The study of 33Mg's ground state properties reveals a prolate deformed nucleus with well-reproduced energy and magnetic moment. The time-odd relativistic mean field approach successfully explains the experimental data without introducing parameters.
Astronomers, including Queen's University physicist Larry Widrow, have discovered a nearby cosmic encounter between the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies, which collided about two to three billion years ago. The collision caused millions of stars to be ripped from the Triangulum disk, forming a faint stream visible in the PAndAS data.
The University of Nevada, Reno researcher is studying ultra-high temperature plasmas created by the pulsed-power machine at Sandia National Laboratories. The study aims to shed light on high-energy plasma's role in astrophysics, energy production and X-rays.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have discovered a new type of turbulence in the solar wind that enables plasma particles to exchange energy without collisions. This finding has significant implications for fusion power development and could provide insights into energy dissipation in solar system-sized plasmas.
The Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge program has received significant funding to increase diversity in the physical sciences. With new grants totaling $3.7 million, the program aims to expand its focus to include materials science and strengthen research infrastructure at participating institutions.
Researchers from Penn State and LIGO Scientific Collaboration have put new constraints on the details of the universe's earliest moments, setting limits on gravitational waves that could have come from the Big Bang. The analysis provides vital clues to understanding how the structure of the universe evolved.
Researchers found that chaotic processes and asymmetry of explosions create diversity in brightness, with potential impact on precision distance measurements. Simulations suggest use of multi-dimensional models to refine distance estimates and improve expansion rate measurements.
Scientists from the University of Gothenburg found that a mysterious flux of electrons and positrons originates from supernova remnants, not dark matter. The study shows that a star 15 times more massive than the sun exploded in the Milky Way, creating a shock-wave that accelerated particles.
A NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center simulation found that the universe's first black holes grew slowly due to a lack of gas, contrary to expectations. The findings have significant implications for understanding galaxy formation and the role of black holes in shaping the universe.
Recent simulations by astrophysicists reveal that the first black holes in the universe grew slowly and were deprived of gas, contradicting popular theories. The simulations suggest that these early black holes may have played a more complex role in the formation of supermassive black holes observed today.
The Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer (GEMS) mission, led by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, will measure cosmic X-ray polarization. It aims to detect dozens of sources and provide insights into extreme environments, such as black holes and supernova remnants.
Astronomers have discovered a mechanism for the formation of dwarf spheroidal galaxies, which are thought to be composed mostly of dark matter. The 'cosmic dance' of gravitational interactions between galaxies may trigger the removal of stars from smaller dwarf galaxies, transforming them into the observed dwarfs.
Researchers have successfully cooled LIGO mirrors to near absolute zero, enabling the observation of quantum mechanical behavior at massive scales. This breakthrough suggests that interferometric gravitational wave detectors can also become sensitive probes of macroscopic quantum mechanics.
The NASA Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has discovered a third class of active galaxies that emit gamma rays, opening a new window in the field. The telescope has detected gamma rays from dozens of galaxies beyond our own, including Seyfert galaxies and blazars.
The SPIRE instrument package has successfully made its first observations, targeting two galaxies near the Milky Way. The telescope's high-resolution images will aid in studying the birth and development of galaxies, shedding light on star formation processes.
Researchers created a detailed computer simulation of early star formation, revealing the existence of twin stars. The simulations showed that these stars provide seeds for next-generation star formation, helping scientists understand how galaxies formed.
A team of astronomers has developed a new technique to discover supernovae at greater distances than previously known. This discovery allows for the examination of galaxies that form following supernova explosions, providing valuable information about their evolution.
Researchers will explore dark matter particles and neutrinos at the SNOLAB facility, seeking answers about the universe's building blocks and evolution. The studies aim to make new discoveries, including a rare nuclear decay related to unique neutrino properties.
A team of astronomers led by Nanda Rea used European Space Agency satellites to study the eruptions of a rare magnetar, SGR 0501+4516. The object underwent hundreds of small bursts over four months, emitting high-energy X-rays during its outburst phase.
The study uses radio telescope images to confirm the presence of a rotating molecular disk orbiting the young binary star system V4046 Sagittarii. The discovery expands the number of places to look for extrasolar planets, suggesting that planet formation may occur around double stars as easily as single stars.
Astronomers have discovered a rare type of stellar explosion known as SN 2008ha, which is 1000 times more powerful than a nova but 1000 times less powerful than a typical supernova. The explosion was detected by a 14-year-old student from New York and shed new light on the nature of stellar explosions.
Astronomers from Queen's University Belfast have proposed a new physical interpretation of the 2008 supernova SN2008ha, suggesting it could be from a massive star. The team, led by Dr. Stefano Valenti, found a weak explosion with unusual properties that differ from those associated with white dwarf stars.
A rare radio supernova has been detected in the nearby galaxy M82, providing valuable opportunities for studying star formation and supernovas. The discovery was made using the Allen Telescope Array, which will also search for intelligent life signals around other stars.
Researchers observe transformation of an ordinary, slow-rotating pulsar into a superfast millisecond pulsar with an almost infinitely extended lifespan. The discovery provides direct evidence for the process of cosmic recycling, where matter from a companion star falls into a pulsar's gravity well, increasing its rotation speed.
A new method has been found to accurately determine the intrinsic brightness of Type Ia supernovae, enabling better cosmic distance measurements. This breakthrough uses a spectroscopic ratio and eliminates uncertainty caused by intervening dust or host galaxy type.
The Herschel Space Observatory, launched by the European Space Agency, hosts a 3.5 meter diameter telescope and observes conditions in galaxy mergers and planetary system formation. NRL scientists will study these phenomena using the observatory's instruments.
The CU-Boulder instrument, part of NASA's Hubble Servicing mission, will probe the universe's evolution from its perch on the Hubble Space Telescope. Scientists aim to reconstruct the physical conditions and evolution of the early universe by gathering information from ultraviolet light.
Researchers at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have created an 'astro-comb' to help detect lighter planets around distant stars. The technique sharpens spectroscopy, enabling more accurate pinpointing of planet locations and opening possibilities for detecting more Earth-like planets.
The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has achieved significant milestones, including the launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Solar Dynamic Observatory. The center is also working on future missions to study global precipitation, Mars' lost atmosphere, and dark energy.
New calculations suggest hundreds of massive rogue black holes are left over from the early universe, potentially wandering the Milky Way's outer reaches. These relics could provide clues about galaxy formation history and the formation of black holes in the early universe.
A team of astronomers has discovered the most distant object in the universe, a gamma-ray burst located approximately 13 billion light-years away. This explosive event, dubbed GRB 090423, occurred when the universe was just 630 million years old and is providing valuable insights into the early universe.
Florida Institute of Technology professors Ming Zhang and Hamid Rassoul receive a $411,000 NASA grant to investigate the physics of particle transport in the distant heliosphere. The IBEX spacecraft mission will observe particles from beyond Pluto's orbit, providing insights into cosmic rays and future human space travel.
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) awards the 2009 Dannie Heineman Prizes to Carlo Becchi, Alain Rouet, Raymond Stora, and Igor Tyutin for their discovery and exploitation of BRST symmetry in gauge theories. Lennox Cowie receives the astrophysics prize for his innovative observations of the distant universe.
Scientists reveal that half of the Universe's starlight originates from young, star-forming galaxies billions of light-years away. The discovery was made using a two-tonne telescope carried by a balloon, and analyzes data from the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Sub-millimeter Telescope (BLAST) project.
A study by University of Virginia professor Robert Tai and Harvard University researcher Philip Sadler found that high school students with weak math backgrounds who engage in self-structured learning practices may perform poorly in college science. In contrast, those with stronger math skills who receive more guidance in their high sc...
Astronomers are getting closer to finding an Earth-sized planet in an Earth-like orbit, but detecting its atmosphere will require hundreds of transits and advanced telescopes like JWST. Red dwarf stars offer the best possibility of detecting biomarkers in a transiting Earth's atmosphere.
A recent study by Robert Tai at the University of Virginia found that students who focus on mastering a single topic in-depth tend to outperform those who cover more topics superficially. The research suggests that teaching fewer topics with greater depth is a more effective way to prepare students for success in college science classes.
NRL researchers join a team to develop a telescope on the Moon for studying an era of the young Universe, during the first 500 million years after the Big Bang. The project aims to detect signals from hydrogen atoms in the Dark Ages, providing insights into the formation and evolution of the modern Universe.
Astrophysicists at Washington University in St. Louis will design and build Super-TIGER to measure the abundances of ultra-heavy galactic cosmic ray nuclei. The instrument aims to better understand the mechanism by which elements are accelerated in interstellar dust grains.
Sandra Faber is being honored for her extraordinary advances in understanding the properties of distant galaxies, dark matter, large-scale structure, and black holes. Her innovative leadership has driven significant discoveries in modern cosmology, including the role of dark matter in galaxy formation.
Researchers using South Pole Telescope aim to detect extremely weak gravity waves produced by cosmic inflation. The detection could provide conclusive evidence for the theory, ruling out competing ideas for the universe's origin.
Dan Akerib, Chair of the Case Western Reserve University Physics Department, has been elected an American Physical Society (APS) Fellow for his significant contributions to direct dark matter detection experiments. He will discuss current and planned research in 'The Search for Dark Matter' at the AAAS conference on February 16.
A laboratory experiment has successfully modeled stellar jets, revealing that magnetic forces shape these objects in a non-linear way. The findings suggest that the jets are fired out like bullets or buckshot, rather than breaking into pieces as previously thought.
New research demonstrates how laser-based techniques can create micron-sized light pathways in three dimensions, enabling the detection of faint light from extrasolar planets and galaxies. This technology has the potential to improve the sensitivity and precision of future telescopes, such as the planned European ELT.
Peter Serlemitsos, a NASA astrophysicist, has made significant contributions to the development of X-ray detectors and telescopes. His work enabled decades of scientific advances in high-energy astrophysics, including pioneering instruments aboard OSO-8 and ASCA missions.
A study of 18,000 students found notable gender bias in student ratings of high school science teachers, with female teachers receiving lower evaluations than their male counterparts. Despite being equally effective at preparing students for college, female teachers were undervalued by both male and female students.
The AAS High Energy Astrophysics Division has awarded the 2009 Rossi Prize to Charles D. Bailyn, Jeffrey E. McClintock, and Ronald A. Remillard for their work on measuring black hole masses in binary pairs with companion stars.
Researchers observed the intense heating of HD 80606b as it swung close to its star, providing clues to its atmospheric properties. The data enabled the creation of realistic images of the planet using computer simulations.
Researchers aim to understand the structure and dynamics of the heliosphere using cosmic rays to probe its outer environment. The project has potential implications for space weather forecasting and keeping astronauts safe from hazardous space radiation.
Researchers found evidence of cosmic dust forming around a dying star in a nearby galaxy, similar to those that formed soon after the Big Bang. This discovery provides insight into the early stages of the Universe and challenges the long-held theory that supernovae explosions are the primary source of dust.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have found a way for massive stars to grow despite radiation pressure that should prevent it. Gravitational instabilities cause companion stars to form around massive stars, allowing them to feed on gas and dust.
A new study published in Science resolves the mystery of how massive stars can form without blowing away the gas and dust that feed their growth. The research found that instabilities develop in the collapsing gas cloud, creating channels where radiation blows out into space while gas continues to fall inward.
Two independent groups successfully detected the thermal emissions of exoplanets OGLE-TR-56b and TrES-3b using ground-based telescopes. The detections are significant because they will continue to study hot Jupiters beyond the capabilities of the soon-to-be-retired Spitzer telescope.
A team of scientists discovered a mysterious screen of extra-loud radio noise permeating the cosmos, preventing astronomers from observing heat from the first stars. The source of this cosmic background remains unknown.
The team found a cosmic puzzle that booms six times louder than predicted, ruling out origins from primordial stars and known radio sources. The source of this cosmic radio background remains a mystery, complicating efforts to detect the first stars in the universe.
Researchers analyzed the spectrum of a gamma-ray burst afterglow to probe the star-forming environment of a distant galaxy. They detected molecular gas and metals comparable to those of the Sun, providing insights into active stellar nurseries in galaxies 10 billion years old.
Researchers identified two protostars located just a few light-years from the Milky Way's central black hole, defying expectations that gravitational tides would prevent star formation. The discovery suggests molecular gas at the galactic center is denser than previously thought, allowing it to form new stars.
A new study found that gas giants like Jupiter must form extremely fast, in less than 5 million years, or they won't form at all. This rapid growth spurt is necessary because the material from which they formed probably disappeared within a few million years.
The Milky Way galaxy is rotating about 100,000 miles per hour faster than previously understood, increasing its mass by 50 percent. This increase in speed and mass brings the Milky Way closer to colliding with the Andromeda Galaxy or smaller nearby galaxies.
Astrophysicists used new computer visualization technology to understand that gravity plays a more significant role than previously thought in deep space's star-forming molecular clouds. The research, led by Alyssa Goodman, reveals hierarchical structure and density variations within these clouds.