Magnetic Streamlines of the Milky Way

Explanation: What role do magnetic fields play in interstellar physics? Analyses of observations by ESA's Planck satellite of emission by small magnetically-aligned dust grains reveal previously unknown magnetic field structures in our Milky Way Galaxy -- as shown by the curvy lines in the featured full-sky image . The dark red shows the plane of the Milky Way , where the concentration of dust is the highest. The huge arches above the plane are likely remnants of past explosive events from our Galaxy's core , conceptually similar to magnetic loop-like structures seen in our Sun's atmosphere . The curvy streamlines align with interstellar filaments of neutral hydrogen gas and provide tantalizing evidence that magnetic fields may supplement gravity in not only in shaping the interstellar medium , but in forming stars. How magnetism affected our Galaxy's evolution will likely remain a topic of research for years to come.