Magnetic Fields and Star Formation in 30 Doradus.
New research from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has shown that the magnetic fields in 30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula Nebula, could be the key to its surprising behavior. The recent study found that the magnetic fields in this region are simultaneously complex and organized, with vast variations in geometry related to the large-scale expanding structures at play. The magnetic fields are strong enough to resist turbulence, regulate gas motion, and hold the cloud's structure intact, but weaker in some spots, enabling gas to escape and inflate the giant shells, allowing stars to continue to form despite the strong magnetic fields.