NASA's Hubble surveys gigantic galaxy
The gigantic spiral galaxy UGC 2885 is 2.5 times wider than the Milky Way and contains 10 times as many stars, with modest ongoing star birth at half the rate of our galaxy.
Search results for “Intergalactic”
186 results for "Intergalactic"
IKBFU astrophysicists have developed a theory explaining the 'Dark Energy' phenomenon
The IKBFU scientists proposed a new theory suggesting that the 'Dark Energy' is not a mysterious entity but rather a manifestation of the universe's boundaries. They draw an analogy with the Earth, where we experience attraction due to gravity but also have no physical boundaries.
SourceImmanuel Kant Baltic Federal University·JournalInternational Journal of Modern Physics D·DateDec 24, 2019
Scientists have found out why photons flying from other galaxies do not reach the Earth
Researchers improved a computer program to simulate photon behavior in intergalactic space. They found that particles flying to Earth are deflected by magnetic fields or interact with hydrogen plasma, preventing them from reaching their destination.
SourceImmanuel Kant Baltic Federal University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 4, 2019
Milky Way raids intergalactic 'bank accounts,' Hubble study finds
Astronomers used Hubble data to find a surplus of incoming gas in the Milky Way, with unknown sources contributing to the excess. The galaxy's balance regulates star and planet formation.
Glowing gas reveals faint filaments of the cosmic web
Researchers detected individual filaments of intergalactic gas in a newly forming cluster, providing insight into the Universe's evolution and galaxy formation. The analysis found that these filaments are arranged like long threads, extending over one million parsecs, and fueling star formation and super massive black hole growth.
From primordial black holes new clues to dark matter
Scientists have made progress in understanding dark matter by studying the interactions between light and gas in intergalactic space. Researchers used simulations and observations of distant quasars to analyze the properties of primordial black holes, which could provide evidence for their role in explaining dark matter.
SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 17, 2019
Finding a cosmic fog within shattered intergalactic pancakes
A Yale-led team of astronomers has simulated a large patch of the intergalactic medium (IGM), revealing how cold, dense gas clouds organize themselves within larger sheets or pancakes of matter. The findings suggest that these gas clouds can be pristine and metal-free, challenging previous assumptions about their formation and composit...
Pinpointing the extragalactic origin of a single fast radio burst
Researchers have localized a non-repeating fast radio burst (FRB) to a medium-sized galaxy over 4 billion light years away. The findings show that the burst source and host galaxy are distinct from those of the only other localized FRB, offering insights into the properties of these enigmatic events.
Radio ridge between two galaxy clusters bridges intergalactic space
A team of researchers has discovered a massive radio-emitting plasma ridge in the gap between two merging galaxy clusters. This finding challenges existing theories on particle acceleration in intergalactic space and suggests an unknown mechanism at play.
New Hubble measurements confirm universe is expanding faster than expected
A new study using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope confirms the universe is expanding about 9% faster than expected. The measurements, published April 25 in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, strengthen the cosmic distance ladder and calculate the Hubble constant with increased precision.
Astronomers discover giant relic of disrupted 'tadpole' galaxy
A team of astronomers has identified a giant disrupted 'tadpole' galaxy 300 million light years away, with an elliptical head and a long straight tail. The galaxy is ten times larger than the Milky Way and contains a system of two close disc galaxies.
SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 19, 2018
Astronomers discover giant relic of disrupted 'tadpole' galaxy
Researchers have identified a giant, exceptional relic of a disrupted galaxy, comprising an elliptical head and a long tail. The 'tadpole' galaxy is 1 million light-years long from end to end and contains two nearby galaxies within it.
SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 19, 2018
Turbulence in space might solve astrophysical mystery
Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory found that plasma turbulence could amplify magnetic fields to dynamical strengths in a hot, dilute plasma, such as those residing within clusters of galaxies. This discovery provides a possible answer to one of the most important unsolved problems in plasma astrophysics.
SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 5, 2018
Gaia spots stars flying between galaxies
A team of astronomers using Gaia data found twenty high-velocity stars racing towards the Galactic centre, raising questions about their origin. The stars' velocities could be a sign of supermassive black holes or binary systems in nearby galaxies.
SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 2, 2018
Early opaque universe linked to galaxy scarcity
A team of astronomers led by George Becker found that 12.5 billion years ago, the most opaque region in the universe had relatively little matter. The discovery sheds light on how galaxies formed and altered their surroundings in the early universe.
Distant quasar providing clues to early-universe conditions
Scientists used the Very Long Baseline Array to capture a quasar nearly 13 billion light-years away, revealing details about its composition and potential jet expansion. The bright object is thought to be one of the brightest radio emitters at an early age, offering insights into the first galaxies in the universe.
Researchers find last of universe's missing ordinary matter
A team of researchers has discovered the last reservoir of ordinary matter hiding in the universe, located in the space between galaxies. The finding is significant as it fills in the gap of about 30% of missing baryons predicted by theorists.
Lightening up dark galaxies
A team of astronomers has identified at least six strong candidates for dark galaxies by leveraging the ultraviolet light from quasars to 'illuminate' gas in the intergalactic medium. The discovery could help fill a gap in our understanding of galaxy evolution, as it provides direct evidence for the existence of dark galaxies.
Gargantua in the mist: A precocious black hole behemoth at the edge of cosmic dawn
Astronomers have discovered a quasar harboring an 800 million solar mass black hole, located in a primarily neutral Universe at a redshift of 7.54. The finding challenges our understanding of the early growth of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.
Hubble discovers 'wobbling galaxies'
Astronomers analyzed 10 galaxy clusters using Hubble data and found their brightest cluster galaxies wobble around the center of mass, inconsistent with current dark matter models. This result may indicate new physics is at work, requiring a reevaluation of fundamental physics to solve the mystery of dark matter.
SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 26, 2017
Exchanges of identity in deep space
Researchers recreated complex cosmic simulations to investigate a possible transformation process where photons become axions and retransform into photons upon interacting with magnetic fields. This phenomenon may explain the observed brightness of distant celestial bodies.
SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 7, 2017
Accretion-powered pulsar reveals unique timing glitch
Researchers have observed a sudden change in rotation speed of SXP 1062, a binary pulsar exhibiting the 'glitch' phenomenon. The discovery provides new constraints on neutron star equation of state and sheds light on the interior dynamics of these compact objects.
SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 6, 2017
Milky Way's origins are not what they seem
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that up to half of the Milky Way's matter may have originated from distant galaxies through intergalactic transfer. This phenomenon, identified in simulations, shows that gas flows from smaller galaxies to larger ones, such as the Milky Way, forming stars.
SourceNorthwestern University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 26, 2017
Dark matter is likely 'cold,' not 'fuzzy,' scientists report after new simulations
Researchers used data from the intergalactic medium to narrow down what dark matter could be, casting doubt on 'fuzzy dark matter' and lending credence to 'cold dark matter.' The findings could inform ongoing efforts to detect dark matter directly.
Flashes of light on the dark matter
Researchers analyzed the interaction of cosmic web with distant quasar light to reveal properties of dark matter. The results support Cold Dark Matter theory and reject Fuzzy Dark Matter model.
SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 21, 2017
VLA reveals new object near supermassive black hole in famous galaxy
Astronomers using the VLA discovered a bright new object near Cygnus A's core, suggesting it could be either a rare supernova explosion or an outburst from a second supermassive black hole. The object's characteristics indicate it may have formed when the galaxy merged with another.
Ripples in the cosmic web
A team of astronomers has made the first measurements of small-scale ripples in primeval hydrogen gas, using rare double quasars. The results provide important clues about the temperature of gas in the cosmic web just a few billion years after the Big Bang.
Vast luminous nebula poses a cosmic mystery
Astronomers have found a massive, luminous nebula at the heart of a 'rotocluster' of early galaxies, which appears to be part of the cosmic web connecting galaxies. The newly discovered nebula, MAMMOTH-1, is thought to be powered by a hidden active galactic nucleus (AGN) that is strongly obscured by dust.
Intergalactic unions more devastating than we thought
Scientists estimate that solitary supermassive black holes in galactic centers may be responsible for fewer observed stars being captured by black holes. The researchers found that gravitational effects from merging galaxies can explain the discrepancy, suggesting that tidal disruption events occur without our knowledge.
Galaxy murder mystery
A global team of researchers found that ram-pressure stripping is more prevalent than thought, driving gas from galaxies and preventing star formation. The study reveals that this process is potentially the dominant way galaxies are quenched by their surrounds, leading to an early death.
SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 16, 2017
Bright radio bursts probe universe's hidden matter
Scientists have detected the brightest FRB to date, providing a new understanding of the diffuse intergalactic material and its turbulence. By studying this phenomenon, researchers can gain insights into the production of cosmic magnetic fields.
A famous supermassive black hole 'spied on' with the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS
Researchers have detected spiraling plasma around a magnetic field in the active nucleus of galaxy Cygnus A, providing insights into the cosmic monster's influence on its surroundings. The observations also confirm that the plasma is highly confined by the effect of the magnetic field.
Using gravitational waves to catch runaway black holes
Researchers develop new method to detect and measure black hole superkicks using gravitational waves, which occur when two spinning supermassive black holes collide. eLISA space-based detector expected to detect several runaway black holes upon launch in 2034.
NRL astrophysicist probes theory of black-hole accretion
A team of astronomers using ALMA observed a supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy Abell 2597 feeding on chaotic downpour of cold, clumpy clouds. The discovery provides evidence for 'cold, chaotic accretion', a process that challenges traditional models of how black holes grow.
Breaking out: How black hole jets punch out of their galaxies
Astronomers discovered that magnetic instabilities in black hole jets determine their fate. Powerful jets can punch through surrounding gas into intergalactic space, while unstable ones fall apart and deposit energy within the galaxy.
SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 17, 2016
This black hole has an appetite for cold, cosmic rain
Researchers detected cold gas clouds traveling at 1 million km/h toward a black hole in the Abell 2597 Cluster. The discovery offers new understanding of how black holes ingest fuel, with implications for our knowledge of accretion processes.
Black hole fed by cold intergalactic deluge
A new ALMA observation reveals that cold dense clouds can coalesce from hot intergalactic gas and feed a galaxy's central supermassive black hole. This challenges previous views of how supermassive black holes acquire mass, indicating a chaotic and dynamic feeding process.
Black hole deluged by cold intergalactic 'rain'
A team of astronomers used ALMA to observe a cluster of towering intergalactic gas clouds raining in on the supermassive black hole at the center of an elliptical galaxy. The new findings reshape our understanding of how supermassive black holes feed, revealing a previously unknown process known as cold, chaotic accretion.
Astronomers confirm faintest early-universe galaxy ever seen
Researchers confirm detection of faintest early-universe galaxy using gravitational lensing, shedding light on the cosmic dark ages. The discovery could help explain how these mysterious periods ended and has implications for our understanding of the universe's evolution.
SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 23, 2016
Mark Rosin receives 2015 AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science
Mark Rosin, a physicist, has been recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his creative and sustainable public engagement strategies. He organizes interactive events that mix science with art, music, and play to reach diverse audiences.
A violent wind blown from the heart of a galaxy tells the tale of a merger
Astronomers studied the ionized gas outflow from NGC 6240, a starburst galaxy driven by intense star-forming activity. They found complex structures in the H-alpha nebula, including large 'broken bubbles' and evidence of past superwinds.
Hubble sees monstrous cloud boomerang back to our galaxy
The Smith Cloud, a massive cloud of hydrogen gas, is plummeting towards the Milky Way at nearly 700,000 miles per hour. Astronomers believe it will ignite a spectacular burst of star formation upon impact, potentially providing enough gas to create 2 million suns.
Giant gas cloud boomeranging back into Milky Way
Researchers have determined that the Smith Cloud, a high-velocity cloud in the galaxy, contains heavier elements similar to those found in our sun, suggesting it originated from the Milky Way's outer edges. The cloud is now expected to crash into the galaxy's disk in 30 million years, potentially generating two million suns.
Green pea galaxy provides insights to early universe evolution
A team of scientists has found that compact dwarf galaxies, like the green pea galaxy J0925+1403, could explain cosmic reionization by ejecting ionizing photons into the intergalactic medium. This discovery opens a new avenue for understanding the early universe's 14 billion-year history.
NASA to launch FORTIS to study extra-galactic dust
The FORTIS sounding rocket will study the properties of galaxy NGC 1365, also known as the Great Barred Spiral Galaxy. Scientists aim to quantify how much material is flowing in and out of the galaxy by analyzing light emitted and absorbed by different types of hydrogen.
What is the universe made of?
Researchers discovered the majority of missing ordinary matter in the universe, found in hot gas associated with intergalactic filaments. The study validates models of galaxy formation and could lead to a better understanding of heavy elements formed by stars since the beginning of the universe.
UW team refrigerates liquids with a laser for the first time
The University of Washington team has made history by cooling water by about 36 degrees Fahrenheit using an infrared laser. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including manufacturing, telecommunications, and defense.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 16, 2015
Caltech astronomers unveil a distant protogalaxy connected to the cosmic web
A team of Caltech astronomers has discovered a giant swirling disk of gas 10 billion light-years away, which is actively being fed cool primordial gas tracing back to the Big Bang. The finding provides the strongest observational support yet for the cold-flow model of galaxy formation.
NSF funds methane research with potential for greener energy, manufacturing
Assistant Professor Ryan Hartman is awarded $501,000 to research methane's carbon-hydrogen bonds at moderate temperatures. His work could lead to more efficient synthesis of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, as well as innovative approaches to remote K-12 student engagement.
Exiled stars explode far from home
Astronomers confirm three supernovae existed in the dark emptiness of intergalactic space, far from their home galaxies. This discovery provides crucial insight into the formation and evolution of galaxy clusters.
Astronomers find runaway galaxies
Researchers identified 200 previously unknown compact elliptical galaxies using public archives of data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the GALEX satellite. Of these, 11 isolated compact galaxies were found moving faster than their cluster counterparts
UI researchers launch rockets in search of unseen parts of universe
A team of students and professors is launching rockets to develop technologies that can detect the missing normal matter in space. The project aims to confirm current models of the universe by observing the absorption caused by the intergalactic medium.
Ocean floor dust gives new insight into supernovae
Scientists analyzed ocean floor dust to determine the amount of heavy elements created by supernovae, finding much less plutonium and uranium than expected. This challenges current theories that these essential materials are created and distributed throughout space.
Interactive dark matter could explain Milky Way's missing satellite galaxies
Researchers suggest that dark matter particles scattering with photons and neutrinos could explain the lack of small galaxies around the Milky Way. By tuning this interaction, scientists can learn more about dark matter's physics and its effects on galaxy formation.
Astrophysicists report radioactive cobalt in supernova explosion
A group of Russian astrophysicists have detected the formation of radioactive cobalt during a supernova explosion, confirming a corresponding theory. The discovery was made using data from the INTEGRAL gamma-ray orbital telescope and indicates that about 60% of the Sun's mass was emitted as radioactive cobalt.
Cosmic accounting reveals missing light crisis
A recent study finds a 400% discrepancy between expected and observed ultraviolet light in the cosmic budget, with implications for our understanding of dark matter. Scientists are working to shed light on the mystery, which may be explained by exotic new sources or decaying dark matter.
'Cosmic own goal' another clue in hunt for dark matter
New supercomputer simulations show that most dark matter halos failed to form galaxies, with gas sterilized by the heat from first stars. The research improves understanding of dark matter, a mysterious substance believed to make up 85% of the universe's mass.
The intergalactic medium unveiled: Caltech's Cosmic Web Imager
The Cosmic Web Imager has obtained three-dimensional pictures of the intergalactic medium, revealing the structure of the IGM for the first time. The instrument has detected a possible spiral-galaxy-in-the-making, three times the size of the Milky Way.
Some astronauts at risk for cognitive impairment, animal studies suggest
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that rats exposed to high-energy particles simulating space radiation show lapses in attention and slower reaction times. The cognitive impairments are linked to protein changes in the brain and may be predicted by developing a biological marker for sensitivity to radiation's effects.
Cosmic slurp
Cosmic slurp: Researchers used NSF XSEDE supercomputers to simulate tidal disruptions of stars by supermassive black holes, predicting their observational signatures. This will help advance our understanding of galactic physics and properties of supermassive black holes.