Astronomers have shed new light on the origin of gamma-ray bursts using the brightest ever recorded event, GRB 221009A. The study reveals a complex jet producing both visible and X-ray light, as well as unexpected excess millimeter and radio emission.
Astrophysicists used AI to improve mass estimates of galaxy clusters by adding a simple term to an existing equation. The new equation downplays the importance of complex cores in calculations, providing more reliable mass inferences.
Scholars developed an AI program using symbolic regression to improve mass inferences of galaxy clusters. The new equations extract jelly at the center and concentrate on doughy outskirts for reliable mass inferences.
The International Research Network for Nuclear Astrophysics (IReNA) has partnered with the Ibero-American Network of Nuclear Astrophysics (IANNA) to enhance knowledge in nuclear astrophysics. The new collaboration will enable researchers from both networks to access cutting-edge technology and combine their expertise, resources, and ac...
A team of scientists observed the dynamic formation process of interstellar gas clouds, revealing speeds of up to 20 km/s that compress gas into denser regions where massive stars form. The findings challenge previous assumptions of slow and quasi-static star formation processes in this region.
A new study proposes using space dust as a sunshield to mitigate global warming. The team found that launching lunar dust from the moon into orbit at the Lagrange Point between Earth and the sun could provide effective shading, but would require precise simulations and an astronomical cost.
Astronomers have discovered two ghostly Goliath black holes just 750 light-years apart, closing in on a cataclysmic meeting. The estimated population of merging supermassive black holes may be surprisingly high, generating strong gravitational waves detectable by future telescopes.
Researchers have spotted an exoplanet spiraling towards its star due to tidal interactions, shedding light on the late stages of planetary orbital decay. The discovery provides new insights into how evolved stars affect their planets' orbits, and may help explain why one exoplanet appears brighter than expected.
Researchers used 69 confirmed binaries to test two origin stories of black holes, but found that the current catalog is not enough to reveal anything fundamental about their formation. The study suggests that the universe's spin and tilt can be 'spun' in different ways depending on the model used.
Researchers discovered that 55 Cnc e orbits its star along the equator, unlike other planets in the system. This unique orbit likely formed when the planet fell toward its star over time, resulting in a scorching surface and interior with possible diamond formation.
Scientists use ensemble-NV-diamond magnetometers to search for new particles and establish experimental constraints on exotic interactions at the micron scale. The discovery has significant implications for cosmology, astrophysics, and particle physics.
Researchers suggest using ancient red giant stars' winds as a potential source of material for observing the supermassive black hole. This could provide the accretion rate needed to detect the black hole, which is currently undetectable due to its low activity.
A new study has revealed the true shape of the diffuse cloud of stars surrounding the disk of our galaxy, with the stellar halo found to be oblong and tilted. The findings shed light on the history of our galaxy and galactic evolution, while also offering clues in the ongoing hunt for dark matter.
Researchers discovered two exceptionally bright galaxies in the early universe using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. These galaxies existed approximately 450 and 350 million years after the big bang and were found to be unusual in many ways, with some featuring compact disks that challenge our understanding of galaxy formation.
A team of astronomers used the James Webb Telescope to identify five ancient globular clusters, potentially containing the first and oldest stars in the universe. The clusters were formed close to the Big Bang, offering insights into star formation and galaxy evolution.
The Pantheon+ analysis reveals that the universe is composed of about two-thirds dark energy and one-third matter, mostly in the form of dark matter. This finding strengthens the Standard Model of Cosmology, but also highlights an unresolved disagreement over the pace of expansion.
Astronomers were surprised to find that a black hole is ejecting material at half the speed of light nearly three years after shredding a nearby star. The delayed outflow challenges scientists' understanding of black hole feeding behavior, with one researcher likening it to a 'black hole burping'.
Scientists have directly measured the cross section of a crucial stellar neutron source reaction, resolving long-standing discrepancies. The study provides accurate data for understanding the origin and abundance of elements heavier than iron in the universe.
Scientists have confirmed 68 strong gravitational lenses, transforming our understanding of galaxy evolution and dark matter. The discovery uses machine learning algorithms to identify thousands of potential lenses, opening a new window into studying mass distribution in distant galaxies.
Astronomers detect massive light burst from 'infant' Universe, revealing properties of cosmic explosions. The GRB was triggered by a space explosion that occurred when the Universe was less than 900 million years old.
Astronomers have discovered a small Neptune-like planet in the protoplanetary disk LkCa 15, using high-resolution ALMA observations. The planet is estimated to be around one to three million years old and has accumulated material at the Lagrange points, providing strong evidence for its presence.
Astronomers using JWST have detected unambiguous evidence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of WASP-39b, a Saturn-mass exoplanet. The discovery provides valuable insights into giant planet composition and heavy element abundance, with implications for understanding how planets form.
Astronomers find that carbon monoxide is three to 100 times less than predicted in disk observations, suggesting a massive ice formation problem. The new model suggests carbon monoxide forms on large particles of ice, especially after one million years.
A team of researchers used advanced imaging algorithms to sharpen the image of the M87* black hole, revealing new insights into its behavior. The study found a thin, bright ring of light created by photons flung around the back of the black hole by its intense gravity.
Betelgeuse, a bright red supergiant star, experienced a catastrophic Surface Mass Ejection (SME) in 2019, losing a substantial part of its visible surface. The star is now slowly recovering from this event, with astronomers using Hubble data to study the phenomenon and its effects on stellar evolution.
Researchers used Stampede2 supercomputer to simulate star seeding, heating effects of primordial black holes. The study found that these two effects cancel each other out, with little impact on star formation.
A team of astronomers, known for debunking black hole discoveries, found a dormant stellar-mass black hole in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The newly discovered black hole is at least nine times the mass of the Sun and orbits a hot star weighing 25 times the Sun's mass.
An international research team has shed light on the origin of neutrinos, shedding new evidence that blazars can be confidently associated with astrophysical neutrinos. The study utilizes neutrino data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and BZCat catalogue to establish a connection between high-energy neutrinos and galactic nuclei.
Asteroseismology helps determine mass, age, and features of stars in globular clusters, such as M4. A sample of 37 stars was analyzed, with most being red giants and others horizontal branch stars. The study provides an asteroseismic characterization of the stellar populations, shedding light on their origins and chemical characteristics.
A Northwestern University astrophysics team proposes that fast blue optical transients (FBOTs) originate from the cocoons of jets launched by dying stars. The new model, fully consistent with all FBOT observations, suggests that as the jet pushes the cocoon outward, it cools and releases heat, emitting an observed FBOT emission.
Researchers have spotted the most distant astronomical object ever: a galaxy named HD1, 13.5 billion light-years away. The team proposes two ideas: HD1 may be forming stars at an astounding rate and possibly home to Population III stars or contain a supermassive black hole about 100 million times the mass of our Sun.
Researchers at the Center for Astrophysics created a suite of simulations named Thesan, resolving interactions in the early universe with unprecedented detail. The simulations capture properties of early galaxies and how light impacts gas, spanning over 300 million light years across.
Researchers found that convection in the solar atmosphere can drive the formation of jets, similar to those caused by alligator mating calls. The discovery sheds light on the origin and nature of solar spicules, which are ubiquitous structures observed on the Sun's surface.
Researchers analyzed individual stars to identify components of the Milky Way, finding that it consumed smaller galaxies. The study used advanced spectrographic techniques to measure elemental abundances, providing early insights into the galaxy's formation and evolution.
Researchers have discovered a strange new type of star with surfaces composed of carbon and oxygen, the by-product of helium burning. The stars' unusual composition suggests they may have formed through rare stellar mergers, but current models cannot fully explain their origins.
A new study published in Astronomy and Astrophysics suggests that dark matter particles interact with ordinary matter, leading to a constant density region that expands over time. The research challenges the current prevailing theory of Lambda-Cold Dark Matter, which posits that particles are inert and only interact through gravity.
The CUNY Graduate Center is introducing a comprehensive and fully funded Astrophysics master’s program, alleviating financial barriers for low-income students from underrepresented communities. The program, supported by the Simons Foundation, will provide tuition-free education and research opportunities.
Astronomers at Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics offer a new explanation for mysterious downflows in solar flares, which are not generated by magnetic reconnection. Instead, they form from the interaction of two fluids with different densities, resulting in 'dark finger-like voids'.
Astronomers reconstruct evolutionary history of galactic neighborhood, showing a chain of events led to the creation of a vast bubble that's responsible for forming all nearby, young stars. The Local Bubble is home to seven well-known star-forming regions and continues to slowly grow.
The ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D has discovered that the youngest generation of stars will eventually stop contributing metals back to the universe. This change affects the composition of the galaxy over time, with around half of the carbon and all elements heavier than iron synthesized by stars like our Sun.
The Parker Solar Probe successfully entered the corona of the Sun, a region approximately 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, and collected data using the Solar Probe Cup instrument. The probe's historic achievement sheds light on phenomena such as solar flares, high-speed solar winds, and the Sun's atmosphere's heat and magnetic fields.
Researchers have reduced background noise using new antennas in the Australian hinterland, allowing them to refine their search for a 13-billion-year-old signal known as the Epoch of Reionisation. By surveying over 80,000 radio signal sources, they produced models that significantly improved efforts to locate the elusive signal.
Scientists from Niigata University, Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan detected a newborn star and its surrounding cocoon of complex organic molecules in the extreme outer Galaxy. The discovery reveals the hidden chemical complexity of our Universe.
A team of scientists used uGMRT to study eclipses of millisecond pulsars, finding that absorption by magnetized materials from the companion star is the cause. The study provides insight into the evolutionary processes and ultimate fate of these exotic systems.
The ngVLA received high priority for construction, with a dense core and signal processing center at the VLA site. The system will have greater sensitivity and resolving power than current facilities, complementing US-ELT and James Webb Space Telescope.
The AbacusSummit simulations are the largest-ever produced, clocking in at nearly 60 trillion particles. They will help scientists extract information about the universe from upcoming surveys of the cosmos.
Researchers found that a supermassive black hole slurping down a star generated nowhere near the energy needed for the neutrino. The outflow of material was equivalent to the Sun's radiated energy over 30 million years, but lacked the necessary power.
A research team from Göttingen University observed magnetic forces arranging gas particles in solar prominences, with charged particles moving at speeds of up to 42 km/s. This phenomenon is significant for understanding astrophysical processes, including star and planet formation.
The 2021 Fall Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics presents cutting-edge research on nuclear astrophysics, quantum technology, and rare isotopes. Researchers will discuss breakthroughs such as the most precise measurement of neutron lifetime and novel experiments measuring neutron skin in calcium.
Astronomers have discovered a gigantic cavity in space that sheds new light on how stars form. The sphere-shaped void, spanning nearly 500 light years, is believed to have been formed by ancient supernovae 10 million years ago.
Researchers from Australian National University confirm that star-forming galaxies are responsible for creating gamma-rays that had been puzzling astronomers. The discovery sheds light on the origins of these mysterious emissions and could provide clues to understanding Dark Matter.
Astronomers have mapped out the chemicals inside planetary nurseries with unprecedented detail, revealing dozens of molecules within five protoplanetary disks. The locations of these molecules vary dramatically across each disk, resulting in diverse chemical environments that may impact planetary formation and potential for life.
Researchers have created the first 3D-printed stellar nurseries, revealing features often obscured in traditional renderings. The models, about the size of a baseball, display swirling clumps and filaments, allowing for better understanding of star formation and physical processes.
Researchers have confirmed that galaxies emit a significant amount of polluted gas into space, contrary to previous assumptions. This 'outflow' is driven by the process of star formation and can include elements such as oxygen, carbon, and iron.
Astronomers Amir Siraj and Avi Loeb found that interstellar objects outnumber objects in our solar system's Oort Cloud. This discovery suggests that there could be substantially more visitors from other star systems.
The Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) will be a key tool for answering important scientific questions in astrophysics, offering sensitivity and resolving power 10 times greater than the current VLA. Construction could begin by 2026 with early scientific observations starting in 2029.
Researchers create detailed map of Andromeda's disk, identifying region where new stars are born. The study sheds light on thermal and non-thermal emission components in the galaxy.
A team of researchers from the Flatiron Institute and Princeton University has found that the magnetic field around a black hole quickly decays when surrounded by plasma. This process, known as 'magnetic reconnection,' rapidly drains the magnetic field and could explain flares seen near supermassive black holes.
Researchers at the Center for Astrophysics have detected a clear presence of a moon-forming region around exoplanet PDS 70c, one of two giant planets orbiting a star nearly 400 light-years away. The disk surrounding PDS 70c has enough mass to form up to three satellites the size of the Moon.
Researchers aim to understand jets' composition and launch mechanisms by combining theory, observation, and modelling. The goal is to develop a concordance model of jets, overcoming historical divisions between scientific approaches.