Astronomers have finally detected a compact source of ionizing radiation at the center of Supernova 1987A, likely a neutron star. The detection was made possible by the James Webb Telescope's high resolution and new instruments, resolving decades-old mystery about the supernova's final product.
The James Webb Space Telescope has found direct evidence for emission from a probable young neutron star at the site of the recently observed supernova SN 1987A. Spectral analysis revealed strong signals due to ionized argon and five times ionized argon, indicating high-energy radiation from the compact object.
A new study published in Science provides conclusive evidence for the presence of a neutron star at the center of supernova SN 1987A, solving a decades-long mystery. The detection was made using the James Webb Space Telescope and reveals narrow emission lines from ionized argon and sulphur atoms.
Researchers found nine out of 40 studied systems have perfect alignment, suggesting planetary systems may prefer an orderly configuration. This could be beneficial for life forming in those systems, as misaligned stellar companions can disrupt planetary stability.
Researchers found an unknown object orbiting a rapidly spinning millisecond pulsar, weighing more than the heaviest neutron stars and less than the lightest black holes. The discovery was made using the MeerKAT Radio Telescope and could reveal new insights into black holes and neutron stars.
Researchers detected a compact object with a mass between 2.09 and 2.71 solar masses, which is at the lower edge of the mass gap between neutron stars and black holes. The discovery has fascinating implications for understanding extremely dense nuclear matter and supernova explosions.
Researchers found a direct connection between massive star deaths and compact remnant formation, using observations of a nearby galaxy's SN2022jli supernova. The team detected periodic movements and energy signatures indicating a neutron star or black hole sucking up matter from its companion star.
Astronomers have found a direct link between massive star explosions and the formation of compact objects like black holes and neutron stars. The study used ESO's VLT and NTT to observe a supernova explosion in a nearby galaxy, revealing evidence for a compact remnant left behind.
Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to analyze the atmospheric composition of HAT-P-18 b, detecting water vapour and carbon dioxide. They also found a cloud deck that mutes the signals of many molecules, and their findings suggest the star's surface is covered by dark spots. The study highlights the importance of considerin...
A new study places the likelihood of massive neutron stars having deconfined quark matter at 80-90%. This is made possible through Bayesian statistical inference and massive supercomputer runs. The research has implications for our understanding of particle and nuclear physics, as well as astrophysics.
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.
The microstructural features of polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) significantly impact their macroscopic properties. Scattering techniques using large neutron and X-ray scientific facilities can quantify the hierarchical structures and components of PBXs.
Researchers found that ancient stars created elements with atomic masses greater than 260, challenging current knowledge. This discovery provides insight into the process of heavy element formation in stars and could help explain the diversity of elements on Earth.
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.
Researchers find planet more than 13 times as massive as Earth orbiting ultracool star LHS 3154, challenging current theories of planet formation. The discovery requires reexamination of how planets and stars form, with a heavy planetary core inferred that would need more solid material in the disk.
A study by Prof. Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer shows that Star Wars words and constructions are increasingly used in digital English text corpora. The study reveals that these words have reached the highest level of integration into the English language, with many uses referencing tangible objects like toy lightsabers.
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.
Researchers at ALMA achieved the highest resolution ever, observing a ring-like gas structure around R Leporis and confirming gas escape from the star. This capability will now be applied to young stars with protoplanetary disks where planets are forming.
Researchers leverage neutron imaging to analyze lithium battery evolution, revealing in-depth insights into electrode composition and internal reactions. This technology helps address pressing issues like energy density and safety concerns.
The James Webb Space Telescope has made its first detection of a heavy element, tellurium, in a star merger. This breakthrough allows scientists to better understand the process by which rare elements are created, and may shed light on other elements near tellurium that could be present.
Researchers detected tellurium and other essential elements needed for life in the aftermath of a gamma-ray burst, revealing insights into heavy element formation. The study provides valuable information about kilonovae and neutron star mergers, paving the way for a deeper understanding of the universe.
Researchers have created a three-dimensional computer simulation of the light emitted following a neutron star merger, producing results similar to an observed kilonova. The simulation takes into account various processes and material interactions, enabling predictions for any viewing direction.
Astronomers detected two ice giant exoplanets colliding, creating a blaze of light and plumes of dust that moved in front of the parent star, dimming it over time. The study suggests the collision occurred three years before the star started to fade in visible light.
The Chi-Nu experiment has contributed never-before-observed data for enhancing nuclear security applications and understanding criticality safety. The results inform nuclear models, Monte Carlo calculations, and reactor performance calculations.
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.
A team of astrophysicists at Northwestern University has successfully simulated the process of a black hole-neutron star merger, which is believed to have produced the unprecedented gamma-ray burst GRB211211A. The simulation reveals that the post-merger black hole launches jets of material from the swallowed neutron star.
Researchers propose using gravitational wave searches to detect dark matter through neutron star effects. The study forecasts constraints on heavy dark matter particles within the next decade, offering a potential tool for testing dark matter theories.
Researchers have observed the decay of two neutron-rich isotopes, oxygen-28 and oxygen-27, providing new insights into nuclear structure. The study's findings suggest that these isotopes do not exhibit a closed shell structure, challenging current theories and offering opportunities for further investigation.
A study of a Wolf-Rayet star suggests it will form a magnetar upon explosion as a supernova, with strong magnetic fields predicted. The findings provide new insights into magnetar origins and suggest a possible pathway for their formation.
Researchers have uncovered a living star, HD 45166, that is likely to become a magnetar, marking the discovery of a new type of astronomical object - massive magnetic helium stars. The star has an incredibly strong magnetic field, 43,000 gauss, and will end its life as a compact core with a magnetic field of around 100 trillion gauss.
Researchers discovered a new type of astronomical object - a massive magnetic helium star that may evolve into a magnetar. The star has a phenomenally powerful magnetic field, about 43,000 gauss, and will eventually collapse into a neutron star with an even stronger magnetic field.
A joint USTC research group investigated the coupling effect between neutron spin and gravitational force using a high-precision xenon isotope magnetometer. The experimental results revealed that the weight difference between the neutron's spin-up and spin-down states was less than two sextillionths.
Researchers have observed significant directed flow of hypernuclei in heavy-ion collisions, offering a new direction for studying Y–N interactions. The experiment extracted slopes of directed flow of hypernuclei and light nuclei, suggesting a similar mass number scaling.
Researchers at RHIC have observed directed flow of hypernuclei, providing insight into hyperon-nucleon interactions. The findings suggest that hypernuclei follow the same mass-scaling pattern as ordinary nuclei, implying similar nucleon-nucleon and hyperon-nucleon interactions.
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.
Astronomers have detected radio waves emitted by a Type Ia supernova for the first time, revealing clues about white dwarf explosions. The supernova was found to be surrounded by helium-rich circumstellar material, indicating mass accretion from a companion star triggered the explosion.
A recent study published in Science found that tidal shocks can occur when a star collides with itself as it orbits a black hole. This discovery contradicts the current understanding of stellar matter evolution during Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs), which typically produce X-ray bright accretion disks.
Scientists at IMP used a new mass spectrometry technique to precisely measure the masses of key nuclei, including arsenic-64 and selenium-66. The newly measured data led to changes in the rp-process path, indicating lower neutron star density and higher outer shell temperatures.
A team of scientists at MIT and elsewhere have observed a star engulfing a nearby planet, a phenomenon that will also befall Earth in 5 billion years. The star's outburst was followed by a colder, longer-lasting signal, indicating the presence of gas from the star condensing into dust.
Scientists have created the first 2D map of wind patterns around a neutron star, revealing clues to galaxy formation. The map shows the wind's vertical structure and velocity, which is about 1 million miles per hour, and offers new insights into the influence of disk winds on galaxy evolution.
Researchers observed lithium ions wandering within composite cathodes, revealing limitations in ion delivery that affect battery performance. The findings suggest a previously overlooked development bottleneck for solid-state battery development, highlighting the need to enhance ion transport within cathode composites.
Researchers have discovered a possible correlation between gravitational waves from neutron star mergers and fast radio bursts, two phenomena long shrouded in mystery. The study found that an observed FRB occurred just 2 ½ hours after a neutron star merger event, suggesting a potential link between the two events.
The discovery of Swift J1858.6-0814's neutron star confirms the presence of exotic accretionary instabilities, similar to those observed in black holes. The study reveals that these instabilities are a fundamental physical process independent of the compact object's nature.
The Spallation Neutron Source has set a world record by reaching an operating power of 1.55 megawatts, providing more neutrons for researchers studying efficient solar panels, longer-lasting batteries, and stronger materials. This achievement enables new discoveries in materials science research.
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have directly measured the mass of a lone white dwarf for the first time. The white dwarf, LAWD 37, has a mass of 56% that of our Sun, corroborating current theories of how white dwarfs evolve.
A team of astronomers has directly measured the mass of a dead star using gravitational microlensing, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The measurement, made for an isolated white dwarf called LAWD 37, provides new insights into star evolution and testing current theories of how white dwarfs evolve.
Embry-Riddle astronomers report a rare binary star system with an uncommon circular orbit, formed when a supernova fizzled out without the usual bang. The discovery sheds light on the origins of the universe and the formation of heavy elements.
Astronomers have uncovered a rare binary star system that has the right conditions to trigger a kilonova, an ultra-powerful explosion created by colliding neutron stars. The system, CPD-29 2176, is one of only about 10 such systems thought to exist in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Researchers at Osaka University developed a laser-driven neutron source, enabling extremely rapid elemental analysis. The study found that increasing laser intensity yields neutrons proportional to the fourth power, allowing for faster identification of elements in samples.
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.
Scientists successfully synthesized the elusive Λ(1405) particle and measured its complex mass, revealing a temporary bound state of a K- meson and proton. The findings may provide insights into the interior of ultra-dense neutron stars and the early formation of the Universe.
Scientists discover first gamma-ray eclipses from spider star systems using Fermi data, calculating system tilt and pulsar mass. The discovery helps researchers measure pulsar masses, constraining physics within extreme environments.
Astronomers using Hubble observed a star's final moments as it was gobbled up by a black hole, creating a donut-shaped torus. The event provides forensic clues to the black hole homicide, with details on the debris's behavior and the accretion rate.
Researchers have discovered a supernova with strong features of oxygen and magnesium, suggesting the explosion could be crashing into circumstellar matter formed around 1,000 days prior to the event. This finding provides new insights into the later stages of massive star life and creates challenges for current theories on star evolution.
Researchers at the University of Washington have discovered a unique binary star system where a small companion star is surrounded by a large disk of dusty material. The companion star caused a seven-year-long eclipse of the main star, Gaia17bpp, which is one of the longest recorded eclipses.
Astronomers detected light patterns indicating the brief existence of superheavy neutron stars shortly before they collapsed into black holes. These mega neutron stars formed from the collision of two neutron stars and had nearly twice the size of a typical neutron star, spinning at nearly 78,000 times a minute.
Two temperate Earth-mass planets orbit GJ 1002, a cool and faint star suitable for atmospheric analysis. The discovery increases the number of known habitable planets to seven near the Sun.
The event challenged scientists' understanding of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which are the most powerful events in the universe. The burst's high-energy light and kilonova visible and infrared light were detected by NASA's Swift Observatory and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, providing new insights into how heavy elements are created.
A team of astrophysicists has discovered that at least some long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) can result from neutron star mergers, contradicting the long-held belief that they solely originate from massive star collapses. This finding also sheds new light on the formation of the heaviest elements in the universe.
A GW PhD student's research on a long gamma-ray burst (GRB) has provided conclusive evidence that it was caused by the collision of two neutron stars. This groundbreaking finding challenges the scientific consensus and sheds light on the unique characteristics of GRBs.