The KBC void
New research suggests the KBC void is a 2 billion light-year-wide expanse of relatively empty space, and our galaxy sits right near the center of it.
  • Evidence suggests that our galaxy is inside a cosmic void, a vast expanse of relatively empty space.
  • According to our laws of cosmology, however, this void should not exist.
  • New research says that such a void may explain unusual behavior in nearby galaxies.  

Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is just one of billions in our universe. So, in the grand scheme of things, we're not so special. But zoom in to our local cosmic neighborhood, and that story begins to change.