Unusual Star Formation in Tarantula Nebula Raises Questions

The Tarantula Nebula, a region of star-forming gas in the Large Magellanic Cloud, may owe its longevity to powerful magnetic fields at its heart, according to new research. The magnetic fields constrict gases in some areas and allow them to escape in others, which could explain why the region displays a lower gas pressure than would be expected alongside the intense radiation from the massive star cluster near its center. The interplay of gravity and magnetic fields in the region was observed using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera Plus (HAWC+) instrument.