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.
Two independent teams of astronomers detected the unexpected hallmarks of a kilonova after a long gamma-ray burst, challenging the prevailing theory that long GRBs exclusively come from supernovae. The discovery was made possible by the proximity of the event and the sensitivity of telescopes like Gemini North.
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.
A recent gamma-ray burst has been identified as a kilonova, shedding light on the merging of neutron stars and black holes. The event produced an excess of infrared light and lasted about a minute, contradicting the typical short duration of such explosions.
Physicists at Goethe University have developed over a million equations of state to model neutron star structure. These models reveal that 'light' neutron stars have a soft mantle and a stiff core, while 'heavy' stars have a stiff mantle and a soft core.
According to new research led by the University of Bath, some short-duration gamma-ray bursts are triggered by the birth of supramassive stars, not black holes. This discovery may offer a new way to locate neutron star mergers and gravitational wave emitters.
A new study published in Science found that a highly magnetised dead star, known as a magnetar, is likely to have a solid surface with no atmosphere. The research team used data from the NASA satellite IXPE to observe the polarisation of X-ray light emitted by the star, which revealed a signature consistent with a solid crust.
Researchers have developed a new model that combines nuclear physics and string theory to describe the transition to dense and hot quark matter in neutron star collisions. The model allows for the calculation of gravitational-wave signals, showing that both hot and cold quark matter can be produced.
Researchers identified rare Earth elements produced by neutron star mergers for the first time, using kilonova spectra simulations and ATERUI II supercomputer. The discovery confirms previous hypotheses about element creation and advances our knowledge of the Universe.
The European Union has awarded a €11.3 million grant to the HEAVYMETAL research project, which aims to investigate chemical element synthesis in neutron star mergers. The project brings together experts from different fields to explore kilonova explosions and decipher the details of observed spectra.
Astronomers found that a planet like GJ 1252b, orbiting an M dwarf star, would likely lose its atmosphere due to intense heat and radiation. The discovery narrows the search for habitable planets around these stars, but leaves room for possibilities further away from the star.
Astronomers use Hubble data combined with radio observations to measure a jet propelled by a neutron star collision, revealing it moved at an apparent velocity of seven times the speed of light.
A breakthrough computer model from Chalmers University of Technology reveals the properties of an atomic nucleus, providing insights into the strong force that governs neutron star behavior. The model predicts a surprisingly thin neutron skin, which could lead to increased understanding of heavy element creation in neutron stars.
A new star rating system, published in Nature Medicine, provides clear and easy-to-understand guidance on the strength of evidence for links between various risk factors and health outcomes. The analysis found that nearly two-thirds of risk-outcome pairs received only a one- or two-star rating, indicating weaker associations.
A team led by Prof. Alan Tennant and Dr Allen Scheie gain deeper insights into the interactions between spins in KCuF3, a simple model material for Heisenberg quantum spin chain. They use neutron scattering to study spatial and temporal evolution of spins.
A new study has created the first map of the Milky Way's ancient dead stars, which reveals a 'galactic underworld' stretching three times the height of the galaxy. The map shows that almost a third of objects have been flung out from the galaxy, with neutron stars and black holes formed when massive stars collapse.
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.
A new experiment at Jefferson Lab found that proton-proton and neutron-neutron collisions were responsible for roughly 20% of all collisions, surprising previous measurements which showed a much smaller share. The discovery improves the precision of previous measurements by a factor of ten.
A high-precision experiment reveals that protons and neutrons in small nuclei prefer to pair up with others of the same kind more often than expected. The study provides new details about short-distance interactions between particles and may impact results from experiments seeking to tease out further nuclear structure details.
Researchers detected a bipolar gas stream flowing out of a young stellar object in the Small Magellanic Cloud, revealing a rotational motion suppressed by molecular outflow during gravitational contraction. This finding suggests that star formation has been common throughout the past 10 billion years.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new model to better understand the impact of oscillations in binary neutron stars on gravitational wave detection. This could significantly improve our understanding of neutron stars and their properties.
Astronomers have concluded that Betelgeuse blew its top in 2019, losing a substantial part of its visible surface and producing a gigantic Surface Mass Ejection (SME). The star is now slowly recovering from this catastrophic upheaval. The mass loss event is not necessarily the signal of an imminent explosion.
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.
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.
A team led by Northwestern University captured millimeter-wavelength light from a neutron star merger for the first time, revealing one of the most energetic short-duration gamma-ray bursts. The discovery opens up new study areas, as scientists can now observe more of these events with ALMA and other telescope arrays.
The heaviest neutron star detected has consumed nearly all the mass of its companion, growing into a record-breaking object. The study provides constraints on matter's behavior at extreme densities, potentially excluding exotic states of matter.
Astronomers have discovered a unique triple star system consisting of two binary stars and one massive tertiary star. The system is incredibly luminous due to its compact nature and was initially detected by amateur astronomers using NASA's TESS observatory data.
A team of scientists has successfully created a neutron interferometer using two separate crystals, enabling new possibilities for quantum measurements. This breakthrough opens up the possibility of expanding the size of the system while maintaining precision.
A team of scientists has successfully built a neutron interferometer using two separate crystals, a major breakthrough in quantum physics. This achievement opens up new possibilities for quantum measurements and research on quantum effects in a gravitational field.
Devi Lal Adhikari's thesis explores mathematical connections between atomic nuclei and neutron stars, shedding light on the structure of both. His research has garnered significant attention from astrophysicists and physicists alike.
Astronomers observe a star's destruction and discover that most of its material forms a spherical cloud, blocking high-energy emissions. The polarization of light from the event reveals symmetry in the cloud.
Scientists attempt to detect a 'mirror neutron', a dark-matter twin to the neutron, to explain discrepancy in neutron lifetime experiments. The team used a novel disappearance and regeneration technique to perform the first search for oscillations between regular and mirror neutron states.
A research team from TU Darmstadt observed a neutral nucleus, the Tetra Neutron, consisting of four neutrons. The discovery provides a new system to test the nuclear force with pure neutrons, offering insights into neutron-star properties.
Scientists have found evidence for a young and extremely powerful neutron star, dubbed VT 1137-0337, in a dwarf galaxy 395 million light-years from Earth. The pulsar is thought to be as young as 14 years old and has the strongest magnetic field of any known object.
Researchers used ALMA to study 30 Doradus, a large star-forming region in the LMC, and discovered that gravity is shaping molecular clouds despite intense stellar feedback. The observations revealed a pattern of highly organized filaments, which are likely an important step in the process of star formation.
A Northwestern University-led team of astrophysicists observed a star-forming cloud and discovered a twisted magnetic field that suggests the formation of a binary star system. The researchers believe a previously hidden sibling star may be responsible for the twisted field, which shifted the dynamics of the cloud to form a new star.
A team of researchers suggests millisecond pulsars could be responsible for the unexplained gamma-ray signal from the Milky Way center. The study proposes a new population of astrophysical sources in the Galaxy's center, which would help understand the star formation history of our Milky Way.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have detected a possible free-floating black hole in the Milky Way galaxy using gravitational microlensing. The object's mass is estimated to be between 1.6 and 4.4 times that of the sun, but its nature as a black hole or neutron star remains uncertain.
Researchers combined knowledge from nuclear theory, nuclear experiment, and astrophysical observations to gain new insights into neutron star matter. The study found a higher pressure at intermediate densities in neutron stars using data from heavy-ion collision experiments.
Researchers found that binary star systems form planets in a different way than single stars, which can significantly impact the search for alien life. The study used ALMA telescopes to observe a young binary star system and discovered a cyclic pattern of gas and dust movement that may trigger bursts of material towards the star.
The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a surviving companion star to SN 2013ge, providing crucial insight into the binary nature of massive stars. The finding sheds light on the puzzle of hydrogen loss pre-supernova and supports the theory that most massive stars are paired.
Researchers have identified the rarest type of black widow binary yet, featuring a pulsar and a third star that orbits every 10,000 years. The system, ZTF J1406+1222, has the shortest orbital period ever recorded, with the pulsar and companion star circling each other in just 62 minutes.
Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences use rare-RI ring to measure palladium-123 mass, providing reliable data for calculations. The new results improve understanding of fine structure of element abundance patterns created in the r-process, consistent with observed solar r-process abundance.
The discovery of star Earendel breaks the record for the farthest individual star ever seen, located 12.9 billion years away. The Hubble Space Telescope detected light from this ancient star due to gravitational lensing by a massive galaxy cluster, allowing astronomers to study it in unprecedented detail.
Astrophysicists have witnessed the death throes of a red giant star named V Hydrae, which is expelling six slowly expanding molecular rings and an hourglass-shaped structure into space. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about star deaths, suggesting that the traditional model may be incomplete or incorrect.
Researchers from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a novel neutron shielding composite called Sm2O3-APTES/AFG-90H. The composite exhibited improved thermal stability, mechanical properties and efficient neutron shielding performance due to the use of coupling agents.
Astronomers have identified a nearby Sun-like star that has paused its own cycles and entered a similar period of rare starspots, sparking hope for understanding the Sun's 70-year Maunder Minimum. Continued observation could provide crucial insights into the Sun's stellar magnetic activity, potentially affecting climate on Earth.
The NICER telescope has observed the merging of multimillion-degree X-ray spots on the surface of a magnetar, providing new insights into their behavior. The observations suggest that the crust of a neutron star can become partially molten under magnetic stress, leading to changes in pulse shape and hot spot migration.
Researchers used simulations to compare Einstein's theory and modified gravity, finding that 'dark gravity' may be equally good at explaining data from binary neutron star collisions. This could lead to the discovery of new phenomena detectable by next-generation gravitational interferometers.
A team of astronomers discovered neutron stars blowing hot, warm and cold winds while consuming matter from a nearby star. The discovery provides key information about the behaviors of these extreme cosmic objects, which contribute to the formation of new stars and galaxy evolution.
For the first time, astronomers believe they've spotted an afterglow from a kilonova, a phenomenon resulting from the merger of two neutron stars. The discovery was made using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and has sparked debate over whether it's a kilonova or black hole-related X-rays.
A recent analysis of the 2017 GW170817 merger suggests that a rapid spin delay may have prolonged the merger, producing excess X-ray emissions. The radiation is thought to be produced by shocked material in the circumbinary medium, hinting at a bounce from the delayed collapse.
Astronomers have detected a new planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Solar System, with a mass comparable to that of Earth. The newly discovered planet, named Proxima d, orbits its star at just five days, within the habitable zone.
Researchers found that massive stars can be far from their birthplace due to mergers of medium-mass stars. The study of HD93521 and IT Librae reveals that these stars can rotate quickly enough to create black holes with large spins.
Astronomers have discovered a binary system consisting of a rapidly spinning neutron star and the precursor to an extremely-low-mass white dwarf, dubbed a 'cosmic spider'. The system emits powerful gamma-rays and has been observed using the SOAR Telescope in Chile.
A sub-Neptune exoplanet named TOI-2257 b has been found to have an eccentric orbit around its host star, making it a candidate for further study. The planet's distance from the star allows for liquid water and potentially life-supporting conditions.
Researchers from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science have developed a lead-free composite shielding material with high shielding properties. The modified-gadolinium oxide/boron carbide/high density polyethylene composite shows excellent performance in shielding both neutrons and gamma rays.
Researchers discovered a compact object in supernova AT2018cow, which was a product of a dying star. The team found X-ray pulses indicating an object measuring no more than 1,000 kilometers wide and with a mass smaller than 800 suns.
Physicists at Technical University of Munich discover potential existence of tetra-neutron, a bound state of four neutrons, which could significantly alter our understanding of nuclear forces. The experiment's results suggest a half-life of 450 seconds and stability comparable to the neutron.