A new paper examines how European scholars like Antoine Gaubil and George Costard used Chinese astronomy to promote their respective political agendas. Despite scientific inquiry, both men were driven by local concerns, with Costard seeking to discredit China's antiquity as a way to promote British values.
The NSF-Simons AI Institute for the Sky (SkAI), led by Northwestern University, will develop innovative AI tools capable of handling vast data from astronomical surveys. Funded by a $20 million grant, Argonne National Laboratory will help drive this revolution in astronomy.
Dr. Kevin J. Kelly, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University, has received the Henry Primakoff Award for Early-Career Particle Physics for his significant contributions to neutrino physics and proposing novel directions for dark matter research. He will deliver an invited lecture on his research at a future APS meeting.
The WVU STARS-UP program pairs two-year colleges with nearby four-year institutions to provide astrophysics and astronomy research opportunities. The goal is to create a sustainable pipeline for careers in STEM, focusing on underrepresented students from low socioeconomic communities.
Two UMD Astronomy space probes, AXIS and PRIMA, have advanced to the next round of consideration for a $1 billion NASA mission. AXIS will study X-rays from stars and black holes, while PRIMA will explore far-infrared radiation to understand galaxy formation.
A study by UW researchers found a direct correlation between feeling 'wonder about the universe' and interest in astronomy. Populations with low light pollution reported higher levels of wonder, which led to increased interest in astronomy.
Astronomers have discovered a massive exoplanet, the Super-Jupiter, orbiting its parent star every 14 years. The planet has a mass eleven times that of Jupiter and is located six astronomical units away from its star.
The National Science Foundation grant enables global access to the CHARA Array, a powerful tool for milliarcsecond imaging research. This facility has already led to groundbreaking discoveries, including high-resolution images of stars and supermassive black holes.
Astronomers discovered that super-Earths cannot form near low-metallicity stars due to a strict cut-off in conditions. The study provides an upper limit on the number and distribution of small planets in the galaxy.
A team of researchers has demonstrated a novel way of storing and releasing X-ray pulses at the single photon level, enabling future X-ray quantum technologies. This breakthrough uses nuclear ensembles to create long-lived quantum memories with improved coherence times.
Researchers at UBC created a new super-black material using plasma etching, absorbing up to 99% of visible light. The material, called Nxylon, has potential applications in astronomy, solar cells, and luxury consumer goods.
Researchers analyzed reflections of light on human eyeballs in real and AI-generated images, finding that fake images often lack consistency between left and right eye reflections. The study employed methods typically used in astronomy to quantify the reflections and checked for consistency.
Researchers have found the nearest massive black hole to Earth, located at the center of Omega Centauri, a galaxy that was swallowed by the Milky Way. The discovery provides insight into the formation history of galaxies and confirms long-held suspicions about the existence of intermediate-mass black holes.
Researchers at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus have adapted a phase diversity method from astronomy to microscopy, generating clearer images of thick biological samples. The new method is faster and cheaper to implement than current techniques, making adaptive optics more accessible to biologists.
Researchers uncover new clues about the early universe, finding spiral galaxies were prevalent as early as 2 billion years after the universe formed. This discovery challenges previous theories and provides insight into how spiral galaxies like the Milky Way formed over time.
Researchers estimate CO2-equivalent emissions for astronomy meetings in 2019, suggesting preferential virtual meetings and hybrid formats. This approach can reduce long-haul travel and make astronomy more inclusive for underrepresented groups.
A recent study found that air travel to professional conferences contributes substantially to academia's carbon emissions, with an estimated 42,500 tCO2e released in 2019. To mitigate this issue, researchers suggest prioritizing venue locations near most participants and exploring virtual meeting solutions.
Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre have proposed a new approach to designing efficient light-emitting materials. The guidelines developed by the team will help OLED researchers develop materials that maintain high efficiency at high brightness, enabling brighter, more colourful displays and lighting.
Researchers used a Compton camera, originally designed for astronomy, to capture the polarization of gamma rays emitted from atomic nuclei. This revealed the internal structure of the atomic nuclei and significantly reduced uncertainties in determining spin and parity.
Research suggests that planetary migration is the key to explaining the mysterious gap in the size distribution of super-Earths. Simulations show that sub-Neptunes' evolution contributes to the observed radius valley, while rocky planets 'shrink' by losing their atmosphere.
A team of astronomers used JWST data to create detailed photos of nearby star-forming galaxies, revealing the intricate physics of cosmic dust. The study found consistent patterns in the distribution of diffuse gas across galaxies, suggesting universal principles in star and planet formation.
Researchers detected complex structure with three concentric rings in the innermost region of the disk, rich in dust and minerals. The discovery suggests two planets may be forming within the gaps, with masses similar to Jupiter.
Christoph Keller, a world-recognized astronomer, has been appointed as the next Director of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) succeeding Dr. Valentin Pillet. Keller brings extensive experience and expertise in solar physics to lead NSO into its exciting future.
A new study by Adam Frank and Amedeo Balbi suggests that high levels of atmospheric oxygen are necessary for the emergence of advanced technology on distant planets. They propose the concept of an 'oxygen bottleneck,' which implies that only planets with significant oxygen concentrations can develop technospheres, leaving detectable te...
A West Virginia University research team aims to remove human-made radio interference from cell phones, televisions and radar systems to improve astronomical signal detection. The project will develop new algorithms and hardware with potential applications beyond astronomy.
A national Australian astronomy centre achieved gender parity in just five years by implementing evidence-based strategies and creating a supportive culture. The Centre's program reached a tipping point when there were 40% women in leadership positions, resulting in accelerated student enrolments by women.
Astronomers combined the Webb and Hubble telescopes to capture a detailed portrait of the cosmos, revealing a galaxy cluster about 4.3 billion light-years from Earth. The image showcases magnified supernovae and individual stars, providing insights into the universe's first stars and the forces driving its expansion.
Astronomers at Harvard University have discovered a tilted dark matter halo, explaining the Milky Way's warp and flare. The team used models to calculate star orbits within a warped, oblong dark matter halo, matching existing observations of a distorted galaxy.
Recent satellite deployments have reached record-breaking brightness levels, posing a threat to ground-based astronomy. The addition of 400,000 satellites in the near future could completely alter the night sky.
A recent study published in Nature found that massive low-earth orbit communications satellites like BlueWalker 3 can outshine bright stars, disrupting astronomical observations. The satellite's large antenna system causes an abrupt increase in brightness, affecting not only visual observations but also radio astronomy.
A new study reveals that magma oceans on rocky exoplanets can affect their size, evolutionary path, and mantle structure. The research found that these ocean's compressible nature can make lava-rich planets denser than solid planets of similar size.
The Korean scientific payload LUSEM is a key component of the International Lunar Exploration and Research Collaboration. It will provide valuable insights into high-energy particles in the lunar space environment, crucial for future manned deep-space exploration and space science research.
Researchers have confirmed the presence of chromium hydride in the atmosphere of hot Jupiter exoplanet WASP-31b using high-resolution spectral observations. This detection opens the possibility of using chromium hydride as a 'thermometer' to determine the temperature and other characteristics of exoplanets.
Scientists have long debated the source of magnetic fields in the universe. New research by Columbia University researchers suggests that turbulent plasma can spontaneously generate these fields, which then amplify and spread across vast distances.
A team of Chinese scientists has found key evidence for the existence of nanohertz gravitational waves, marking a new era in nanohertz gravitational wave research. The detection will help astronomers understand the formation of universe structures and investigate supermassive black holes.
Researchers from Ohio State University found that some low-mass stars have unexpectedly strong surface magnetic fields, which could intensify their radiation for billions of years. This discovery challenges current models of stellar evolution and has important implications for the search for life on other planets.
Researchers have discovered a large gas giant orbiting two stars using the radial velocities method for the first time. The newly found system, TOI-1338/BEBOP-1, is only the second binary star system known to host multiple planets ever confirmed.
A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota has successfully measured the expansion rate of the Universe using data from a magnified supernova. Their findings provide new insight into the problem and bring scientists closer to obtaining the most accurate measurement of the Universe's age.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that the shells of galactic bubbles are more complex than previously thought, with unexpected temperature and chemical properties. The study suggests that these bubbles were formed by intense star-formation activity rather than supermassive black hole activity.
The CHIME/FRB Collaboration has doubled the number of known repeating fast radio bursts to 50, shedding light on their mysterious origins. The new discoveries suggest that all fast radio bursts may eventually repeat, with different characteristics than one-off bursts.
Astronomers have developed a more accurate method to measure the composition of galaxies using data from telescopes on Earth and in space. By correcting for temperature fluctuations, researchers found that the result from collisionally excited infrared lines is still 50% less than that from recombination line method.
Astronomers observe repeating radio signal from star YZ Ceti, indicating potential magnetic field of nearby Earth-sized planet YZ Ceti b. The detection provides new insights into the environment around stars and has implications for the search for habitable exoplanets.
Researchers modeled how elements move across star-forming regions, finding that galactic winds influence temperature and metal distribution. The study's findings suggest a non-spherical wind pattern, contrary to previous spherical models.
Researchers discovered previously unknown details about Margaret Bryan's background and family through a paper published in Notes and Records: The Royal Society Journal of the History of Science. Girolami found that Bryan was born around 1759, married William Bryan in 1783, and had two daughters, Ann Marian and Maria.
Scientists have detected water in the disk forming around a nearby protostar, V883 Ori, using ALMA. The discovery provides evidence that water in our Solar System formed billions of years before the Sun.
A study published in Nature Astronomy suggests that a volcano-like rupture on the surface of a neutron star could have caused its sudden slowdown. The research used X-ray data from orbiting telescopes to analyze the magnetar's rotation and found evidence supporting this theory.
A new study from the University of Michigan suggests that ultraviolet rays, not cosmic rays or X-rays, fuel chemistry in late-stage planet development. This discovery provides a chemical signature to trace exoplanets back to their cosmic nurseries.
A team of astronomers discovered 87 galaxies that could be the earliest known galaxies in the universe using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. This finding suggests a revision to our understanding of galaxy formation, indicating that more galaxies may have formed earlier than previously thought.
Researchers found that 24% of surveyed red giants experienced structural discontinuities, affecting their oscillations and star's internal composition. The study aims to refine stellar models and uncover the history of the universe through detailed stellar fossil records.
The pandemic saw an increase in productivity for all astronomers, but women lagged behind, with fewer papers published than men. Despite this, some countries experienced equal productivity rates before the pandemic, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address gender disparities.
A study found that COVID-19 increased overall astronomy research output due to improved work arrangements and virtual technologies. However, it hindered the entry of new and female researchers into the field, with productivity being worst affected among female astronomers.
Astronomers discovered that the building blocks of planets like Jupiter and Saturn form while their parent star is still growing. The study analyzed spectroscopic observations from polluted white dwarfs, which revealed signs of asteroid melting, indicating a rapid process of planet formation.
Researchers at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research in Western Australia have made a breakthrough in hi-tech communications by developing a technology that can correct for atmospheric turbulence. This allows for superior optical wireless transmission, reducing reliance on slower radio transmission.
Researchers found that dark matter halos in ultra-diffuse galaxies have lower concentrations than expected, raising questions about their formation and evolution. The study's surprising results indicate these galaxies may be younger and contain more gas than normal galaxies.
A new simulation suggests that gravitational interactions, not over-eating, are responsible for the Milky Way Galaxy's peanut-shaped and nuclear bulges. The study reveals a clear break in star ages between the two types of bulges, indicating when the bar formed.
Astronomers discovered that merging galaxies can rip away gas fueling new stars, providing a possible explanation for why large galaxies are dead. The team found a 'post-starburst' galaxy seven billion light years away with signs of available star-forming fuel, suggesting an extreme collision caused the gas to escape.
Researchers recorded millimeter-wavelength light from a fiery explosion caused by the merger of a neutron star with another star, confirming it as one of the most energetic short-duration gamma-ray bursts ever observed. The results reveal that the explosion left behind one of the most luminous afterglows on record.
Astronomers have discovered a rare and persistent rapid-fire fast radio burst source, sending out an occasional cosmic ping from over 3.5 billion light years away. The burst, named FRB 20190520B, has encountered far more gas in its host galaxy than expected, challenging previous assumptions about the intergalactic medium.
Northern Arizona University has launched a partnership with Coconino Community College to increase underrepresented minority (URM) student participation in astronomy, planetary science, and other STEM fields. The two-year project will provide paid internships for 20 students, enabling them to carry out research on various topics.
An international team analyzed five ultraluminous galaxies with dim visible wavelengths, finding no significant metal deficiency when observed in infrared wavelengths. The study reveals that these galaxies have a metallicity consistent with the fundamental metallicity relation determined by stellar mass and star formation rate.