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Into the Eye of the Helix
February 25, 2009The Helix Nebula, NGC 7293, lies about 700 light-years away in the constellation of Aquarius (the Water Bearer). It is one of the closest and most spectacular examples of a planetary nebula. These exotic objects have nothing to do with planets, but are the final blooming of Sun-like stars before their retirement as white dwarfs. Shells of gas are blown off from a star's surface, often in intricate and beautiful patterns, and shine under the harsh ultraviolet radiation from the faint, but very hot, central star. The main ring of the Helix Nebula is about two light-years across or half the distance between the Sun and its closest stellar neighbour.
Despite being photographically very spectacular the Helix is hard to see visually as its light is thinly spread over a large area of sky and the history of its discovery is rather obscure. It first appears in a list of new objects compiled by the German astronomer Karl Ludwig Harding in 1824. The name Helix comes from the rough corkscrew shape seen in the earlier photographs.
Although the Helix looks very much like a doughnut, studies have shown that it possibly consists of at least two separate discs with outer rings and filaments. The brighter inner disc seems to be expanding at about 100 000 km/h and to have taken about 12 000 years to have formed.
Because the Helix is relatively close - it covers an area of the sky about a quarter of the full Moon - it can be studied in much greater detail than most other planetary nebulae and has been found to have an unexpected and complex structure. All around the inside of the ring are small blobs, known as "cometary knots", with faint tails extending away from the central star. They look remarkably like droplets of liquid running down a sheet of glass. Although they look tiny, each knot is about as large as our Solar System. These knots have been extensively studied, both with the ESO Very Large Telescope and with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, but remain only partially understood. A careful look at the central part of this object reveals not only the knots, but also many remote galaxies seen right through the thinly spread glowing gas. Some of these seem to be gathered in separate galaxy groups scattered over various parts of the image.
ESO
Because the Helix is relatively close - it covers an area of the sky about a quarter of the full Moon - it can be studied in much greater detail than most other planetary nebulae and has been found to have an unexpected and complex structure. All around the inside of the ring are small blobs, known as "cometary knots", with faint tails extending away from the central star. They look remarkably like droplets of liquid running down a sheet of glass. Although they look tiny, each knot is about as large as our Solar System. These knots have been extensively studied, both with the ESO Very Large Telescope and with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, but remain only partially understood. A careful look at the central part of this object reveals not only the knots, but also many remote galaxies seen right through the thinly spread glowing gas. Some of these seem to be gathered in separate galaxy groups scattered over various parts of the image.
ESO
Helix Current Events and Helix News RSSCaltech scientists develop DNA origami nanoscale breadboards for carbon nanotube circuits
In work that someday may lead to the development of novel types of nanoscale electronic devices, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has combined DNA's talent for self-assembly with the remarkable electronic properties of carbon nanotubes, thereby suggesting a solution to the long-standing problem of organizing carbon nanotubes into nanoscale electronic circuits.
Common plants can eliminate indoor air pollutants
Air quality in homes, offices, and other indoor spaces is becoming a major health concern, particularly in developed countries where people often spend more than 90% of their time indoors.
Trembling hands and molecular handshakes
Fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a recently recognized condition, which is actually one of the most prevalent heritable neurodegenerative diseases.
Single-stranded DNA-binding protein is dynamic, critical to DNA repair
Researchers report that a single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB), once thought to be a static player among the many molecules that interact with DNA, actually moves back and forth along single-stranded DNA, gradually allowing other proteins to repair, recombine or replicate the strands.
Models begin to unravel how single DNA strands combine
Using computer simulations, a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has identified some of the pathways through which single complementary strands of DNA interact and combine to form the double helix.
Scientists decipher missing piece of first-responder DNA repair machine
Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Scripps Research Institute have uncovered the role played by the least-understood part of a first-responder molecule that rushes in to bind and repair breaks in DNA strands, a process that helps people avoid cancer.
How Proteins Talk to Each Other
Investigators at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have identified novel cleavage sites for the enzyme caspase-3 (an enzyme that proteolytically cleaves target proteins).
Chemists reach from the molecular to the real world with creation of 3-D DNA crystals
New York University chemists have created three-dimensional DNA structures, a breakthrough bridging the molecular world to the world where we live.
Caltech and IBM scientists use self-assembled DNA scaffolding to build tiny circuit boards
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and IBM's Almaden Research Center have developed a new technique to orient and position self-assembled DNA shapes and patterns-or "DNA origami"-on surfaces that are compatible with today's semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Climbing to new heights in the forest canopy
With summer in full swing, many plants are at their peak bloom and climbing plants, like clematis, morning glories, and sweet peas, are especially remarkable.
More Helix Current Events and Helix News Articles
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No Rest for the Wicked by Helix Collector's edition of the 1983 original release by this Canadian 5 piece, it has now been remastered and is available for the first time on CD. Features the original 10 tracks including 'Heavy Metal Love', 'Don't Get Mad Get Even', 'Dirty Dog' & 'Does A Fool Ever Learn'. Rock Candy. 2005. |
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Rockin' You for 30 Years by Helix |
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Walkin' the Razor's Edge by Helix Canadian reissue of the long running metal act's best-selling album of their career. Tracks include the hits, 'Rock You', (Make Me Do) Anything You Want' and 'Gimme, Gimme Good Lovin''. 1984 release. Standard jewel case. |
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Wild in the Streets by Helix First time on CD for the Canadian heavy metal act's 1987 album. Ten tracks. EMI. 2002. |
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Walkin' The Razor's Edge (With Bonus Tracks) Helix (Primary Contributor) |
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The Best of Helix: Deep Cuts by Helix |
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Back for Another Taste by Helix The Canadian metal act's 1991 album. Universal. |
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Helix by Eric Brown (Author) Helix is a fast-paced action adventure novel following the plight of four humans when they crashland on what they think is a desolate, ice-bound planet. Daylight brings the discovery that the planet is one of thousands arranged in a vast spiral wound about a central sun. They set off to discover a more habitable, Earth-like world and come across strange races of aliens, and life-threatening perils, on their way. |
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Vagabond Bones by Helix | |
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Samsung YX-M1Z Helix XM2go Portable Satellite Radio with MP3 Player by Samsung Samsung exemplifies technological determination and progressive ideals. From technology to business to the philanthropy, Samsung has become a world leader for which the possibilities are truly endless. |
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