Astronomers have mapped the location of optical and ultraviolet light emitted by a star torn apart by a black hole. The team used Swift satellite observations to track the changes in brightness of various wavelengths, finding that they originated from elliptical streams of orbiting matter crashing into each other.
Astronomers have observed a striking spiral pattern in the gas surrounding LL Pegasi and its companion star, shedding light on the final act of a dying red giant star. The observations suggest that a highly elliptical orbit is responsible for the shape of the gaseous emissions.
Astronomers have found evidence of a star that whips around a likely black hole twice an hour, marking the tightest orbital dance ever seen by a black hole and a companion star in our own Milky Way galaxy. The stellar couple is located in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae, about 14,800 light years away from Earth.
Astronomers have found evidence for a star orbiting a black hole at an unprecedented distance, about twice an hour. The close-in binary system, located 14,800 light years from Earth, provides valuable insights into the behavior of black holes and their companion stars.
Researchers have discovered young stars in old star clusters, suggesting that our current models of stellar evolution may be incorrect. This finding could mean that star clusters contain multiple generations of stars.
Stella Offner's research aims to understand how stars form and interact with their birth environments. Her team will perform computer simulations to test different theories on star mass origin and compare models to telescope observations of star-forming regions.
Scientists have identified a neutron star consuming material at an incredible rate, producing x-rays that exceed the Eddington limit by 1,000 times. The star's strong, multipolar magnetic field is believed to be responsible for its extreme properties.
Scientists have observed the first time a star pulsates in response to its orbiting planet, HAT-P-2b. The star's brightness oscillates ever so slightly every 87 minutes, suggesting that the massive exoplanet may periodically distort its star, causing it to flare or pulse.
Astronomers have discovered a rare pulsating delta Scuti star 7,000 light years away in the Pegasus constellation. The star's unique pattern of expansion and contraction every 2.5 hours is the result of its heating and cooling hydrogen fuel at its core.
Researchers have identified an exotic binary star system as the first white dwarf pulsar ever discovered in the universe. The star, AR Scorpii, is a rapidly spinning, burnt-out stellar remnant that emits powerful beams of radiation and particles.
Scientists have discovered incredibly rapid gas flares from a white dwarf binary star system for the first time. The unusual activity was observed at radio wavelengths in SS Cyg, one of the brightest variable stars in the constellation of Cygnus.
Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum used data from the Astrophysical Journal to determine the age of the star, finding it had formed at the same time as our galaxy. The dual star system's companion star transferred matter to 49 Lib, causing incorrect age estimates.
Astronomers have discovered a shadow sweeping across the face of a vast pancake-shaped gas-and-dust disk surrounding a young star, possibly caused by an unseen planet gravitationally pulling on material. The twisted inner disk is casting its shadow onto the outer region.
Astronomers have discovered three young star systems with doomed comets, suggesting a common mechanism for exocomet destruction. The study provides new insights into the past and present activity of comets in our solar system, potentially making life possible on terrestrial planets.
Researchers use neutron diffraction to study high-pressure and high-temperature phases of solid carbon dioxide, shedding light on the Earth's carbon cycle and potential for carbon substitution with silicon dioxide. The study provides new insights into the behavior of carbon dioxide under extreme conditions.
Researchers found that Neptune-mass worlds are likely the most common type of planet to form in icy outer realms. The study provides insight into the types of planets waiting to be found far from a host star, where scientists suspect planets form most efficiently.
Researchers have discovered a star that ingested some of its planets, revealing a violent history for the planetary system. The star's composition suggests it devoured four planets, preserving lithium and other elements in its atmosphere.
A study by Professors Bhattacharyya and Chakrabarty suggests that a population of neutron stars may emit gravitational waves continuously, which could slow down their spin rates. This finding has strong implications for the study of these dense objects in the universe.
Researchers observed L2 Puppis, a star similar to the Sun 5 billion years ago, to understand its evolution and potential impact on planets. A planet orbiting the giant star may offer clues about Earth's ultimate fate.
Researchers have detected linear polarisation in the light passing through the vacuum surrounding a neutron star, suggesting that strong magnetic fields can affect the properties of empty space. This finding provides experimental support for predictions made 80 years ago about vacuum birefringence.
Researchers used asteroseismology to determine the oblateness of a slowly rotating star, revealing a difference of only 3 kilometers between equatorial and polar radii. The star's small oblateness is surprising, as it rotates three times more slowly than the Sun.
A study found dramatic declines in sunflower sea star populations due to sea star wasting disease, affecting the Salish Sea ecosystem's balance. The disease has effectively disappeared these key predators from the area.
A rare triple-star system has been discovered by a University of Oklahoma-led research team using ALMA observations, providing insights into the formation of young binary and multiple star systems. The team found that the disk surrounding the tri-star system appeared susceptible to fragmentation, leading to the creation of newborn stars.
Researchers at NIST have developed a method to create visual holograms using neutron beams, which can reveal detailed information about an object's interior. This technique has potential applications in studying solid materials and exploring small structures.
Proxima Centauri, a small red dwarf star, has a regular cycle of starspots similar to our Sun. The study suggests that this cycle may impact the potential habitability of its planet, Proxima b.
Researchers have observed a binary star system with two stars and three rotating planet-forming accretion discs, all misaligned with each other. The discovery challenges current understanding of planetary system formation and prompts further study to understand the physics behind this unusual system.
Astronomers have detected superhot blobs of gas being ejected near the dying star V Hydrae, with each blob twice as massive as Mars and traveling at half-million miles per hour. The plasma balls are thought to be launched by an unseen companion star in an elliptical orbit, shedding new light on planetary nebulae.
Astronomers analyze Kepler observations of KIC 8462852 and find the star dimming slowly for almost three years before suddenly losing 2% of its brightness. The star's unusual behavior has sparked speculation about comets, alien megastructures, or planetary collisions, but the new findings will make it harder to explain.
Astronomers have found a potentially habitable exoplanet, Proxima b, orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, just 11 days from its parent star. The planet's mass is at least 1.3 times that of Earth and orbits within the star's habitable zone.
Researchers have identified a young star over 30 times the mass of our Sun, which could help us understand how massive stars are formed. The discovery suggests that massive stars form in a similar way to smaller stars like our Sun.
Researchers at Texas Tech University have developed hexagonal boron nitride semiconductors as a low-cost alternative for inspecting overseas cargo containers entering US ports. The material offers high detection efficiency and sensitivity, making it suitable for various applications beyond nuclear weapons detection.
A team of physicists has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the internal composition of neutron stars. They used thermal perturbation theory to determine the thermodynamic properties of dense quark matter under extreme conditions, shedding light on its potential presence inside these stars.
Astronomers have peer into a nearby star's past, using low-frequency radio observations to fine-tune our understanding of stellar explosions. The team found the red supergiant lost matter at a slower rate and generated slower winds, improving knowledge of space composition.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have discovered a new type of exotic binary star that produces powerful beams of particles and radiation, affecting its nearby companion star. The star, AR Scorpii, has a white dwarf with intense magnetic fields that accelerate electrons in the atmosphere of the red dwarf to close to the speed o...
Astronomers using NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope discover a new type of exotic binary star system where a rapidly spinning white dwarf powers electrons to almost the speed of light, causing radiation blasts that lash the companion red dwarf star, resulting in dramatic pulses every 1.97 minutes.
The Crab Nebula is home to a spinning neutron star with a 'heartbeat' radiation signature, emitting clock-like pulses of energy. The neutron star is surrounded by expanding debris and glowing gas, revealing the intricate details of this cosmic object.
Researchers analyzed UV spectrum of BD+44 493, a second-generation star thought to have been enriched by one of the first stars. They found phosphorus, sulfur, and zinc, which reveal the star was likely massive and exploded as a supernova.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory used neutron scattering to uncover magnetic excitations in a rare-earth based intermetallic compound. The study reveals exotic magnetic properties, challenging conventional expectations of magnetic behavior in materials.
A team of researchers used neutron crystallography to better understand a protein implicated in HIV replication, revealing a pH-induced proton 'hopping' mechanism that guides the enzyme's activity. This understanding is vital for drug resistance and guiding rational drug design.
A team of astronomers discovered a brown dwarf born as a full-fledged star, stripped to its current mass through stellar cannibalism. The brown dwarf was detected in a binary system with a tight orbit around a white dwarf, where the white dwarf's gravity removes about 90% of the companion's mass.
Astrophysicists have observed a distant star in Andromeda with a different positioning of sunspots, indicating a magnetic field driven by unique internal dynamics. The star's rapid rotation creates a powerful magnetic field, resulting in asymmetrical distribution of sunspots on its surface.
Researchers discovered unique starspots on nearby star Zeta Andromedae, differing significantly from the Sun's spots. The findings offer a rare glimpse into the Sun's infancy and challenge current theories about star magnetic fields.
Three exoplanets, similar to Earth and Venus, orbit an ultracool dwarf star just 40 light years from Earth. The planets may have regions with temperatures suitable for liquid water and life.
A team of astronomers has discovered three planets with sizes similar to Earth's orbiting the ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, which may possess habitable regions. The planets' orbits are extremely close to their host star, receiving four times and twice less radiation than Earth.
An international team of astronomers has discovered three Earth-sized planets orbiting a nearby ultracool dwarf star, TRAPPIST-1. The planets are located within the star's habitable zone and may have conditions suitable for life.
A giant star exploded 30 million years ago in a galaxy near Earth, releasing energy equivalent to 100 million suns. The analysis revealed the star's mass, radius, and chemical composition before its spectacular demise.
The Bubble Nebula, observed by Hubble, is a vast bubble being blown into space by a super-hot, massive star. The nebula is 7 light-years across and resides 7,100 light-years from Earth. A seething star forms this nebula, with gas escaping at over 4 million miles per hour.
Physicists have found a simple formula for the maximum mass of neutron stars, which depends on their rotation rate. The research, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, suggests that rotating neutron stars can support masses up to 20% higher than non-rotating ones.
Researchers measured precise binding energy of a 10ΛBe hypernucleus, finding small charge symmetry breaking for heavier hypernuclei. The study extends knowledge of the nuclear force to the baryonic force and has significant implications for hypernuclear studies.
Astronomers used Hubble to study the Milky Way's nuclear star cluster, discovering a rich tapestry of over half a million stars. The cluster surrounds the galaxy's central supermassive black hole and offers insights into its formation.
Scientists are using computer models to simulate the production of heavy elements in supernovae and neutron-star mergers. The study aims to identify areas where future experiments can reduce uncertainties in nuclear models.
Scientists have detected internal movements in LOV photoreceptors using neutron spectroscopy, which can control biological processes with light. The study highlights the potential of neutron scattering experiments for analyzing cellular processes and provides unique insights into protein functionality.
Astronomers discovered a tiny, ancient galaxy that contains seven stars with heavy elements formed through rapid neutron captures, a process more common in rare cosmic collisions. The findings suggest that the heaviest elements on Earth originated in neutron star mergers.
Researchers suggest that twin black holes detected by LIGO might have formed inside a single, massive star. The star's death generated a gamma-ray burst, which was observed by the Fermi Space Telescope.
Astronomers have discovered a crescent-shaped dust cloud in the outer reaches of a binary star's protoplanetary disk, providing fresh insights into planet formation. The cloud may be the key to forming planets in binary systems, with its lack of free-floating gases likely due to freezing out and forming ice on dust grains.
Researchers found a massive star pretending to be a supernova, emitting X-rays consistent with a neutron star core. The system's unique pairing suggests it may be one of the rarest types of binary systems, offering insights into star formation and evolution.
Researchers have developed a new technique to accurately measure the surface gravity of distant stars, allowing for more precise analysis of exoplanet sizes and habitability. This breakthrough will play a crucial role in the study of planets beyond our Solar System.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has photographed a newborn star with twin jets, reminiscent of a Star Wars lightsaber, in the Orion B molecular cloud complex. The protostar is feeding on surrounding material and shooting gas into space, creating shock fronts that heat up the surrounding gas.
Astronomers have discovered a planetary system with an enormous planet sandwiched between a Sun-like star and a dwarf star. The planet's massive eccentric orbit indicates gravitational influence from the dwarf star, leading to Kozai oscillations that cause it to 'dance' between the two stars.
A University of Sydney graduate student has reconstructed images of the star CW Leo, which appears to be a changing 'inkblot pattern' due to dust and gas ejections. The star's appearance evolved over eight years, revealing it is not buried under its own dust as previously thought.