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.
Researchers discovered that a large cavity in the discs surrounding evolved binary stars could be evidence of planet formation. The presence of heavy elements on the surface of dying stars suggests that dust particles rich in these elements were trapped by planets, supporting this hypothesis.
A team led by Basmah Riaz has detected deuterated methane in three proto-brown dwarfs, indicating a warmer gas composition than expected. This finding suggests that brown dwarfs may not be simply scaled-down versions of stars.
Astronomers have captured detailed images of sinuous stellar jets emanating from young stars, suggesting that their sidewinding appearances are caused by gravitational attraction from companion stars. The observations were made using the Gemini South telescope's adaptive optics system.
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.
A unique stellar structure in the Milky Way, C-19, has been found to consist of stars with extremely low metallicity, challenging current understanding of star formation models. This discovery provides a direct window into the earliest ages of star formation and the development of stellar structures in the distant past.
A team of researchers discovered 170 previously unknown free-floating planets (FFPs) in the Upper Scorpius young stellar association. This is the largest sample of FFPs found in a single association, suggesting that dynamical ejection from planetary systems may be an important mechanism for their formation.
Researchers studied 15 unusual stars in the Milky Way galaxy, discovering that all have recently undergone a rare phase where one star engulfs another. The findings provide new insight into the sky's most dramatic phenomena and may help answer questions about how stars live and die.
A team of astronomers has made the most precise measurements yet of the motions of stars around Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The research, using cutting-edge facilities like Gemini Observatory and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, shows that nearly all of the mass c...
Three young stars have been discovered at the center of our galaxy, contradicting initial assumptions about a gas and dust cloud called G2. The unusual temperature of G2 has sparked debate among astronomers, but new observations reveal it is actually composed of three evolving young stars.
A team of astronomers discovered eight new stars and three more previously known stars belonging to the rare 'Main-sequence Radio Pulse emitters' (MRPs) using the GMRT. These discoveries suggest that MRPs may be more common than thought, but are difficult to detect due to their radio pulses being visible only at certain times.
A new study suggests that a gravitational 'kick' from colliding supermassive black holes could be responsible for the strange shape of stars at the center of the Andromeda Galaxy. The team used computer simulations to track the consequences of such a merger, finding that it could knock millions of stars into wonky orbits.
Researchers at MIT and UNH find that binary neutron star mergers produce two to 100 times more heavy metals than neutron star-black hole mergers. The study suggests that binary neutron stars are a likely cosmic source for gold, platinum, and other heavy metals.
A team of astronomers used Hubble and Gran Telescopio Canarias data to study faint galaxies, revealing a 'fitful' start to the Universe. The first stars likely formed in bursts, followed by long periods of inactivity.
Researchers analyze iron-mass fraction of low-mass rocky exoplanets and find correlation with host star compositions, suggesting role of planet formation processes in shaping final composition. The study reveals distinct populations of super-Earths and super-Mercury class exoplanets with differing compositions.
Scientists confirm a link between planetary and stellar compositions, with some planets exhibiting higher iron content than their host stars. This study provides insights into planetary formation and evolution, shedding light on potential habitability and constraining possible compositions.
Scientists have discovered radio waves coming from 19 distant red dwarf stars, suggesting the presence of hidden planets. The discovery uses the world's most powerful radio telescope, LOFAR, and indicates a scaled-up version of Jupiter-Io interaction with a planet in the star's magnetic field.
A new study reveals how supernovae explosions of massive stars can form heavy neutron star binaries, resolving a puzzle from gravitational wave observatories LIGO and Virgo. The team's results show that the explosion energy determines whether a stripped star forms a neutron star or black hole.
Researchers analyzed ALMA data to create the first animation of a young twin star system's orbital motion over three years. The study found that the disks surrounding each star are significantly misaligned with respect to each other, supporting the idea that the system was formed via molecular cloud fragmentation.
Researchers identified a potential circumtriple planet in the star system GW Ori, with implications for our understanding of planet formation. The discovery, made using ALMA telescope observations, suggests that planet formation may be more active than previously thought.
A team of astronomers has observed six massive galaxies in the early universe that have mysteriously stopped forming stars due to depleted gas reserves. The discovery was made possible by the Hubble Space Telescope's high resolution and gravitational lensing, allowing researchers to study these galaxies in unprecedented detail.
A study using ALMA revealed that protoplanetary disks around five young stars are factories of organic molecules, including nitriles implicated in the origins of life. The discovery provides insights into planetary system formation and whether these systems have what it takes to host life.
The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered white dwarfs that burn hydrogen on their surface, slowing down their cooling rate. This finding challenges the conventional view of white dwarfs as inert, slowly cooling stars.
An international team has identified five objects that could help distinguish brown dwarfs from low-mass stars. The companions, characterized by periods of 5-27 days and radii between Jupiter's, provide valuable information about their composition and formation.
Researchers at Rice University found that cool stars have dynamic surface behaviors influencing their magnetic environments and planetary habitability. This study suggests that small stars share similar properties with the sun, enabling predictions for exoplanet conditions.
A new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society found that superflares on red dwarf stars occur at high latitudes, near the star's poles, which means they are not directed towards orbiting exoplanets. This reduces the danger to planetary atmospheres and habitability.
Researchers use Keck Observatory's MOSFIRE instrument to analyze the layer-cake structure of a nearby free-floating brown dwarf's atmosphere. The study reveals complex cloud formations, including hot sand grains and exotic elements, with depths reaching up to 446 miles.
New research reveals that magnetic fields of middle-aged stars become sub-critical, leading to reduced angular momentum losses and altered magnetic field strengths. This phenomenon breaks the relationship between a star's age and its rotation rate, allowing for a diversity of solar-stellar phenomena.
Astronomers have detected previously unseen tracers of massive star formation in the Milky Way, including compact regions of hydrogen gas and radio emission from methanol molecules. The survey more than doubled the number of supernova remnants found in the region.
New models of neutron stars show mountains only a fraction of millimetres high, contradicting previous estimates. The research used computational modelling to study the role of ultra-dense nuclear matter in supporting these tiny mountains.
The study reveals a higher-than-expected black hole fraction, with some having masses up to 20 times that of the Sun. The researchers used simulations to understand how these massive black holes formed and influenced the cluster's evolution.
Researchers confirmed detection of two rare events involving collision of black hole and neutron star, producing strong gravitational waves signals. The mergers involved massive objects with masses up to 9 solar masses and 1.9-solar-mass neutron stars, providing new information on binary systems and their properties.
Astronomers using Gemini Observatory and WIYN 3.5-meter Telescope found 73 binary star systems among TESS exoplanet hosts, which could be hiding Earth-sized planets. The team discovered that small planets are harder to detect in binary systems due to glare from the companion star.
Researchers used Gaia eDR3 catalog data to determine which stars pass through the Earth Transit Zone over a 10,000-year period. This allows nearby star-systems to potentially detect Earth, with 1,715 systems having had this opportunity since human civilization began.
The Milky Way's galactic bar has slowed down its spin by at least 24% since its formation, according to a study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Dark matter acts as a counterweight slowing the spin.
Satellite galaxies that orbit massive central galaxies can form new stars due to active black holes clearing their path through intergalactic gas. Researchers used systematic observations and cosmological simulations to find this counter-intuitive effect.
A team of researchers has conducted the first systematic survey of stellar nurseries, charting over 100,000 nurseries in 90 nearby galaxies. The study reveals that these nurseries are surprisingly diverse across galaxies, live only a relatively short time, and are not very efficient at making stars.
A team of astrophysicists led by Luke Bouma has confirmed that one of these streams of stars, NGC 2516, extends at least 1,600 light-years -- 500 parsecs -- from tip to tip.
Astronomers have discovered a massive open cluster of intermediate age in the Scutum constellation, containing at least 15,000 stars. The Valparaíso 1 cluster was detected using Gaia satellite data and is notable for its unexpected discovery in a well-explored part of the sky.
A team of scientists discovered that three dozen dwarf galaxies simultaneously accelerated their star birth rates, defying expectations. The galaxies, separated by up to 13 million light-years, had a synchronized decrease in stellar birth rate 6 billion years ago and an increase 3 billion years ago.
Astronomers will use the James Webb Space Telescope to study a region of gas and dust in the Orion Nebula called the Orion Bar, which is shaped by intense ultraviolet light from young stars. The team hopes to understand how massive stars influence their environments and even the formation of our own solar system.
Researchers have dated the oldest stars in our galaxy with unprecedented precision by combining data from their oscillations with information about their chemical composition. The team found that these ancient stars were originally part of a satellite galaxy called Gaia-Enceladus, which collided with the Milky Way early in its history.
Using new methods in astronomy, researchers have identified the most precise ages of red giant stars in the galaxy, shedding light on the timing of the early Milky Way's formation. The study suggests that the merger with the satellite galaxy Gaia-Enceladus occurred around 10 billion years ago.
A team of astronomers has measured internal mixing within an ensemble of massive stars using observations of stellar oscillations. The results show that the mixing is diverse, unrelated to star mass or age, and influenced by internal rotation. This study provides new insights into the evolution and structure of massive stars.
Astronomers have discovered a mysterious yellow star that exploded without the typical hydrogen layer, revealing new insights into the violent death throes of massive stars. The discovery challenges current understanding of stellar evolution and suggests that these stars may undergo catastrophic eruptions before exploding.
Astronomers capture breathtaking images of AG Carinae, a luminous blue variable star surrounded by a glowing halo of gas and dust. The star is in a constant battle to maintain stability due to its massive form and super-hot temperatures.
Researchers used asteroseismology to measure the spin of older stars, finding they rotate faster than predicted by magnetic braking theories. The study provides new insights into the weakening effects of magnetic braking on older stars.
A survey of star formation in the Orion Nebula Cluster found similar mass distributions for newborn stars and dense gas cores, suggesting that gas accretion rate determines final star mass. The results contradict the core-collapse model, supporting the competitive accretion model instead.
Researchers identify five double star systems, Kepler-34, -35, -38, -64 and -413, as potential candidates for supporting life. The study shows that these systems have a permanent Habitable Zone, where liquid water could persist on the surface of any Earth-like planets.
Researchers at the University of Bath used resonance in spiraling neutron stars to measure symmetry energy, a key property of nuclear matter. This discovery sheds light on the fundamental workings of nuclei and offers insights into the forces that bind sub-atomic particles.
Astronomers discovered over 800 dense gas and dust cores near the Galactic Center, which may be 'stellar eggs' hatching into baby stars despite harsh conditions. The findings suggest that star formation is more resilient than thought, with ALMA observations detecting small outflows indicative of star birth.
Researchers studied 304 developing stars and found that gas-clearing by a star's outflow may not be as important in determining its final mass. The team's results indicate cavities in the surrounding gas cloud do not grow regularly, suggesting another process gets rid of excess gas.
Researchers have made groundbreaking discoveries about the formation of galaxies and stars using data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. By analyzing microwave observations, they found that only a small percentage of gas in galaxies (about 10%) is turned into stars, shedding light on why galaxy formation remains inefficient.
Research from Binghamton University found that star employees take most of the credit for successful collaborations and most of the blame for failed ones, affecting non-star collaborators' careers. Non-stars may benefit from working with stars despite not receiving equal rewards or penalties.
Researchers studied sea star shapes and found that their unique shape creates a
Astronomers have created a massive atlas of widely separated binary stars within 3,000 light years of Earth, comprising 1.3 million pairs. This increase in sample size provides insights into the evolutionary phases of these binaries, including 17,000 white dwarfs.
Astronomers have found a concentration of smaller black holes at the center of the globular cluster NGC 6397, contradicting the long-held assumption of an intermediate-mass black hole. The discovery was made using Hubble data and Gaia space observatory measurements.
Astronomers used Hubble and Gaia data to analyze the positions and velocities of stars in NGC 6397, finding strong evidence for invisible mass in the dense central regions. The bulk of this unseen mass is likely made up of stellar-mass black holes, rather than white dwarfs or neutron stars.
University of Warwick astronomers detect lithium and potassium in the atmospheres of four nearby white dwarf stars, revealing remnants of rocky planet crusts. The chemical composition of these crusts is similar to Earth's continental crust, providing a glimpse of the planets that may have orbited these dying stars billions of years ago.