Credit: Alexandra Angelich (NRAO/AUI/NSF)
Artist impression of the Milky Way Galaxy. Using the Green Bank Telescope, astronomers measured the relative abundance of light to heavy isotopes of silicon, as found in the molecule silicon monoxide, across the Milky Way. Surprisingly, the astronomer found none of the expected gradient -- higher ratio of heavier silicon isotopes -- toward the galactic center. This may suggest that the Milky Way is more efficient at mixing its contents than previously assumed.