November 16, 2011

For the first time, astronomers measured the alignment of magnetic feilds in gigantic clouds of gas and dust in a distant galaxy. Molecular clouds consist mainly of hydrogen molecules. Stars and their planets are born when giant clouds of interstellar gas and dust collapse. If someone traces the distribution of clouds in a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way galaxy, then they find that they are lined up along the spiral arms. Magnetic feilds can be used to impose order.