 million

55 million

What drives the powerful outflow observed in M82 according to the researchers?

Black holes

Shockwaves from supernovae

Dark energy

Gravitational waves

The hot gas from M82 moves at a speed of over 1 million kilometres per hour.

True False

The research was published on 25 March in the journal Nature.

True False

M82 is consuming gas rapidly and is considered a starburst galaxy.

True False

According to the measurement, gas from M82 can escape into lower-pressure regions.

True False

Three solar masses of gas from M82 have been completely explained by the research.

True False

The measurement was conducted using the Hubble Space Telescope.

True False

Scientists have measured the speed of hot gas erupting from the heart of the galaxy M82, which can produce stars ten times faster than the .

The research was published on 25 March in .

This gas is moving over 3 million kilometres per hour, potentially driving a massive outflow of material stretching tens of thousands of into space.

At M82’s centre, outwards-moving iron broadens its spectral lines, revealing a wind velocity exceeding 2 million per hour.

The gas temperature was found to be about 45 million degrees Fahrenheit (25 million degrees ).

This opens new questions for future research on whether this gas escapes M82 or back into it.

This question is required