The Local Fluff

Out on the very edge of the Solar System, where the two Voyager spacecraft are approaching interstellar space and still sending back data, astronomers have found a region they've dubbed "The Local Fluff."

The area seems to be about 30 light-years wide, and sits between interstellar space and the Sun's heliosphere-- the home of the Sun and its planets. The Fluff contains hydrogen and helium, and has a magnetosphere. That magnetic sphere is probably the most important feature. Emerging data suggests a star in the neighborhood exploded perhaps 10 million years ago, and scientists think the magnetic field of The Fluff helped protect life on Earth, and the rest of the Solar System, from the resulting burst of powerful radiation.