Researchers analyzed 21 distant quasars to find a connection between X-ray emission and wind speed, indicating rapid accretion of matter. This study challenges physics limits and provides insights for future X-ray missions.
The discovery provides a unique way to investigate the extreme phase of stellar evolution, bridging the gap between the earliest and final stages of binary star systems. This breakthrough could help explain cosmic events like supernova explosions and gravitational waves.
Scientists have found that black holes inherit their magnetic fields from their parent stars, specifically the surrounding disk of swirling matter during collapse. This discovery resolves a longstanding mystery and opens doors for further studies of jets.
Researchers observe oscillating pattern in light from binary supermassive black hole system AT 2021hdr, shedding light on tidal disruption of gas cloud. The system, located 1 billion light-years away, contains 40 million times the Sun's mass and will collide in approximately 70,000 years.
The SETI Institute offers the 2025 William J. Welch Postdoctoral Fellowship to support early-career scientists in developing novel instrumentation for astronomy and astrophysics research. Fellows will receive mentorship, access to advanced facilities, and a stipend of $85,000 per year.
A groundbreaking study has provided a 3D view of the formation and evolution of globular clusters, revealing key differences in kinematic properties between multiple stellar populations. The research highlights that these ancient structures formed through multiple star formation events and provide constraints on their dynamical path.
A new study suggests that Betelgeuse's pulsing is due to an orbiting companion star known as the 'Betelbuddy'. The star acts like a snowplow, pushing light-blocking dust out of the way and making Betelgeuse appear brighter. Researchers used computer simulations to confirm this hypothesis, ruling out other possible causes.
Astronomers have discovered patterns of regularity within the chaotic three-body problem, which is a fundamental challenge in physics. The researcher's findings suggest that certain configurations of three massive objects can lead to predictable outcomes, offering new insights into astrophysics and the behavior of black holes.
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.
Physicists from Amsterdam and Copenhagen suggest that a careful analysis of merging black hole pairs' gravitational waves could reveal the existence of new ultralight bosons. This process, called superradiance, provides an opportunity to probe these particles, which may resolve puzzles in astrophysics and particle physics.
Dr. Zewei Xiong has received an ERC Starting Grant to study collective neutrino oscillations in supernovae and neutron-star mergers. His project NeuTrAE aims to clarify lingering puzzles regarding neutrino flavor evolution, a crucial aspect of particle and nuclear astrophysics.
The Event Horizon Telescope has achieved the highest resolution ever obtained from Earth, detecting light from the centers of distant galaxies at a frequency of 345 GHz. This allows for multi-color views of the region immediately outside the boundary of cosmic beasts, revealing new properties about supermassive black holes.
Researchers at the Flatiron Institute and colleagues used AI-powered approach, SimBIG, to estimate five cosmological parameters with precision. The method significantly improved previous results, yielding less than half the uncertainty and closely agreeing with other estimates based on observations.
Researchers have identified specific materials that can effectively block harmful space radiation on Mars, including plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers. The findings provide crucial insights for designing protective habitats and spacesuits, paving the way for safer long-duration Mars missions.
Simulations predict that the violent deaths of rapidly rotating stars can create detectable gravitational waves, which could aid understanding of collapsars and black holes. The signals from these events are strong enough to be picked up by LIGO and may already exist in datasets.
A new study published in the Astrophysical Journal has found that galaxies in denser environments are up to 25% larger than isolated galaxies. Researchers used a machine learning tool to analyze millions of galaxies and found a clear trend: galaxies with more neighbors are also on average larger.
A new study has confirmed that plasma bubbles are the key to understanding fast radio bursts (FRBs), with researchers detecting the weakest persistent radio emission ever recorded for an FRB. The data suggests that a magnetar or high-accretion X-ray binary is powering these mysterious events.
The study reveals that supergranules, a flow structure in the sun's interior, challenge standard theories of solar convection. Researchers discovered that downflows appear weaker than upflows, suggesting an unseen component that could be small-scale plumes transporting cooler plasma into the sun's interior.
Researchers discovered a rotating, magnetic wind that helps the galaxy's central supermassive black hole grow, similar to the birth of stars and planets. The study provides new clues to solving the mystery of how supermassive black holes grow, with potential implications for understanding galaxy evolution.
The 2024 Kavli Prize Laureates have made significant contributions to our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres, nanoscale materials for biomedical applications, and the localization of brain areas specialized for face recognition. Their work has broadened our knowledge of planetary life beyond Earth.
A new study analyzing data from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) found that non-repeating FRBs appear to come from galaxies with modest densities and magnetic fields. This contradicts previous studies focused on repeating FRBs, suggesting a separate population or evolved versions of the same population.
A team of researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi calls for expanded protections to preserve the environments of the Moon and Mars, addressing biological contamination and other issues. They also recommend compliance incentives to existing sustainability policies, citing potential benefits for terrestrial technology development.
Researchers used numerical simulations to analyze the behavior of dark matter in the giant galaxy cluster El Gordo. The study found that the physical separation between dark matter and other mass components can be explained using the Self-Interacting Dark Matter (SIDM) model.
Researchers confirm model predicting galaxy clusters' separation via gravity, while identifying potential new galaxies with Euclid's powerful equipment. The telescope's early release observations reveal millions of objects in a single day, opening up new possibilities for dark matter research.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have discovered thick clouds and a surprising lack of methane on the planet's nightside, while ubiquitous water presence was found throughout its atmosphere. The discovery reveals the first observation of clouds on the nightside of WASP-43b, a giant gas-filled exoplanet.
A team of astronomers and citizen scientists has discovered a planet in the habitable zone of an unusual star system, including two stars and potentially another exoplanet. The newly discovered planet, TOI 4633 c, boasts the second-longest orbit of any planet discovered with TESS data.
Scientists unveil strong and organized magnetic fields near Sagittarius A* black hole, strikingly similar to M87*, suggesting common traits among all black holes. The discovery hints at a hidden jet in Sgr A* and reveals the importance of magnetic fields in black hole interactions.
A team of scientists detected the tiniest 'starquakes' ever recorded in the smallest and coolest dwarf star, Epsilon Indi. The detection was made possible by the ESPRESSO spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory's VLT, allowing for unprecedented precision levels.
A Clemson astrophysicist's research offers the most stringent constraints yet on dark matter's fundamental nature. The study reveals a small hint of a signal that could be confirmed in the next decade if real.
Astronomers have charted the largest-ever volume of the universe with a new map of active supermassive black holes, logging 1.3 million quasars in space and time. This map allows scientists to study dark matter and the universe's expansion by comparing distant quasars and their host galaxies.
A team of astronomers has shed new light on the process of planet formation through a groundbreaking survey of over 80 young stars. The research provides a wealth of data and unique insights into how planets arise in different regions of our galaxy, revealing diverse patterns of planet-forming discs.
Researchers have discovered a multi-planet system that provides a rare glimpse into the formation of planets around a young star. The system consists of six confirmed planets and potentially a seventh, all forming under similar conditions at an age of just 700 million years.
Researchers believe radio wave circles are shells formed by outflowing galactic winds, possibly from massive exploding stars. The team studied massive starburst galaxies that drive ultra-fast winds, which can travel at up to 2,000 kilometers/second.
Researchers have identified a population of massive stars stripped of their hydrogen envelopes by their companions in binary systems. These hot helium stars are believed to be the origins of hydrogen-poor core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers, shedding new light on a long-theorized phenomenon.
A new theory, self-interacting dark matter (SIDM), proposes that dark matter particles interact through a dark force, explaining high-density halos and low-density halos of ultra-diffuse galaxies. SIDM simulates cosmic structure formation with strong dark matter self-interactions, diversifying halo density in central regions.
Researchers developed a machine learning technique to identify superluminous galaxies with massive black holes at their core. The algorithm predicts intense radio signals from these galaxies, which could provide insights into the physical phenomena of the early Universe.
Scientists have successfully simulated neutron star glitches using ultracold supersolids, revealing a link between quantum mechanics and astrophysics. The study sheds light on the internal structure and dynamics of neutron stars, providing valuable insights into extreme conditions.
A new unified model confirms that some long-lasting gamma-ray bursts are created in the aftermath of cosmic mergers that spawn an infant black hole surrounded by a giant disk of natal material. The findings explain recently observed long GRBs that astronomers couldn't link to collapsing stars.
The new catalog of gamma-ray pulsars, compiled from the work of 170 scientists globally, reveals a significant increase in gamma-ray emitting pulsars discovered by NASA's Fermi mission. This discovery sheds light on astrophysics research and offers insights into cosmic rays, stellar evolution, gravitational waves, and dark matter.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has discovered nearly 300 gamma-ray pulsars, transforming the field of pulsar research with more than 15 years of data from Fermi. These cosmic clocks have been used in experiments to search for gravitational waves and study their origins.
A team of astrophysicists discovered that two methods for determining the age of stars measure different things, with a 5.5 million-year difference in age determined by dynamic tracking versus isochronous measurement. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of star formation and stellar evolution.
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.
Researchers found almost 90% of early universe galaxies had glowing gas, triggering intense star formation. The James Webb Space Telescope provided unprecedented clarity to study these infant galaxies, revealing their role in shaping the Universe.
Physicists William Raphael Hix and John Lajoie were elected Fellows of the American Physical Society for their outstanding contributions to physics research. They are recognized for their work on explosive thermonuclear burning, stellar nucleosynthesis, and the development of advanced trigger systems that enabled the discovery of the q...
A young star cluster, IRS13, has been found to be significantly younger than expected, with stars only 100,000 years old, despite being near the supermassive black hole Sgr A*. The cluster's turbulent history suggests it was 'captured' by the black hole's gravity, leading to a bow shock and increased star formation.
Astronomers using NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory discovered a black hole repeatedly nibbling on a Sun-like star in a distant galaxy. The object was detected using a new method for analyzing data from the satellite's X-ray Telescope, enabling it to adapt to new areas of astrophysics.
Researchers report the discovery of a hot Jupiter-like object orbiting a nearby star, offering insights into extreme planetary and stellar evolution. The binary system's brown dwarf component reveals temperature differences of up to 6,000 degrees between its dayside and nightside hemispheres.
Astronomers have created the first computer simulations showing how convection in the cores of massive stars generates waves that result in flickering starlight. The effect is different from the visible twinkling of stars in the night sky and could be observed with improved telescopes.
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.
For over a billion years, the sun's atmospheric tide countered the moon's gravitational pull, keeping Earth's rotational rate steady and day length at 19.5 hours. This balance was disrupted by climate change, resulting in our current 24-hour day stretching to over 60 hours if not for the pause.
A multiyear NSF project led by OSU scientists has found evidence of low-frequency gravitational waves permeating the universe. The 'chorus' of gravitational waves was discovered using radio pulsar timing and reveals that they are a ubiquitous physical phenomenon.
A new study detects starlight from two massive galaxies hosting actively growing black holes, seen less than a billion years after the Big Bang. The findings suggest that the relationship between black holes and their host galaxies was already in place 860 million years ago.
Researchers with the NANOGrav collaboration have detected the gravitational wave background for the first time, revealing a perpetual chorus of ripples in space-time. The discovery is made possible by observing stars called pulsars that act as celestial metronomes.
Peter Becker at George Mason University received significant funding to explore high-energy plasma phenomena in the sun's atmosphere. The research aims to understand events that can impact radio communications on Earth, with a focus on large flares and coronal mass ejection events.
Scientists have produced a signature nuclear reaction on Earth that mimics the process occurring on neutron stars. The experiment uses a unique gas jet target system to understand nuclear reactions that occur when material falls onto the surface of these celestial bodies, providing new insights into element formation and stellar dynamics.
The newly discovered exoplanet LP 791-18 d orbits a small red dwarf star in the habitable zone, where liquid water could exist on its surface. Volcanic activity on this planet may sustain an atmosphere and potentially lead to the formation of life.
Scientists at Lund University have found seven elements, including rare earth metal terbium, in the atmosphere of KELT-9 b, the galaxy's hottest exoplanet. The discovery was made possible by a new method developed to analyze exoplanets, which has opened up the possibility of studying their atmospheres in more detail.
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.
Researchers found Dark Matter does not consist of ultramassive particles but rather ultralight particles that travel like waves. The discovery resolves an outstanding problem in astrophysics and provides new insights into the nature of Dark Matter.