Discovery of galaxy jets raises extinction fears on Earth

Astronomers have found a giant spiral galaxy that emits radio jets extending 6 million light-years. This discovery raises alarms about the possibility of similar radiation from the Milky Way, our own galaxy. Researchers believe that the Milky Way could create energetic jets in the future. These jets could produce harmful cosmic rays, gamma rays, and X-rays. Such radiation could disrupt our solar system and potentially lead to mass extinction events on Earth. The galaxy studied, named 2MASX J23453268−0449256, is much larger than the Milky Way. It contains a supermassive black hole, which is billions of times more massive than the Sun. The black hole emits powerful jets that affect the material around it. Despite the abundance of star-forming material nearby, the jets prevent it from coming together to form stars. This remarkable galaxy highlights the complex interactions between black holes and their environments.