The International Astronomical Union has elected Catherine Cesarsky as its new president, effective for the next three years. The IAU will play a key role in promoting astronomy globally, especially during the proposed International Year of Astronomy in 2009.
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.
Astronomers are using supercomputers to study the energy levels of high-temperature atoms in space, which hold the key to understanding black holes. The new calculations reduce error rates by a few percent, providing more accurate data for X-ray telescope observations.
Scientists using NASA's FUSE satellite discovered more 'heavy' hydrogen in the Milky Way than expected, altering theories about star and galaxy formation. The finding indicates that destruction of deuterium has been occurring at a slower rate than previously thought.
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.
Researchers have found a nearby star system that could potentially host an Earth-like planet with the right conditions. The modelled system is expected to have a habitable zone where terrestrial planets can form, similar to our own solar system.
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.
Saul Perlmutter, Adam Riess, and Brian Schmidt share the prize for their work on measuring changes in the universe's expansion rate. Their discovery has implications for understanding dark energy and its impact on galaxy distances.
Adam Riess, a 36-year-old astronomer at Johns Hopkins University, has won the $1 million Shaw Prize for his work on dark energy, a phenomenon that accounts for 70 percent of the universe. He shares the award with Saul Perlmutter and Brian Schmidt, who worked on competing teams to measure the expansion rate of the universe.
Researchers have found that the most energetic radiation from a quasar's jet comes from extremely energetic particles, not as previously thought. The particles are accelerated locally and produce their emission through synchrotron radiation.
The National Science Foundation and Department of Defense partner to provide funding for Florida Tech's Summer Astronomy Research Program (SARA). Undergraduate students from across the country participate in a nine-week research program, working with faculty mentors and presenting their findings.
Researchers monitored RS Oph's unprecedented detail using space- and ground-based telescopes, estimating gas expelled at 10 million km/h and a size larger than our solar system. The study sheds new light on super stellar explosions and helps predict the red giant's lifespan before becoming a white dwarf.
A team of scientists and students captured data during a rare three-minute solar eclipse to study why the Sun's corona is millions of degrees hotter than its surface. The expedition used new electronic cameras and specialized filters to record images of the corona.
A team of researchers from Williams College will travel to Greece to study the solar eclipse, capturing observations of the Sun's corona and testing new electronic cameras. The expedition aims to provide valuable insights into the mechanism that heats the solar corona to millions of degrees.
The Finnish SIXS instrument will measure the Sun's X-ray and particle radiation on Mercury, providing valuable data on the planet's surface and magnetosphere. The instrument is part of the BepiColombo mission, a European Space Agency project that aims to explore Mercury's orbit and composition.
Astronomers have discovered a new planet, 2003 UB313, which is larger than Pluto and located in the Kuiper Belt. The object's size was determined through thermal emission measurements, revealing a diameter of approximately 3000 km.
Astronomers have long hoped to find magnetic forces shaping interstellar clouds, and now they've done so. A helical magnetic field was detected around the Orion Molecular Cloud, providing the first evidence of its structure.
Researchers discovered young super nebulae around giant star clusters, containing up to a million young stars, and emitting radiant power billions of times that of the sun. The discovery raises questions about why Milky Way no longer forms similar clusters after 10 billion years.
A team of researchers from UCLA has discovered a group of over 30 young stars near a supermassive black hole, contradicting the idea that such an environment should prevent star formation. The stars' orbits suggest they formed in a massive star cluster and migrated towards the black hole.
Researchers have charted a warp in the Milky Way's hydrogen gas layer, finding it vibrates like a drum due to interaction with dark matter. The Magellanic Clouds' passage through the dark matter halo creates a wake that enhances their gravitational influence on the disk.
Physicists propose a nanoscale magnetic probe to study entanglement at a quantum critical point, potentially leading to breakthroughs in high-temperature superconductivity. The probe could provide controlled and tunable settings for studying quantum effects, including spin waves and electron tunneling.
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.
Researchers at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new design for X-ray sensors that can measure energies with an uncertainty of only 2.4 electron volts (eV), nearly doubling the resolution of experimental X-ray sensors. The improved design is expected to enable precise identification of the X-ray 'fi...
Researchers reject competitive accretion model, which predicts stars form through gas accretion, in favor of gravitational collapse and fragmentation theory. The new model shows turbulence hinders accretion, resulting in stable core mass, contradicting observations of brown dwarfs with planetary disks.
Researchers found the surface structure to be arranged differently than previously thought, with groups of four atoms in one direction but three in the other. This discovery could help scientists understand how to use cubic gallium nitride as a new semiconductor material.
A team of researchers has developed a new theory explaining how electrons interact with molecules, revealing unexpected transport channels. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient molecular transmission and the development of molecular switches.
Astronomers have found two young stars with 'gaps' in their disks that resemble the gaps between Jupiter and Uranus in our solar system. The discovery challenges existing theories of giant-planet formation and provides a unique window into how our own solar system came to be.
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.
Astronomers have conducted the most detailed survey of the Milky Way's inner regions to date, revealing a long stellar bar spanning 27,000 light years. The bar is oriented at about a 45-degree angle relative to the galaxy's center, providing new insights into the galaxy's structure and evolution.
Rice University's TOPP project uses balloons to measure atmospheric ozone levels in Houston, extending beyond previous surface measurements. The study aims to better understand the full magnitude of Houston's ozone problem and inform effective policy solutions.
Astronomers have found a large population of obscured quasars, which are thought to be hidden behind dust in galaxies. The discovery sheds light on the growth habits of black holes at the heart of active galaxies.
The Hamill Innovation Grant program supports high-risk, high-impact research at Rice University, aiming to develop new technologies and treatments for various diseases. Four inaugural awards will fund research in areas such as respiratory viruses, protein titin, glycosaminoglycans, and resveratrol biosynthesis.
Astronomers discover a young star with unprecedented amounts of warm dust near its orbit, where Earth-like planets are most likely to exist. The team believes this could be the result of a massive collision between planet-size objects, potentially forming conditions similar to our own solar system.
Researchers created translucent three-dimensional crystals to study melting, finding evidence for premelting at imperfections in solid crystal structures. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of the melting process and design of strong materials resistant to temperature changes.
Researchers from Pitt and Bell Labs have successfully created a two-dimensional semiconductor structure that allows excitons to exist longer and travel farther than previously recorded. This breakthrough could lead to the development of excitonic circuits for optical communication, enabling photons to be converted directly into excitons.
Researchers at Ohio State University have provided first experimental proof of a previously theoretical quantum effect, known as quantum monodromy. The phenomenon relates to molecular behavior and vibrational frequencies, with potential implications for astronomy, atmospheric science, and biology.
A Penn-led team has launched a balloon-borne telescope, BLAST, to survey the universe for faint stellar objects and gain insights into the formation of stars and galaxies. The telescope will capture light at three wavelengths, allowing astronomers to determine an object's distance and luminosity.
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.
The National Science Board has awarded Cornell University a $70 million contract to manage the Arecibo Observatory until March 31, 2010. This renewal will enable further scientific research capabilities at the observatory, with plans to develop new instruments and expand user access.
A total of eight new VHE gamma-ray sources have been found in the Milky Way's disc, doubling known sources at these energies. The discovery includes two 'dark accelerators' without obvious counterparts in other wavelength bands, sparking excitement among astronomers.
An international team of astronomers has measured the motion of an entire galaxy in the sky using radio telescopes. The measurements show that the galaxy moves at a speed of 190 km/s relative to our Milky Way towards the Andromeda galaxy, and provide insights into the history and future evolution of the Milky Way.
Researchers used Doppler radar-like technique to track gas around the center of NGC 4395, measuring a mass less than a million solar masses - about 100 times smaller than others of its type. This discovery provides insight into midsize black holes and their role in galaxy formation.
Astronomer Dr. Schaefer has discovered a long-lost star catalog of Hipparchus, an ancient Greek astronomer, on the Roman statue Farnese Atlas. The catalog, which dates back to 129 B.C., was previously thought to be lost and its accuracy questioned.
Scientists have discovered minerals in comet dust similar to those found on Earth, providing insights into the solar system's formation. The Spitzer space telescope has captured detailed images of Comet Encke, helping researchers model how comets eject particles as they orbit the sun.
Researchers found a high concentration of X-ray sources near the Galactic center, suggesting multiple black holes are present. The presence of these black holes is consistent with the theory that stellar-mass black holes can sink toward the center of the galaxy through dynamical friction.
Researchers have found a young planet that is smaller than expected and orbits its parent star at the same distance as our own Neptune. The discovery was made using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and challenges current understanding of planetary formation, leading to a re-examination of existing theories.
Researchers will model the behavior of individual atoms to gain a better understanding of stress corrosion cracking in metals. The goal is to prevent damage and create more corrosion-resistant materials, leading to safer structures and potentially even improved comfort for travelers.
The Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium will continue to support collaborative student-faculty research projects in astronomy for the next two years. The program has funded over 160 students and nearly 300 presentations since its inception.
The University of Colorado at Boulder has proposed a system to map planetary systems around other stars and detect exo-solar planets as small as Earth's moon. The New Worlds Imager concept uses a giant 'pinhole camera' in space to capture images of distant planets, including their oceans, continents, and atmospheres.
Astronomers have detected high-energy gamma rays emanating from the center of the Milky Way galaxy, sparking debate about the nature of these mysterious emissions. The observation suggests a giant supernova explosion as the possible source, which could accelerate cosmic gamma rays to unprecedented energies.
Astronomers have successfully taken high-quality images using a ground-based telescope at Dome C, Antarctica, which rivals the capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope. The site offers excellent seeing conditions and low atmospheric interference, making it an attractive alternative to space-based astronomy.
Astronomers launch RoboNet, a global network of robotic telescopes using intelligent software to rapidly observe sudden changes in astronomical objects. The project aims to discover Earth-like planets and study Gamma Ray Bursts, exploiting the large size of the telescopes and sensitive instrumentation.
Researchers confirm albedo changes in Martian soil, correlating with changes seen from Mars orbiters, providing ground-truth information. The findings indicate important variations in mineral and dust composition.
The detection of molecular nitrogen in interstellar clouds promises to enhance our knowledge of interstellar chemistry and the formation of planets. FUSE, a satellite-telescope designed at Johns Hopkins, allowed astronomers to probe dense clouds where N2 is expected to be dominant.
Research suggests that filaments in the Galactic center are connected to areas of intense star formation, providing a link between thermal and non-thermal radio emission. The discovery sheds light on the phenomenon behind these striking features.
A team of astronomers has discovered hundreds of hidden supermassive black holes in the distant universe, invisible to optical telescopes. The new observations combined data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and Spitzer Space Telescope, revealing objects that were previously thought to be missing.
The e-MERLIN network will use optical fibers to increase data capacity and sensitivity, enabling UK astronomers to make important contributions to advancing our understanding of the Universe. The new system will allow for detailed radio images of stars and galaxies with unprecedented resolution.
The Research Corporation has awarded $2.8 million in grants to support research and teaching initiatives at primarily undergraduate institutions. The awards aim to encourage Ph.D.-granting institutions to excel in both teaching and research, with a focus on promoting faculty mentoring and communication.
A team of astronomers at Penn State used the Hobby-Eberly Telescope to detect a cometlike body falling onto a massive, very young star. The infall, which occurred about 3200 years ago, provided dramatic spectral variations in the star's light. This discovery sheds light on planetary formation and the evolution of massive star systems.
The SuperWASP facility is now operational, generating vast amounts of data to discover thousands of new planets around nearby stars. Data from the facility will lead to exciting progress in areas of astronomy, including the discovery of exoplanets and early detection of variable objects.