A new study by Queen Mary University mathematician Professor Ginestra Bianconi proposes a perspective on the deep question of how the Universe can become increasingly structured while obeying the second law of thermodynamics. The Gravity from Entropy theory suggests that gravity and spacetime may have an intrinsic thermodynamic and inf...
A recent study challenges the widely accepted argument that the universe's expansion rate is accelerating, driven by 'dark energy' from the quantum vacuum. The research finds that cosmic expansion may be slowing down rather than speeding up.
Researchers studied dark matter's potential additional attractive force and found it suppresses structure growth, contrary to expectations. The extra clustering effect is counterbalanced by a decrease in dark matter particles' mass over time, reducing the overall impact on cosmic microwave background observations.
A University of Birmingham scientist creates a 'mini universe' with ultracold atoms to test ideas in quantum cosmology and gravity. The experiment demonstrates that time can emerge from changes within a quantum system, revealing a version of time known as 'entropic time', which flows consistently and orders events.
A new study explores how transfer learning reduces computational costs in cosmological simulations while revealing risks of negative transfer, which can hinder learning new physics. Transfer learning can accelerate inference but may also push AI systems toward incorrect interpretations of new effects.
The discovery reveals a surprisingly mature black hole at just 850 million years old, with an accretion disk resembling a flat pancake. This challenges the understanding of how supermassive black holes can grow and mature in a short amount of cosmic time.
Boston University has joined the NSF-funded AI Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions to unlock new discoveries in physics using AI. The institute, which includes top local universities, aims to develop new approaches to AI by applying physics principles.
Researchers develop precise detector-based approach to measure gravitational waves in the universe's entirety. Their method provides a reliable theoretical framework to guide search for primordial gravitational waves.
Philippenko, Nomoto, and Woosley received the $500,000 Gruber Cosmology Prize for their decades-long studies of supernovae, which have fundamentally influenced cosmology. They transformed supernovae from poorly understood stellar explosions into a basis for a quantitative framework.
A new study introduces CIGaRS, a novel approach to derive highly precise estimates of cosmic distances and robust cosmological measurements. This method uses artificial intelligence and neural networks to disentangle the intrinsic effects on supernovae light from environmental factors.
This journal issue examines the evolution of traditional Chinese medicine through texts, practice, empire, and global cross-cultural exchange. Key findings include the gradual development of foundational concepts like the three yin-yang system and the concept of Du, as well as the role of medicine in political and social systems.
A new study uses unprecedented simulations to reveal how ultra-faint dwarf galaxies reflect the conditions of the early Universe. These tiny satellite galaxies can provide clues about the properties of dark matter and help test early-Universe physics with upcoming observations.
Ultra-faint dwarf galaxies, tiny satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, can reflect conditions of the early universe, shedding light on galaxy formation and dark matter. Simulations suggest these small galaxies are sensitive to early radiation environment and can probe the universe's earliest climate.
A team of undergraduate students built a cavity detector to search for axions and set new experimental limits on their properties. The result was achieved with relatively limited resources, showcasing the potential for small-scale experiments in precision cosmology.
Researchers tracked galaxy clusters to test gravity's strength, finding it weakens with distance as predicted by Newton and Einstein. The study confirms the existence of invisible dark matter, closing the door on alternative theories like Modified Newtonian Dynamics.
A study led by University of California, Riverside graduate student Yash Aggarwal suggests that dark matter decays could have seeded the direct collapse of galaxies into giant black holes. The research found that a window of dark matter masses between 24 and 27 electronvolts could produce conditions for black hole formation.
New research suggests that relic black holes from before the big bang could help explain dark matter and several long-standing mysteries in cosmology. These primordial objects may have survived into the present day as 'cosmic fossils,' potentially influencing galaxy structure billions of years later.
A study suggests that self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) can explain unusual gravitational effects observed in various astrophysical environments. Dense clumps of SIDM can account for high-density structures in the universe, providing a promising candidate for explaining small-scale cosmic structure.
An international collaboration of astronomers has achieved the most precise direct measurement to date of the expansion rate of the nearby Universe. The result shows a persistent mismatch between measurements based on the nearby Universe and predictions derived from the early Universe, known as the Hubble tension.
Researchers suggest that dark matter may consist of multiple particles, whose behavior varies depending on the cosmic environment. This could explain why a signal observed at the center of our galaxy is not seen in dwarf galaxies.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a new theory that suggests the universe's rapid early expansion could emerge naturally from a deeper, more complete theory of quantum gravity. This approach offers a unified picture that connects the earliest moments of the universe to modern cosmology.
Researchers found a shift in key cosmic measurement may be due to statistical artefact. Combining CMB and BAO data showed a mild tension that weakens evidence against standard inflationary models.
A new study suggests that the ultra-high-energy neutrino may have originated from a population of blazars, which could provide a plausible explanation for the rare phenomenon. The researchers used a combination of simulations and observations from various instruments to test their hypothesis.
A team of researchers from Illinois and UChicago has developed a novel way to compute the Hubble constant using gravitational waves, improving accuracy over prior methods. The new method uses background gravitational-wave hum from merging black holes in distant galaxies to learn about the age and composition of the universe.
Astronomers have imaged and modeled an exceptionally rare supernova that could provide a new way to measure the universe's expansion rate. The supernova, known as SN Winny, is a superluminous stellar explosion 10 billion light-years away and appears five times in the night sky due to gravitational lensing.
Researchers found 'dark energy' in protein structures, indicating energetic frustration between form and function. This 'dark energy' varies by site, revealing the cost of specific functions like binding.
Researchers created the highest resolution map of dark matter, showing its interaction with normal matter through gravity. The new data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope confirms previous research and provides new details about dark matter's influence on the Universe.
A Simon Fraser University researcher believes his team's new research may bring them closer to cracking the Hubble tension, a decades-old question about the universe's expansion rate. The theory centers on primordial magnetic fields, which could have accelerated recombination and affected the value of the Hubble constant.
Researchers found that reionization-driven turbulence can power the turbulent dynamo, amplifying weak magnetic fields over time. This mechanism relies on established physics rather than exotic particles or forces, explaining the origin of intergalactic magnetic fields.
Astronomers have spotted an ancient galaxy that was slowly starved of fuel by a supermassive black hole. The galaxy's lack of cold gas prevented it from forming new stars, despite its relatively young age. Repeated episodes of heating and gas removal by the black hole likely drained the galaxy's fuel in as little as 16-220 million years.
Researchers found evidence that dark matter and neutrinos interact, offering a rare glimpse into the universe's darkest regions. The study casts doubt on the long-standing cosmological model, suggesting interactions between dark matter and neutrinos could explain a discrepancy in cosmic structure formation.
The K-DRIFT pathfinder telescope, a compact off-axis freeform three-mirror system, has been developed to capture faint galactic structures. With its improved performance, the telescope achieves higher resolution and sharper images, paving the way for uncovering the hidden history of galaxy formation and evolution.
Astronomers at the University of Tokyo use time-delay cosmography to measure the universe's expansion rate, finding a result consistent with current-day observations. The method exploits gravitational lensing to improve models of cosmic expansion and potentially resolve the Hubble tension.
Astrophysicists from UChicago analyzed galaxy shapes and distances to independently examine inconsistencies in the LCDM model. The team's findings support previous weak lensing measurements, indicating consistent growth of structure in the universe.
Michael Blanton will lead the Carnegie Science Observatories as its 12th director, focusing on large-scale astronomical surveys to constrain cosmological history. The new director brings a deep well of knowledge of instrumentation and data collection to oversee research at Pasadena's campus and Las Campanas Observatory.
Researchers believe they have finally detected gamma rays predicted by the annihilation of theoretical dark matter particles. The observed energy spectrum matches the emission predicted from weakly interacting massive particles, with a mass approximately 500 times that of a proton.
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope's sixth and final data release confirms the 'Hubble tension' and rules out extended cosmological models, providing new insights into the Universe's evolution and current state. ACT's observations offer a cleaner starting point for future research.
The German Research Foundation has awarded a €10 million grant to the Collaborative Research Centre 211 'Strong-Interaction Matter under Extreme Conditions' for its third phase, extending funding for another 3.5 years.
A study from Bielefeld University reveals that the solar system is moving more than three times faster than predicted by current models. This deviation was detected using data from radio galaxies, which emit strong radio waves and can penetrate dust and gas.
Researchers propose that interactions between particles in primordial matter domination could have given rise to the first black holes, boson stars, and cannibal stars. These compact objects could have formed through gravothermal collapse, leading to surprising cosmic structures.
A new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society suggests that the universe's expansion may have started to slow rather than accelerate at an ever-increasing rate. The findings cast doubt on the long-standing theory of dark energy, which is believed to be driving distant galaxies away increasingly faster.
Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to study young galaxies in the early universe, finding most were turbulent and 'clumpy'. Despite this chaos, galaxy dynamics show a gradual transition towards ordered structures, suggesting that galaxies like our Milky Way formed through frequent mergers and bursts of star formation.
Researchers at WVU are enhancing the calibration of radio telescopes to measure dark energy by analyzing the '21-centimeter signal' from neutral hydrogen atoms. This technique aims to improve the ability of radio telescopes to detect large-scale structures in the universe, such as galaxy clusters and voids.
Researchers propose a method to distinguish between nanohertz gravitational wave sources using pulsar timing arrays. By searching for beat phenomena in the tiny shifts of pulsars' radio-pulse arrival times, scientists can identify specific, nearby binary supermassive black hole systems.
A recent study used Japan's Fugaku supercomputer to simulate the effects of time-varying dark energy on cosmic evolution. The results show that a higher matter density creates stronger gravitational forces, leading to earlier and more efficient formation of massive galaxy clusters.
The new emulator Effort.jl allows researchers to analyze complex data sets faster and more efficiently than ever before. It uses state-of-the-art numerical methods and clever preprocessing strategies to achieve exceptional computational performance, making it possible to explore cosmic scenarios without waiting hours for each simulation.
UC Riverside-developed FROSTI system allows precise control of laser wavefronts at extreme power levels, opening a new pathway for gravitational-wave astronomy. This technology expands the universe's view by a factor of 10, potentially detecting millions of black hole and neutron star mergers with unmatched fidelity.
Researchers Josh Frieman and Anowar Shajib found that physics-based models for evolving dark energy better explain current data than the standard model. The data suggests that dark energy density has decreased by about 10% over the last several billion years, changing the cosmic expansion history.
Researchers have developed an emulator called Effort.jl that mimics the behavior of large-scale structure models, allowing for fast analysis on standard laptops. The new model delivers similar accuracy as the original, enabling scientists to analyze upcoming data releases from experiments like DESI and Euclid.
A team of scholars from USC, UC Riverside, and Carnegie Observatories will develop computer models to simulate the birth of structure in the universe, testing theories about galaxy formation. The Lyman-Alpha forest Research Collaboration aims to reveal quantum properties of dark matter and neutrino particles.
Researchers use numerical relativity to probe the universe's biggest questions, including the Big Bang, cosmic inflation, and multiverse theories. The method allows for exploration of extreme situations beyond current mathematical limits.
Astronomers have developed a protocol to detect supernovae within 24 hours of their explosion, using high-cadence sky surveys. The method involves rapid searches for candidates based on light signal absence and galaxy location, followed by spectroscopic observations to determine the type of supernova.
A new theoretical study proposes a comprehensive framework for the birth of supermassive black holes, linking their formation to the early universe's 'Population III.1' stars. The 'Pop III.1' model predicts rapid ionization by these stars, shedding light on long-standing cosmological conundrums.
Researchers measured magnetic field of Sagittarius C, a region in the Central Molecular Zone, to understand interaction between dense clouds, star formation, and strong magnetic field. The study found that the magnetic field wraps around an expanding central bubble of hot, ionized gas created by massive young stars.
Researchers at Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik recreated a reaction under conditions similar to those in the early universe for the first time. They found that the rate of this reaction remains almost constant with decreasing temperature, contradicting previous predictions.
New research predicts the existence of 80-100 additional satellite galaxies surrounding the Milky Way, orbiting at close distances. These 'orphan' galaxies are lost in most simulations but should have survived in the real Universe.
A new type of star-like object, called 'dark dwarfs', could help solve the universe's greatest mystery: dark matter. These objects are powered by dark matter and may be found at the center of our galaxy.
Researchers suggest our galaxy might sit in a large, local void that makes the cosmos expand faster here than elsewhere. The 'sound of the Big Bang' supports this idea by distorting baryon acoustic oscillations, which provide a standard ruler for charting cosmic expansion history.
Researchers propose 'dark dwarfs' could be key to understanding dark matter, with lithium-7 serving as a unique marker. A discovery of a dark dwarf would provide compelling evidence for WIMPs as a possible dark matter component.
Astronomers have detected a vast cloud of energetic particles surrounding one of the most distant galaxy clusters ever observed. This discovery reveals that entire galaxy clusters were immersed in high-energy particles for most of their existence.