A supercomputer simulation demonstrates that a collapsing massive star can generate enormous magnetic fields, focusing gas along the rotation axis to create jets producing oppositely directed blasts of highly energetic gamma rays. This breakthrough model sheds light on the process behind hypernovae and gamma-ray bursts.
Researchers found that tiny dips in a star's brightness can indicate a planet passing in front of it, but star KIC 8462852 had deep and irregular dips. The astronomers concluded that the destruction of a family of comets near the star is the most likely explanation for the mysterious dimming.
Researchers using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope discovered a new gamma-ray pulsar in the Large Magellanic Cloud, breaking records for luminosity and age. The discovery was made after reanalyzing data from the telescope's Pass 8 process.
Researchers used America's most powerful supercomputer, Titan, to compute the neutron distribution of calcium-48, finding a smaller difference between neutron and proton distributions. This calculation impacts the size of neutron stars, connecting objects with a 18-order magnitude size difference.
Research by Herman Aguinis and Kyle Bradley suggests that performance follows a power law distribution, leading to more common star performers. The study recommends transparency, fairness in policies, structuring work, training development interventions, employment decisions, and compensation to effectively manage and produce star perf...
Astronomers have spotted a large, rocky object disintegrating in its death spiral around a distant white dwarf star, confirming a long-standing theory behind the source of white dwarf 'pollution' by metals. The system shows signs of surrounding debris disk and at least one compact, rocky object.
Research suggests that tidally locked planets may have protective magnetic fields due to tidal heating, which helps maintain surface conditions conducive to life. This finding challenges the previous assumption that such planets are at mercy of their star.
Researchers at University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing have controlled the orbital angular momentum of neutron waves for the first time. This breakthrough enables probing of material properties like magnetism and crystalline structure, opening doors to deeper studies of superconducting and chiral materials.
Researchers found an O-type star, NGC 1624-2, has the largest known magnetosphere, trapping gas and creating a massive aura of hot, dense plasma. The star's powerful stellar winds are up to 100,000 times denser than our Sun's solar wind.
Researchers use the Very Large Telescope Interferometer to study a young star with a large proto-planetary disk. They find a significant gap in the inner regions, suggesting a gravitational influence from forming planets.
A PhD candidate at Queen's University has made a groundbreaking discovery of the first massive binary star with magnetic fields. The research provides new insights into the origin of magnetism in massive stars and may help explain why only 10% of these stars have strong magnetic fields.
Researchers used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to locate compact regions within the nearby dwarf irregular galaxy Wolf--Lundmark--Melotte that can emulate larger galaxies' star-forming environments. These discoveries shed light on how dense star clusters can form in low-density, gas-poor galaxies.
Astronomers discovered 'irregular heartbeats' in a dying star, caused by massive outbursts that break its regular pulse and heat up its surface. The phenomenon may reveal new physics behind stellar pulsations and could be triggered by resonance.
Astronomers have detected a self-regulating cycle of star births within elliptical galaxies, with black holes controlling the rate of gas cooling and star formation. The unique capabilities of space telescopes like Hubble allowed researchers to directly observe 'showers' of star formation linked to galaxy jets.
Researchers discovered neutron stars can accelerate material to nearly light speed, rivaling black holes. This finding contradicts previous theories about neutron star behavior.
Astronomers confirm exoplanet orbiting far from its central star using gravitational microlensing, opening new discovery space for long-period orbits. The Uranus-sized planet is about 370 million miles from its parent star, with a host star about 70% as massive as our Sun.
Researchers have discovered a unique binary star system, Gaia14aae, where one star eclipses the other. The system is an important laboratory for studying ultra-bright supernova explosions, which help measure the expansion of the Universe.
Astronomers have discovered a massive cloud of hydrogen, dubbed 'The Behemoth,' evaporating from a warm Neptune-sized planet orbiting a nearby star. The phenomenon may help explain the existence of Hot Super-Earths and provide insights into how planets lose their outer layers.
Researchers have developed a new method to estimate distances to X-ray sources using the geometry of light echoes and dust clouds. By analyzing the timing and deflection of X-rays as they pass through interstellar space, astronomers can calculate the distance to Circinus X-1, a binary system located in the plane of the galaxy.
Astronomers have solved a mystery over blue hook stars, which form when a star's outer layers are destroyed by rapid rotation. The international team found that these stars consume hydrogen fuel more slowly due to their high spin rates.
Astronomers have successfully commissioned a new type of optic that can reveal the image of an exoplanet next to its parent star. The vector-APP coronagraph uses advanced liquid crystal technology to cancel out starlight, allowing fainter planets to be imaged.
Astronomers discovered a peculiar Wolf-Rayet star, Nasty 1, with a vast pancake-shaped gas disk encircling it. The disk may have formed from an unseen companion star through mass transfer in a binary system.
A team of astronomers witnessed a supernova smashing into a nearby star, creating an ultraviolet glow that reveals the size of the companion. The study provides new insights into the origin of type Ia supernovae.
The discovery fills a gap between ordinary supernovae and those that produce powerful gamma-ray bursts. Supernova 2012ap has characteristics expected of a gamma-ray burst, yet no such burst occurred.
Scientists observed a young, massive star changing shape over 18 years, revealing key stages of its formation. A torus-shaped dusty environment slowed down an initially spherical outflow, resulting in an elongated, beam-like structure.
A team of physicists has calculated the tiny neutron-proton mass difference using a powerful supercomputer, verifying the theory of the strong interaction. The finding confirms that neutrons are slightly more massive than protons, with a 0.14% difference, and opens up new possibilities for simulations of quarks and nuclear particles.
Theoretical astrophysicists discovered that gravitational waves from merging binary neutron star systems have a characteristic spectrum similar to atomic spectral lines. This allows for the inference of neutron star properties, including equation of state and stellar structure.
Scientists have identified the fastest-moving unbound star in our galaxy, breaking the galactic speed record with a speed of 1,200 kilometers per second. The star, US708, was once part of a double-star solar system and is now expected to leave the Milky Way.
Astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to capture the most detailed edge-on picture yet of a large disk of gas and dust encircling Beta Pictoris. The disk is distorted by the gravitational pull of an embedded giant planet, allowing scientists to study the effects of planetary formation on young star systems.
Researchers analyzed the trajectory of Scholz's star and found it passed through the outer Oort Cloud, 98% certain of its close flyby. The star's proximity to our solar system was confirmed, challenging previous predictions for the closest known flyby.
Scientists have observed a multiple-star system in its early stages of formation, with three dense condensations that will collapse into stars in just 40,000 years. The system is expected to form a stable triple-star system, with the fourth star potentially leaving the system soon.
International team of astronomers observes multiple-star system forming in Perseus constellation, revealing how stars are separated during early stages of formation. The discovery advances understanding of conditions governing the type of star systems to develop.
An international team of astrophysicists has witnessed the formation of a quadruple star system, consisting of a young star and three gas clouds that will develop into stars in 40,000 years. The system is unstable and prone to interference due to its multiple members.
An international team of astronomers has discovered a Sun-like star with orbiting Earth-sized planets dating back to the dawn of the Galaxy. The discovery, Kepler-444, hosts five small planets smaller than Mercury and Venus.
Astronomers have discovered a star that is 11.2 billion years old and has at least five Earth-size planets, revealing that planetary formation occurred throughout the universe's history. The system, Kepler-444, consists of five planets with sizes between Mercury and Venus, orbiting a smaller star than our sun.
Astronomers have discovered a star with three planets only slightly larger than Earth, one of which orbits in the habitable zone where surface temperatures could be moderate enough for liquid water and life to exist. The study found that these planets are about 2.1, 1.7, and 1.5 times the size of Earth.
Researchers tracked the motion of a binary pulsar to measure the space-time warp caused by its two highly compact stars. The study provided new information on the effects of extreme gravity on neutron stars and binary systems.
Researchers from Spain and India found that pulsars with black holes are ideal for testing general relativity, but two cases reduce their value. The 'holy grail' pair is a normal black hole, which has yet to be discovered.
Researchers have discovered a 'wheel in a wheel' of dust and gas in the binary star system GG Tau-A, indicating that material is being transferred between the outer and inner disks. This finding has major consequences for potential planet formation, suggesting that multiple-star systems can form planets despite their complicated dynamics.
Astronomers at Ohio State University have observed a star narrowly escaping capture by a supermassive black hole, releasing only a small portion of its mass. The event, known as a tidal disruption event (TDE), provides valuable insights into the growth and behavior of black holes in the universe.
Researchers have found that protons and neutrons in heavy nuclei have higher-average momentum when paired, contrary to previous theories. This phenomenon has implications for ultra-cold atomic gas systems and neutron stars.
Astronomers have discovered a pulsating, dead star beaming with the energy of about 10 million suns. Pulsars are dense stellar remnants leftover from supernovas, and this one is the brightest ever recorded.
Researchers found a star with extremely low iron content, which could be evidence of the universe's first supernovae. The star's unusual chemical composition supports the theory that massive stars formed in the early universe and exploded as supernovae.
New modeling studies show most stars were formed from unstable protostar clusters that broke up, leaving behind single or binary stars. These clusters, however, rarely form stable multi-star systems, instead ejecting stars to achieve stability.
Researchers at Kansas State University have developed a lithium-based neutron detector for various applications, including medical imaging and national security. The Li-Foil Neutron Detector is more cost-effective than helium-3 based detectors due to advancements in lithium foil manufacturing.
Astronomers discovered a star system that could have left behind a 'zombie star' after an unusually weak supernova explosion. The team used Hubble Space Telescope images taken years before the stellar explosion to identify a blue companion star feeding energy to a white dwarf.
Astronomers discovered a young binary star system with wildly misaligned planet-forming disks, providing the clearest picture yet of protoplanetary disks around a double star. The system's unique configuration suggests that planets may be influenced by the gravitational pull of a second star, leading to unusual orbits.
Researchers successfully separated a neutron's magnetic moment from its particle, observing the first experimental evidence of the 'Cheshire Cat' paradox. This technique can be applied to any property of any quantum object, improving high precision measurements.
Astronomers have observed a unique transformation of a binary system containing a rapidly spinning neutron star. The system, known as AY Sextantis, underwent a dramatic change in behavior, with the pulsar's radio beacon vanishing and its gamma-ray emission increasing fivefold.
Scientists solved the long-standing question of whether ferryl heme in Compound I involves just an oxygen atom or a hydroxyl group, with implications for drug development. The study used neutron crystallography to determine the structure of Compound I at cryogenic temperatures.
Astronomers have used a new technique to measure the ages of 22 Sun-like stars, revealing properties similar to our Sun. The study's lead author found 'solar twins' that can be studied to predict planetary system evolution.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-like planet in a binary star system, expanding the search for habitable planets. The planet orbits one of the stars at almost exactly the same distance from which Earth orbits the sun, but is much colder due to its host star's dimmer light.
Research by Penn State scientists has debunked the existence of two controversial planets around dwarf star Gliese 581, which were believed to be prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life. The study confirms that signals from the stars' magnetic activity, not the planets themselves, caused the initial findings.
Research from Columbia Business School found that umpires are more likely to incorrectly call strikes for All-Star pitchers, resulting in a larger strike zone. The study also identified the 'Matthew Effect', where status bias influences umpire decisions, favoring All-Star pitchers.
New observations from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope reveal small galaxies are responsible for forming a significant number of the universe's stars. This finding supports a decade-long investigation into the relationship between a galaxy's mass and its star-forming activity, providing new insights into the early universe's history.
Scientists detect the first Thorne-Żytkow object, a bizarre type of hybrid star formed from red supergiant and neutron stars. The discovery provides evidence for a new model of stellar interiors and offers insights into heavy element production in the universe.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that gamma and neutron imaging are safe for use in diagnostics, delivering radiation doses comparable to conventional medical imaging. The study aims to develop new imaging technologies to detect disease in its earliest stages.
Scientists have detected two planets orbiting Kapteyn's star, one of which could support liquid water and potentially harbor life. The discovery was made using HARPS spectrometer data and reveals a third of the mass of the Sun.
Astronomers have discovered two new planets orbiting a nearby ancient star, Kapteyn's Star, which is just 13 light years away from Earth. One planet, Kapteyn b, is thought to be warm enough to support liquid water on its surface, while the second, Kapteyn c, is a more massive super-Earth with uncertain habitability.
Two planets in the Kepler-56 system will meet their fate when they are dragged into the star's expanding orbit. The inner planets will be destroyed due to tidal forces and intense heat from the growing star.