New research by the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has shown that magnetic fields in 30 Doradus, the ionised hydrogen region at the heart of the Large Magellanic Cloud, may hold the key to its puzzling behaviour.

Most of the energy in 30 Doradus, also called the Tarantula Nebula, comes from the massive star cluster R136 near its centre, which is responsible for multiple, giant, expanding shells of matter. But in this region near the nebula's core, about 25 parsecs from R136, things are a little strange. The gas pressure here is lower than it should be near R136's intense stellar radiation, and the mass of the field is smaller than expected for the system to remain stable.

Using SOFIA's High Resolution Airborne Broadband Camera Plus (HAWC+), astronomers have studied the interaction between magnetic fields and gravity at 30 Doradus. It turns out that magnetic fields are the hidden component of the region.
The latest study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, found that magnetic fields in this region are both complex and organised at the same time, with large variations in geometry related to the large-scale expanding structures in play.

In most of the region, magnetic fields are incredibly strong. They are strong enough to resist turbulence, so they can continue to regulate the movement of gas and keep the structure of the cloud intact. They're also strong enough to prevent gravity from taking over and turning the cloud into stars.

However, the field is weaker at some points, allowing gas to escape and inflate giant shells. As the mass in these shells grows, stars can continue to form despite strong magnetic fields.
Observing the region with other instruments could help astronomers better understand the role of magnetic fields in the evolution of 30 Doradus and other similar nebulae.

SOFIA was a joint project of NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR. DLR provided the telescope, scheduled aircraft maintenance and other support for the mission. In collaboration with NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, the Universities Space Research Association headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and the German SOFIA Institute at the University of Stuttgart, the SOFIA programme managed science and mission operations. The aircraft was maintained and operated by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Centre Building 703 in Palmdale, California. SOFIA reached full operational capability in 2014 and completed its last science flight on 29 September 2022.