Scientists have detected loops and rings of hot gas surrounding the supermassive black hole, indicating periodic eruptions that generate pressure waves and sound. The sound waves are found to be more discordant and complex than previously detected, with a range of frequencies below middle C.
Astronomers have discovered a small brown dwarf star orbiting a Sun-like star with a planet, revealing a new class of coldest brown dwarfs called T dwarfs. The team also found another smaller brown dwarf in the same system, which may be the youngest known T dwarf, providing a snapshot of early brown-dwarf development.
Researchers used Hubble Space Telescope to explore galaxy formation during first 900 million years after Big Bang. They found a significant increase in bright galaxies around 13 billion years ago, providing evidence for hierarchical theory of galaxy formation.
The DOE's SciDAC-2 program awards $60 million annually to 30 computational science projects over three to five years, focusing on designing new materials, developing future energy sources, and studying global climate change. The programs aim to accelerate scientific discovery through advanced computing and establish nine Centers for En...
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have won five Department of Energy SciDAC awards to advance fundamental research in climate modeling, fusion energy sciences, and high-performance computing. The $60 million award will support leading-edge simulation computer programs over the next three to five years.
Dr. Catherine Cesarsky has been elected as the new President of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for a three-year term, becoming the first woman to receive this distinction. She brings extensive experience in research and leadership, having previously served as ESO Director General.
The COBE experiments confirmed the universe was born in a big bang, shedding light on its structure. Variations in the CMB revealed tiny but regular temperature fluctuations that exist everywhere in the cosmos.
A recent survey of galaxies observed along the sightlines to quasars and gamma-ray bursts has revealed a striking inconsistency. Galaxies appear to be four times more common in the direction of gamma-ray bursts than in the direction of quasars, contradicting basic concepts of cosmology.
Researchers from the University of Michigan and Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics discovered atomic nitrogen in interstellar gas clouds, suggesting pre-life molecules may be present in comets. This finding sheds new light on the early conditions that led to life on Earth.
The University of Utah will build a 32-inch research-class optical telescope in southern Utah with the help of a $600,000 donation from the Willard L. Eccles Foundation. The telescope will be used for research, education, and public outreach, including star-gazing parties and astronomy camps.
A University of Colorado study suggests using a gigantic, daisy-shaped space shield to block out light from parent stars and allow telescopes to image distant Earth-like planets. The concept enables astronomers to identify planetary features and detect biomarkers like methane and oxygen.
New X-ray data from Chandra reveals that magnetic fields are responsible for the prodigious amounts of radiation emitted by super-massive black holes. The discovery uses a scale model in our galaxy to understand how all black holes work, including those powering quasars.
A team of scientists at the University of Chicago has verified the main features of the cold dark matter model by comparing supercomputer simulations to recent astronomical observations. The simulations accurately reproduced the distribution of galaxies in the early stages of the universe's evolution.
Researchers found four 'planemos' with dusty disks that could evolve into miniature planetary systems. The discovery challenges the traditional view of what constitutes a planet.
The MAGIC team discovered variable gamma-ray emission from microquasar LS I +61 303, revealing a direct relationship between the stars' interplay and gamma-ray production. The findings suggest that gamma-ray emission could be a common property of microquasars, contradicting previous expectations.
Black holes are surprisingly efficient at producing energy, with most of the energy released by matter falling toward a supermassive black hole going into high-energy jets. The study also shows that these jets create huge bubbles in the hot gas of galaxies, preventing new stars from forming.
Researchers analyze gamma-ray burst GRB 050904 to understand the conditions of the early universe. The burst, detected in 2005, provides a probe to study the universe beyond the reach of large telescopes.
Astronomers have discovered a unique pulsar that is only 'on' for part of the time, shedding light on how pulsars emit regular beams of radio waves. The pulsar, PSR B1931+24, slows down 50% faster when it's active compared to when it's not.
A colossal gamma-ray flare from magnetar SGR 1806-20 has profoundly disturbed the Earth's daytime ionosphere. Scientists detected this massive effect using VLF radio waves, which enable them to monitor ionospheric responses to lightning discharges and cosmic events.
Researchers have discovered a large number of supermassive black holes, outnumbering initial estimates, using deep X-ray surveys. The findings suggest that these black holes are more stable over time than previously thought.
A Harvard University study found that high school AP courses do not contribute substantially to student success in college. Mathematical fluency is the single best predictor of college performance in biology, chemistry, and physics, with depth over breadth coursework performing better in college courses.
The H.E.S.S. collaboration has discovered gamma-ray emission from a complex of gas clouds near the Milky Way Galaxy's centre, revealing a prehistoric particle accelerator. The density of cosmic rays exceeds that in the solar neighbourhood, suggesting recent acceleration.
The RAVE survey has released its first dataset, containing information from 25,000 stars born when the Milky Way was in its infancy. The data will allow astronomers to test ideas of the galaxy's origins laid out by various cosmological theories.
The US Department of Energy's INCITE program has awarded 18 million hours of supercomputing time to 15 teams for various research projects. These projects include simulating aircraft design, studying Parkinson's Disease, and understanding climate change.
A team led by FSU physicist Sam Tabor has discovered a novel form of radioactive decay in which two protons are ejected simultaneously from a silver atom. This unexpected finding expands knowledge of nuclear physics and has implications for astrophysics and the production of elements on Earth.
Astronomers have discovered a planet orbiting a 600-million-year-old star using the Exoplanet Tracker, a faster and cheaper instrument. The new method allows for more efficient search of distant stars, potentially uncovering planets capable of supporting life.
Researchers have discovered a remarkably stable indentation in the fabric of space and time, created by the spin of a black hole. The finding is based on identical patterns observed in X-ray light emitted near the black hole nine years apart, using NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer.
A team from MIT and Harvard found that a certain type of X-ray explosion common on neutron stars is never seen around their black hole cousins, indicating the presence of an event horizon. The absence of surface explosions called X-ray bursts suggests that gas released by nearby stars vanishes into a void.
Astronomers have mapped the outflow from two regions of star formation in the Orion Nebula, providing new insights into the process of star creation. The study used Hubble Space Telescope data to track shock waves and determine the duration of stellar winds, shedding light on how these winds shape the surrounding clouds.
Two new studies using Hubble Ultra Deep Field data show a link between galaxy assembly and supermassive black hole growth. Tadpole galaxies, with bright knots and tails caused by mergers, suggest that black holes are enshrouded in dust, making them invisible during the merging process.
A new study analyzing data from the Extended Groth Strip Survey found that galaxy weights play a crucial role in determining star formation rates. Researchers discovered that heavy galaxies form stars early and rapidly, while smaller galaxies form their stars over longer timescales.
Researchers confirm that Einstein's cosmological constant behaves like dark energy, driving the acceleration of the universe. The study uses innovative imaging data from the Supernova Legacy Survey, which reveals a precision of 10% and challenges theoretical ideas about dark energy.
A team of researchers discovered that dark energy behaves similarly to Einstein's cosmological constant with a precision of 10%, contradicting several theoretical predictions. The study uses innovative camera technology and observations from multiple telescopes worldwide.
The Swift satellite has received a "Best of What's New" award for its innovative technology, enabling rapid detection and follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts. This breakthrough has confirmed the origin of gamma-ray bursts and helped pinpoint the birth of a special kind of black hole.
Astronomers recorded a massive star ejected from the Large Magellanic Cloud with speeds of over 2.6 million kilometers per hour. The high velocity suggests the presence of a massive black hole, which could be responsible for kicking the star out of its parent galaxy.
The Amazing Light Symposium honored innovative physicists under 40 with over $100,000 in awards. The symposium also launched a new educational partnership centered on optical and laser science and engineering.
The $400,000 award will fund a starshade-shaped 'New Worlds Observer' that blocks parent star light and captures planet images. Scientists can map planetary systems, detect biomarkers and study features like oceans and continents.
Jan Hall, a scientist emeritus at NIST and JILA fellow, was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Theodor W. Hänsch for their contributions to laser-based precision spectroscopy. Their work enabled precise control of light frequencies, leading to breakthroughs in science, technology, and navigation.
Researchers used simulations to show that dark matter halos are detectable in disk galaxies, but their absence in elliptical galaxies can be explained by the merger process. The study provides new insights into the formation and evolution of elliptical galaxies.
A team led by Neil Gehrels' Swift science team detected the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst (GRB) with a redshift of 6.29, confirming Lamb and Reichart's earlier prediction from 1999. This discovery smashes the old distance record by 500 million light years.
The competition focuses on exploring innovative research in physics and astronomy, with a focus on deep discoveries about reality and technological innovations. The 18 finalists will present their research papers at a special session in October, with nine prizes awarded based on outstanding merit.
A recent study by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory suggests that the sun contains nearly three times more neon than previously believed. This discovery has solved a critical problem with understanding how the sun works. The increased amount of neon plays a crucial role in energy flow from nuclear reactions to space.
A team of astrophysicists discovered X-ray oscillations in a neutron star that provide critical information about its internal structure. The oscillations, generated by massive quakes, contain frequency vibrations that can help scientists understand the nature of neutron stars.
The Millennium Run simulation recreated evolutionary histories for 20 million galaxies and supermassive black holes, clarifying physical processes underlying galaxy buildup. The study also demonstrated that characteristic patterns imprinted on matter distribution at early epochs are still present in observed galaxy distributions.
X-ray flashes and gamma-ray bursts, two powerful cosmic explosions, have long been linked in theory. New satellite data, however, suggests that these events may not be as connected as previously thought, contradicting popular theories.
Astronomers using Spitzer Space Telescope image a new generation of stars at the heads of huge dust pillars created by galactic weather conditions. The Carina Nebula, located 10,000 light years from Earth, is visible to the human eye and contains several dozen massive stars that shape the gigantic dust pillars.
A team of astronomers suggests that Type Ic supernovae could produce gamma-ray bursts through the collapsar model, which proposes an asymmetric explosion mechanism and a jet of particles and energy. The theory is supported by observations with Keck and Subaru telescopes in Hawaii.
A new study reveals that Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) can originate from tiny magnetic regions on the Sun, challenging current theories. The research used data from NASA/ESA's SOHO spacecraft and found that these mini-CMEs were energetic enough to reach Earth, causing aurora and disrupting satellite communications.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory has observed an X-ray outburst from the highly evolved red giant star Mira A, revealing a bridge of hot matter streaming between it and its companion white dwarf. The detection provides insights into interactions between binary systems, including those with a collapsed star.
Researchers have created an 'egg carton' of light with tiny holes that can contain single atoms, a crucial step towards making quantum computing more practical. The design enables faster computing than traditional chips and has potential applications in fields like astrophysics, genetics, and materials science.
Recent studies of the cosmic microwave background radiation suggest that small black holes were widespread in the early universe and merged to form larger black holes. This finding could indicate an era in which small black holes were commonplace, with potential telltale evidence in galaxies without a central supermassive black hole.
A team of researchers has found evidence of dark energy in the universe's cosmic neighborhood, with billions of galaxies emerging from a sea of dark energy. The findings provide supporting evidence for the presence of dark energy, which is causing the universe to accelerate in expansion.
The Einstein@Home project enlists thousands of home computers to analyze data from LIGO and GEO-600 detectors, searching for subtle ripples in space-time predicted by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. By involving hundreds of thousands of people, the project aims to discover gravitational waves and validate theoretical physics.
The Einstein@Home project searches data from US and European gravitational wave detectors for signals from rapidly rotating compact quark and neutron stars. The project utilizes an army of home computer users to analyze the data, requiring enormous computational power.
A massive gamma-ray flare from a magnetar was detected by the RHESSI satellite, emitting as much energy in two-tenths of a second as the sun gives off in 250,000 years. The event's immense power suggests a solution to the origins of short-duration gamma ray bursts.
Researchers found that growing black holes release energy that regulates galaxy evolution and black hole growth, matching observed relationships between black hole size and galaxy mass. The simulations also show that smaller galaxies have less gas to form stars, while larger galaxies produce more.
A team of researchers has discovered a web-like system of gas clouds containing the missing baryons, which are thought to make up half of the universe's mass. The clouds, detected using X-ray telescope data, have temperatures of around 1 million degrees Celsius and are spread over vast distances.
Scientists at Ohio State University and colleagues have discovered a sizeable chunk of the universe's missing baryons, estimated to match the amount that went missing 10 billion years ago. The finding suggests dark matter may be responsible for the gas's presence in super-hot rivers surrounding galaxies.
Researchers at CERN and European universities have re-evaluated the primary reaction creating carbon in stars, modifying the rate of this process. The findings suggest that the amount of carbon produced in the first stars was twice as fast as previously thought, with implications for element production in supernovae.
Researchers have discovered two candidate planets orbiting white dwarfs, which are the remnants of dead stars. The team used a combination of telescopes to detect these planets, which could provide clues about the solar system's formation and the presence of life in the galaxy.