Scientists at Penn State University developed a new paradigm for understanding the earliest eras of the universe, extending analyses to the Big Bang using loop quantum cosmology. The research reveals that fundamental fluctuations in space-time evolved into large-scale structures, challenging classical physics and inflationary theories.
A record-setting X-ray jet has been detected 12.4 billion light years from Earth, providing a glimpse into the explosive activity associated with supermassive black holes in the early universe. The jet is thought to be boosted by cosmic background radiation and points almost directly toward us.
Astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy, MACS0647-JD, which offers a glimpse into the early universe 420 million years after the Big Bang. The galaxy was magnified by a massive cluster using gravitational lensing, revealing three images of the same object.
Astronomers have found a galaxy whose light traveled 13.3 billion years to reach Earth, offering a glimpse into the universe's early stages. The newly discovered galaxy, MACS0647-JD, is only a tiny fraction of the size of our Milky Way and may be one of many building blocks of a galaxy.
Researchers find two super-luminous supernovae at high redshifts, consistent with pair-instability supernova mechanism. The explosions are thought to have occurred in massive stars that formed in the early universe.
The new Big Data journal will publish peer-reviewed content on novel technologies, policies, and innovations in the field. It aims to facilitate collaboration among researchers, analysts, and business leaders to address challenges and discover breakthroughs in big data.
Astronomers discovered a quasar hidden behind a dusty galaxy, where no starlight is visible due to intense dust blocking. The James Webb Space Telescope will help detect the underlying stars, which were not seen by Hubble.
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing atom-optics technology to directly detect gravitational waves, which could revolutionize astrophysics. The technology uses atomic interferometry to measure minute changes in space-time.
Rutgers receives funding for two projects: one to speed information retrieval from large databases and another to improve scientific literature search accuracy. The projects aim to extract useful information from massive collections of data, with potential applications in fields like physics, psychology, and medicine.
The NSF invests nearly $15 million in new Big Data research projects to develop new tools and methods for extracting knowledge from large data sets. These grants aim to accelerate progress in science and engineering research and innovation.
Computer scientists at Brown University have been awarded $1.5 million to develop new algorithms and statistical methods for analyzing large genomic datasets. The project aims to identify genetic mutations that drive cancer by comparing gene sequences of healthy tissue to those of cancerous tissue.
A team of astronomers has spotted a potentially most distant galaxy ever detected, which existed 500 million years after the Big Bang. The discovery opens up a window into the deepest, remotest epochs of cosmic history, providing insights into the universe's earliest objects and the Dark Ages.
A Danish researcher found that a universal psychological instinct triggers decisions on deservingness of welfare recipients, regardless of cultural differences. This instinct dates back to the Stone Age, when sharing food was crucial for survival, and influences modern attitudes towards help and support.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have found a way to map the spread and structure of the universe using the light of quasars. By analyzing patterns of light variation over time, they were able to calculate the relative size of the universe when the light was emitted, compared to today.
Penn State researchers are creating a new training program for doctoral students in Big Data Social Science, with the help of a $3 million NSF grant. The program aims to equip scientists with tools to address the challenges of massive and complex socially generated data.
Researchers measured lithium in Small Magellanic Cloud gas, finding more than predicted by Big Bang models. The discrepancy could indicate novel physics or dark matter particles.
The NOvA experiment aims to determine the ordering of neutrino masses and explore their role in the universe's origins. The detector will consist of 28 blocks, each made up of plastic PVC modules, and will be operational by 2013.
New data reveals galaxies formed and fully illuminated the universe by 750 million years old, ending sooner than expected. The epoch of reionization lasted less than 500 million years and was triggered by monster galaxies with over a billion stars.
Human pregnancy length is limited by a mother's metabolism, not birth canal size, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The EGG hypothesis suggests that babies are born when their mother cannot put any more energy into gestation and fetal growth.
Astronomers have discovered evidence of a planet's destruction by its aging star, BD+48 740. The star's peculiar chemical composition and highly unusual elliptical orbit suggest that it consumed a massive planet, leaving behind a surviving massive planet with an eccentric orbit.
Researchers propose a new concept called Quantum Graphity, suggesting that space is composed of tiny indivisible blocks similar to pixels. This idea challenges the traditional Big Bang theory and offers a potential explanation for the nature of space.
Astronomers have discovered a massive galaxy cluster, known as the Phoenix Cluster, that is breaking several important cosmic records. Stars are forming in this object at the highest rate ever seen in the middle of a galaxy cluster.
The Phoenix Cluster, discovered by the NSF's South Pole Telescope, is creating stars at an unprecedented rate of 20 times faster than in other clusters. The cluster's central galaxy and super-massive black hole are undergoing unsustainable growth, adding mass quickly before it becomes unsustainable.
Scientists have invented a new approach to simulate the birth and evolution of galaxies, creating a universe with spiral galaxies like Andromeda. The new software, Arepo, uses a flexible grid geometry to match the motions of gas, stars, dark matter, and dark energy.
Notre Dame physicists are utilizing a new particle accelerator to recreate stellar nuclear processes in the lab. The research complements observational studies of new telescopes, shedding light on cosmic nucleosynthesis processes.
Elk and rhinoceros beetles use insulin to grow big horns and attract mates. A study by Michigan State University found that these traits are not handicaps, but rather honest indicators of quality. The research suggests that the males' insulin dependence provides a way for them to show off their strength and suitability as partners.
The James Webb Space Telescope's NIRISS and FGS instruments, developed by University of Montreal's Professor René Doyon, will study the universe from a record-breaking distance. These Canadian-made instruments will analyze stars and galaxies dating back to the Big Bang and search for life-supporting planetary systems.
Researchers explore dark energy's impact on the Universe's fate, citing a 'big rip' scenario as a possibility with predicted timelines for object destruction. The study uses the Ma-Zhang parameterization to forecast the evolution of the Universe.
Astronomers detected a rotating spiral galaxy in the early universe, over 3 billion years after the Big Bang, using the Hubble Space Telescope. The galaxy, named BX442, is unlike other ancient galaxies with its grand design structure and massive size.
Astronomers discover that small dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way contain only a few stars and share the same birth date, indicating they were shut down by reionization. The relic galaxies provide evidence for a transitional phase in the early universe.
Researchers from the University of Calgary found that even with complete information, predicting certain experiment outcomes in quantum physics can't be done perfectly beforehand. Quantum theory appears to be close to optimal in terms of its predictive power, according to a new study.
International experts warn of SA's unhealthy eating habits linked to big food corporations, urging gov action to make healthy foods more accessible and restrict high-calorie products. The authors suggest policy responses including public education and regulation of the industry.
Brazil has implemented legislation to shield its traditional food system from the influence of global corporations, aiming to improve public health and preserve cultural heritage. By law, schools must serve minimally processed meals sourced from local farmers, reducing the penetration of Big Food companies in Brazil.
Higgs boson discovery is crucial for understanding particle masses. Experiments are reducing data to find patterns in particle decay, but low probabilities make some channels harder to detect. Sophisticated software filters events to record particles of interest.
Researchers at MIT CSAIL discovered brain organizes objects based on size, with distinct regions for big and small objects. This finding has major implications for fields like robotics and could lead to better understanding of brain organization and mapping information.
The Particle Data Group's 2012 edition is a comprehensive review of high-energy physics, covering results from the Large Hadron Collider and new data on neutrino oscillation. The online version includes an interactive web application for browsing the database and print-quality displays of mathematical expressions.
A new series by PLOS Medicine examines the role of the multinational food industry in shaping global health policies. Guest editors Marion Nestle and David Stuckler argue that public health professionals must recognize Big Food's influence and take action to expose and regulate its interests.
Researchers have found that terrestrial planets like Earth could have formed earlier than expected in the universe's history. The study suggests that rocky worlds don't need to orbit metal-rich stars to form and that their sizes are not directly linked to the star's metallicities.
Researchers searched for 'knots' in space using WMAP data, finding no signs of cosmic textures. The study places limits on theories producing textures, ruling out most models at 95% confidence.
The new peer-reviewed journal Big Data will facilitate discussions on harnessing big data to solve global problems. It aims to bring together researchers, analysts, and policymakers to address the challenges and discover breakthroughs in big data technologies, policies, and innovations.
Researchers have developed an algorithm that can simulate particle collisions on a quantum computer, a feat currently beyond conventional supercomputers. This breakthrough could enable quantum computers to tackle challenging problems like breaking complex codes and studying the early universe.
Researchers have discovered an additional third of atomic hydrogen gas in galaxies, which could impact star formation rates. The findings suggest that galaxies are forming stars at 20 times the rate they did billions of years ago.
Avi Loeb's new calculations suggest the ideal time to observe cosmic perturbations was 500 million years after the Big Bang, when the first stars and galaxies began to form. This era offers a window into the early universe before information is lost to the formation of gravitationally bound objects.
Researchers found that some baby galaxies from over 12 billion years ago had a high content of heavier elements, similar to our Sun. This suggests potential for planet formation and life in the early Universe. The study used quasars as light sources to analyze the spectral lines and measure the amount of elements.
Research suggests hundreds of billions of free-floating, Earth-sized life-bearing planets exist between stars in the Milky Way. These 'missing mass' planets could mix cosmic primordial life on a galaxy-wide scale.
Archaeologists have uncovered a unique structure with paintings and hundreds of scrawled numbers at the ancient Maya site of Xultún in Guatemala. The discovery includes calculations relating to the Maya calendar, stretching over 7,000 years into the future.
For the first time, astronomers have detected arsenic and selenium in an ancient star, revealing insights into the origin of these elements. The discovery sheds light on how stars produce heavier elements, including those found on Earth.
Astronomers have identified two 11- to 12-billion-year-old white dwarf stars, the oldest and closest known to Earth. Located 100 light years away, these stars are believed to be among the first formed in the Universe soon after the Big Bang.
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) has made precision measurements of the large-scale structure of the universe five to seven billion years ago. By using a technique called baryon acoustic oscillation, BOSS can determine the distances to faraway galaxies with unprecedented accuracy.
Researchers suggest that highly massive black holes began growing rapidly in the early universe due to chaotic gas flows. By simulating gas discs orbiting a black hole at different angles, they found that collisions between these discs can lead to a significant increase in the black hole's mass.
Astronomers have detected a cosmic effect that could provide insight into the forces behind the universe's formation, including dark energy and dark matter. The kSZ effect was seen in the movement of distant galaxy clusters, with velocities measured up to 600 kilometers per second.
The publication brings together the latest knowledge on eastern big-eared bats, a group of species at risk due to habitat loss and environmental contaminants. The research provides guidance on securing or improving habitat for these bats, including discussions of conservation and management strategies.
A team of researchers from MIT has detected tellurium, a rare Earth element, for the first time in three ancient stars. The finding supports the theory that tellurium and other heavy elements likely originated from a rare type of supernova during nuclear fusion.
A study by Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers found that targeted tumor freezing therapy increases ovarian cancer survival rates, with a 56-month average survival rate reported in 98% of patients. The treatment, called cryoablation, has been shown to be cost-effective, saving an average of $26,806 per life year.
Researchers found that big fish in coral reefs prefer sheltering under large, flat table corals due to their importance as a source of cover. The team's study suggests that maintaining these structures could be crucial for the reef's resilience to climate change.
A team led by UCLA researcher Michael Rich has discovered a previously unknown dwarf galaxy near NGC 4449, which is 12.5 million light years from Earth. The newly found galaxy, NGC 4449B, is the largest known dwarf galaxy in the local group and has been stretched into a 'S' shape due to gravitational encounter.
Geologists have determined that Death Valley's Ubehebe Crater was created just 800 years ago and still has enough groundwater and magma to potentially produce another eruption. The crater, which formed from a phreatomagmatic explosion, may be due for another blast in the near future.
Astronomers have discovered the most distant galaxy cluster ever observed, comprising five bright galaxies that are 600 million years after the Big Bang. The cluster is believed to be a protocluster, with galaxies expected to merge and form a massive central galaxy.
Astronomers have pinpointed the most distant galaxy cluster in the early universe, comprising five tiny galaxies 600 million years after the Big Bang. The discovery confirms theoretical understanding of galaxy cluster formation and provides evidence for the hierarchical model of galaxy assembly.
A team of researchers has discovered the most distant developing galaxy cluster, approximately 13.1 billion light-years away, using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The cluster is among the brightest galaxies in the early universe and is expected to grow into a massive galactic city.