Astronomers using the ALMA telescope have discovered a surprising new type of filamentary structure in the central molecular zone (CMZ) of the Milky Way, near the supermassive black hole.

These slim filaments, detected through shock-induced molecules like silicon monoxide (SiO), appear as long, narrow structures not linked to star-forming regions or dust emission.

The filaments may be part of a cyclical process in which shocks create and dissipate them, distributing gas and organic molecules throughout the CMZ, Phys.org has reported.

This discovery offers new insights into material circulation and the dynamic processes within the galaxy’s turbulent core.

Written by B.C. Begley