Cosmic Rays are high energy particles that bombard the Earth from outer space. These particles are often accelerated to high velocities (and hence the high energy) by Gamma Rays from supernovae explosions, pulsars, quasars and massive star forming regions. Now astrophysicists using the HESS (High Energy Stereoscope System) array of telescopes in Namibia in Africa have detected eight new sources of gamma rays from the center of our galaxy (The Milky Way) including two sources which are a totally new phenomenon.

Milky Way Center (Courtesy: University of Tennessee)The results could shed new light on the origin of the cosmic sources in the universe. Two of the sources are of a totally new kind, as they have no counterparts at radio, optical or X-ray wavelengths. According to the researchers, these sources could be a new class of "dark" cosmic accelerators. Interestingly enough, the main particles accelerated in these objects are nucleons (protons and neutrons) rather than electrons as in the more conventional sources :).
Scientists are not sure about the processes that would selectively accelerate nucleons, and leave the lighter electrons (or other particles) behind. However, this adds another piece to the puzzle that is our galaxy, The Milky Way. Such heavy particles can help scientists compose a picture of the dust-laden core of our galaxy, perhaps providing new details about its origin and composition.