This article shows that the future merging of the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies may be sooner than previously thought:
Recent analysis of past observations made by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope have found a massive halo of hot, heavy gas surrounding our neighboring galaxy, Andromeda. This expansive mass of material around Andromeda could mean that it will begin merging with the Milky Way ahead of schedule.
In fact, the articles goes on to say the merge may have already begun if the Milky Way contains a similarly sized halo.
(Score: 1) by utoddl on Monday May 11 2015, @07:16PM
I think we heard about the barrier surrounding the galaxy somewhere [wikipedia.org] before.