Researchers have developed a new radiation therapy technique that shows significant improvement over traditional methods in treating brain tumors in infants. The treatment uses high-intensity synchrotron sources to confine x-rays to extremely narrow slices, resulting in reduced damage to surrounding tissue.
Researchers unveil a new model suggesting magnetic dynamo forces shape planetary nebulae by twisting radiating material into distinctive shapes. The discovery sheds light on the cosmic 'paintbrush' responsible for creating stunning nebulae, with implications extending beyond our solar system.
A team of U.S. and European astronomers detect X-rays from the farthest known quasar, SDSSp J1044-0125, with a redshift of 5.8, revealing the universe's earliest objects. The quasar's low X-ray emission suggests it may be a 'precursor quasar' or have strong accretion processes.
Astronomers using Chandra X-ray Observatory have discovered that protostars, the youngest stage of star formation, are marked by powerful X-rays from plasma ten times hotter and 100 to 100,000 times brighter than our Sun's flares. This has provided the closest look yet at the youngest stars in the Universe.
Researchers detect first P Cygni profile in X-rays, revealing a 4.5-million-mile-per-hour wind from a compact pair of stars. The discovery provides new insights into stellar winds and their role in astrophysics.
New Chandra X-ray Observatory images reveal a luminous spike from a giant black hole, a compact nebular resembling a cosmic crossbow, and a hot bubble of gas surrounding a dying star. These observations contradict theoretical predictions, indicating the presence of high-energy particles beyond expectations.
Astronomers use Chandra to study a cloud of gas in NGC 4151, blown away from the black hole at incredible velocities. The observation shows how massive black holes disrupt their surroundings over vast distances.
The NEAR Shoemaker mission suggests asteroid Eros is a primordial relic from the solar system's formation, with an elemental composition similar to chondritic meteorites. Studying Eros could help scientists understand how rocky planets evolved.
A new study suggests that most gamma radiation reaching Earth is leftover energy from massive shock waves caused by gravitational forces. The collision of electrons with low-energy photons could be a sign of ordinary matter captured within intergalactic clouds, shedding light on the 'missing matter' puzzle.
Researchers are working together on the Pierre Auger Project to find the source of high-energy cosmic rays. The project aims to build two huge observatories in the southern and northern hemisphere to detect and measure extensive air showers produced by these particles.
Researchers developed Diffraction Enhanced Imaging (DEI), a new X-ray imaging method that produces significantly better pictures of breast tissue than conventional X-rays. The technology has shown superior tumor visibility in six out of seven specimens, and further work aims to make it clinically portable.
Astronomers have created an energy spectrum of hot gas surrounding a giant black hole using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The study reveals a warm blanket of gas expanding rapidly away from the black hole and provides insights into the complex nature of inflowing and outflowing gas in galaxies.
Researchers captured the first direct images of how high-energy X-rays break apart proteins, revealing specific chemical bonds vulnerable to radiation. This discovery may lead to new methods for preventing radiation damage and improving diagnostic tools for protecting against radiation exposure.
A gamma-ray burst may have melted primordial dust grains, seeding the formation of meteorites and rocky planets like Earth. The theory suggests that only one Sun-like star in a thousand would be close enough to form chondrules.
The High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer has made the most precise measurements ever recorded of a star's corona, revealing new insights into stellar behavior. The instrument's success marks a major milestone for modern astronomy, enabling scientists to study the chemical composition and temperature of the corona with unpreced...
Researchers suggest that a rare radioactive isotope found in deep-sea sediments may be evidence of a nearby supernova. The explosion could have caused a 'cosmic-ray winter' leading to mini-extinctions about 5 million years ago, with effects still detectable today.
Researchers use 'Cosmic Triangle' to plot evidence for accelerated universe expansion and high mass density of dark energy. The findings rule out models with low or negative mass density, pointing towards a flat universe dominated by dark energy.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a portable X-ray device that can detect explosives and objects in packages using reflected, rather than transmitted, X-rays. The device is designed to be safer for law enforcement officers and can transmit partial images useful in police work even if the package explodes.
Physicist Glennys Farrar proposes that extremely high-energy cosmic rays come from distant quasars, violating the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff. She suggests a new subatomic particle, the SO, with neutral and gluon-bound properties, as an alternative explanation.
The robotic telescope successfully mapped the southern sky in hydrogen-alpha light for a two-year project to identify low-surface-brightness phenomena within our own galaxy. The data will help decontaminate measurements of the cosmic microwave background from galactic emissions.
Researchers propose instrument to measure high-energy gamma rays from blazars, pulsars, and bursts, offering improved tracking capabilities and higher energy detection limits. The scintillating fiber detector system will act as both a tracker and calorimeter, providing a wide-angle view of the sky with unprecedented precision.
Researchers discovered ehrlichiosis, a tick-borne infection, shows increased fluid in lungs on chest X-rays, helping doctors diagnose it earlier and potentially treat it more effectively. The illness can be mild but also rapidly fatal, and early detection is crucial.
The research proposes that cosmic ray jets can cause lethal amounts of muons, destroying the ozone layer and creating new species through rapid mutations. The theory explains key characteristics of massive extinctions and suggests ways to gather evidence for past catastrophes.
Scientists are making significant progress in discovering gamma-ray burst counterparts and afterglows, shedding light on these mysterious events. Fourteen papers are scheduled to be presented at the session, covering the electromagnetic spectrum from radio to gamma rays.
A new computer simulation shows how a small cosmic cloud could suddenly burst the heliosphere, potentially leading to catastrophic climate changes and increased exposure to deadly cosmic radiation. The simulation may help guide Voyager 1 and 2 through a series of shock waves and a massive 'wall' in space nearly two decades from now.
A team of astronomers used a supercomputer to simulate the growth of cosmic structure in a region comparable to the entire observable Universe. The simulation revealed patterns of dark matter walls and filaments, as well as massive voids and giant galaxy clusters.
Marc Kamionkowski has been awarded the Helen B. Warner Prize for his significant contributions to cosmology, astrophysics, and particle physics. His research focuses on the cosmic microwave background radiation and its potential to clarify the origins of the universe.
The Physics 2000 Project offers a fun and interactive approach to learning physics, featuring over 30 virtual experiments and explanations by cartoon characters. Users can explore topics such as X-rays, wave interference patterns, and electromagnetic radiation in an engaging and accessible way.
NASA's Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) has recorded its 2000th gamma-ray burst, a significant milestone in the study of these violent cosmic events. The 2000th burst was smaller than average, but adds to the growing body of knowledge about gamma rays and their origins.
Researchers detected intense X-rays in seven bursts, each lasting for half an hour, emanating from the Earth's upper atmosphere. The high-energy bursts were recorded during the day with no auroral activity overhead, posing a scientific mystery that scientists are struggling to explain.
The USMP-4 space mission closed with ongoing astrophysics research using cosmic ray measurements to analyze Confided Helium Experiment data. The Confined Helium Experiment used liquid helium to measure the finite size effect, and scientists are analyzing radiation effects to understand background heating noise.
A new mathematical model proposes the sun's magnetic field resembles a wild cyclone rather than a tidy lawn sprinkler. The model suggests that the magnetic field lines pass through different latitudes, providing a route for low-energy particles to travel from the equator to the poles.
Researchers calculate neutron star's mass by measuring X-ray pulses from innermost orbit, revealing a massive star about twice the sun's mass. The findings provide new insights into the birth and evolution of neutron stars.
A new gamma-ray telescope will reveal new views of binary stars, black holes, and pulsars, shedding light on violent stellar explosions. The instrument, built by Columbia physicist Elena Aprile, will measure gamma rays between 300,000 to 30 million electron-volts, helping scientists understand element creation.
A team of astrophysicists discovered fewer low-energy photons in the universe than previously thought, suggesting that high-energy gamma rays may not be interacting with as many low-energy photons as expected. This observation could alter current theories of the history of the universe and galaxy formation.
Astronomers use BATSE to detect four rare cosmic gamma-ray bursts, sparking debate about their origin and distance. The events appeared in rapid succession over two days from the same general position in the sky.
Duke University's OK-4 optical klystron FEL, developed in Russia, has begun operating at the institution, producing intense beams of gamma rays and ultraviolet laser light. The device is expected to be used for medical research and answering questions in nuclear physics.
The CUBIC observatory aims to learn more about the unknown sources of a diffuse glow of X-rays reaching the Earth. By studying the energy spectrum of these X-rays, scientists hope to gain insights into the makeup of hot gas that emitted them.
A team of astronomers observed extremely rapid bursts of high-energy gamma rays from a distant galaxy, challenging current theoretical models. The bursts were extremely rapid, occurring in under half an hour, while previous flares occurred over days or minutes.
Researchers are using neutron radiography to study the behavior of corn rootworms, analyze artwork, and investigate environmental issues such as oil spills. The technology also enables non-invasive observation of root growth, water distribution, and soil responses.