Something terrifying is happening at the edge of our solar system

Our solar system is only a small part of the universe. From the depth that The first images of James Webb have provided the voyages Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have made in interstellar space, our universe is much larger beyond the edge of our solar system. Now, however, scientists have noticed a series of terrifying changes in the heliopause, the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space.

The heliopause is the outer boundary of our solar system and as such acts as the final barrier between the space of our system and that of the interstellar medium. Because of this, changes in heliopause have always been intriguing to scientists. But recently discovered data points to some frightening changes that our current models of the heliopause can’t explain.

The changes were discovered while reviewing data captured by NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX). This satellite has captured several brightening energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) that: space.com says a lack of symmetry in the heliopause. Furthermore, while reviewing Voyager 1 data and Voyager 2, they found that heliopause changes had occurred.

The scientists also found that the heliopause changes between Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 enters interstellar space were so drastic that they defy the current models we have regarding the limiting point of our solar system. These drastic changes could also explain why there was such a large gap between the two probes also entering the interstellar medium.

Researchers published a paper on the topic in the journal Natural Astronomy earlier this month. In it, they call the changes in heliopause “potentially controversial.” They also plan to continue studying the boundary of our solar system and will use NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe to try to better understand these changes.

Until then, however, scientists will have to rely on spacecraft like the Voyager probes, and the current data we have to learn more about interstellar space.

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