Theories of cosmic ray origin

Theories of cosmic ray origin suggest they mainly come from powerful cosmic events and objects. One idea is that supernova explosions—massive star deaths—launch particles at high speeds into space. Another suggests active galactic nuclei, like supermassive black holes at galaxy centers, accelerate particles through intense magnetic fields. Space weather phenomena, such as shockwaves from stellar bursts, may also energize particles. These energetic particles then travel across the universe and reach Earth, where we detect them as cosmic rays. Despite ongoing research, the exact sources and processes are still being studied to fully understand how cosmic rays gain their incredible energies.