Chinese scientists’ new map of the Milky Way turns the tables on cosmic radiation theories

Scientists in China have revealed a new map of the Milky Way, painted in gamma glow, which challenges conventional theories about the universe while also adding a piece to the century-old puzzle of the origins of cosmic radiation.

Using data collected by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) on Haizi Mountain, 4,400m (14,435 feet) above sea level in western China’s Sichuan province, a team led by researchers from the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing found that our galaxy’s disc was shining with gamma rays at ultra-high energies of up to one quadrillion electron volts (PeV).