The Biggest Chill

Discover the Boomerang nebula, the coldest known spot in the universe, driven by a dying star's explosive gas outflow.

Written byCorey S Powell
| 1 min read
Google NewsGoogle News Preferred Source
T. Sahai and J. Trauger/SPL/NASA

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news

Sign Up

This Boomerang nebula is the coldest known spot in the universe. A dying star at the center expels gas at 100 miles per second, forcing the nebula to expand rapidly and to cool to 2 degrees Fahrenheit above absolute zero. This image from the Hubble Space Telescope reveals enigmatic banded structures in the exceptionally dense outflow from the star.

Meet the Author

Published In

Related Topics

Stay Curious

JoinOur List

Sign up for our weekly science updates

View our Privacy Policy

SubscribeTo The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Subscribe