Scientists have discovered a large bar‑shaped cloud of iron atoms in space that could offer clues about the future of Earth.
The structure, which was found inside the Ring Nebula - a famous, colourful cloud formed when a dying sun-like star released its outer layers - was roughly 500 times wider than Pluto's orbit and sits 2,283 light‑years away.
Astronomers from Cardiff University, as well as University College London, detected the iron bar using a new telescope instrument called the WHT Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (Weave).
Scientists observing it say its origin is unclear, but their theories about how it formed suggest it could hint at the Earth's future.
The first theory is the cloud may have formed during the nebula's creation, as the parent star collapsed.
