Generally , stars and planets are regarded as existing nicely within galaxies . We know that every now and again there are event that fling a star outside of the galaxy , doomed to wander the universe alone , but it was previously take to be comparatively rare . A unexampled study has point that rogue stars could make up as many ashalf of all starsin the universe . The inquiry was precede by Michael Zemcov of Caltech , and the paper was published inScience .

The data was pull together between 2009 to 2013 using a series of four suborbital Eruca sativa calledCosmic Infrared Background Experiment ( CIBER ) . The labor was overseen by principal detective Jamie Bock of Jet Propulsion Laboratory . CIBER used three instruments to evaluate near infrared wavelengths in the cosmic infrared setting .

at last , they discovered the blackened , empty region between Galax urceolata was n’t as grim or vacant as they thought . The area between galax is litter with rogue star topology , whosetotal brightnessadds up to about the same as what can be attend in galaxies . The stars were too upstage to be keep individually , but seem to make a considerable impingement when abide by all together .

” Measuring such big wavering surprised us , but we bear out many tests to show the outcome are reliable , " Zemcov said in apress liberation .

This field follows previous observations from NASA ’s Spitzer Space Telescope , which revealed unusual patterns in the cosmic infrared screen background that were too large to be attributed to galaxies . Spitzer , which collects information via longer infrared wavelength , was not capable to resolve what they were . CIBER was developed as a means of collecting the relevant information more thoroughly than could be done by exist scope , like ESA ’s Herschel . The squad initially mull over that this light was go out over from some of the old galaxies and dark holes in the universe , but the light ’s redshift indicated it was too bright to be that honest-to-goodness .

" CIBER tells us a couple key fact , " Zemcov proceed . " The fluctuations seem to be too hopeful to be coming from the first galaxies . You have to burn a large measure of H into helium to get that much illumination , then you have to obliterate the evidence , because we do n’t see enough heavy element made by astral nucleosynthesis [ fusion of heavy element in the pith of adept ] which means these elements would have to disappear into black holes . "

While the information seems to skillful defend the musical theme of an intergalactic sea of rogue stars , it is n’t quite a slam dunk shot . The color of the light is not quite as blue as would be demand to best explain it using solitary stars . Still , the amount of light being produced between galaxies is too slap-up to brush off . Further study will need to take place to determine if these findings are accurate . The squad is presently planning CIBER2 to survey up on these observations . The 2d generation will expand the spectrum of IR light to be collected .