New astronomical models suggest the Magellanic Stream could be just 20 kiloparsecs from Earth, potentially colliding with the Milky Way and fueling new star formation. The revised distance may also affect estimates of the stream's mass and density, which could require revision.
SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 23, 2021
Exposure to artificial light at night impairs crickets' activity cycles, disrupting their nocturnal chirping and potentially affecting reproduction. The study, conducted by researchers at Tel Aviv University and the Open University, highlights the need to reduce artificial light pollution to protect environmental behaviors.
SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateNov 2, 2021
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Researchers have solved the 900-year-old mystery of the Chinese supernova of 1181AD by identifying a matching nebula and star in the Milky Way. The Pa30 nebula, surrounding Parker's Star, matches the profile, location, and age of the historic supernova.
SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateSep 15, 2021
New research reveals that the Milky Way's environment is not evenly mixed with metals and dust, contrary to previous models. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.
SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·TypeNews article·DateSep 8, 2021
Researchers from Osaka University and NASA discovered that cold planets exist throughout the Milky Way, even in the Galactic bulge, a region previously thought to be inhospitable to planet formation. The study used gravitational microlensing to determine the distribution of planets across the galaxy.
SourceOsaka University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2021
A supercomputer simulation reveals that interstellar frontal collisions lead to the maturation of young galaxies. The study shows how these chaotic galaxies eventually form stable spiral galaxies with similar populations of stars as the Milky Way.
SourceLund University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 27, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Astronomers studied a piece of supernova shrapnel to understand how it ended up moving fast out of the galaxy. The metal-rich star's slow rotation rate suggests it survived a massive explosion, shedding light on the original two-star system.
SourceBoston University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 2, 2021
Using nearly a decade of satellite data, researchers at CSU have detected the elusive ‘milky seas’ – a rare display of bioluminescence in the ocean. The study reveals that milky seas are not adequately explained by previous hypotheses and proposes new theories for their formation.
SourceColorado State University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 29, 2021
Researchers from IAC and STScI discovered transverse rotation in three dwarf spheroidal galaxies using Gaia satellite data, shedding light on their evolutionary history. This finding supports the idea that these galaxies may have formed through the agglomeration of smaller systems.
SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 27, 2021
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.
A team of astronomers has made detailed observations of a large tidal flow around the Sombrero galaxy, revealing its strange morphology and shedding light on its possible merger history. The study's findings suggest that the galaxy's unusual shape may be due to cannibalism by a satellite dwarf galaxy.
SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 21, 2021
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Researchers have found evidence of a 'magneto-rotational hypernova', a previously unknown type of cataclysm that could explain the presence of high amounts of uranium and zinc in ancient stars. The discovery, published in Nature, reveals a new pathway for the formation of heavy elements in the infant universe.
SourceARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D)·JournalNature·DateJul 7, 2021
Using numerical simulations, researchers showed that satellite galaxies can retain gas and experience new episodes of star formation after passing close to their parent galaxy. This process is driven by the satellite's reserve of cold gas and minimum distance from its parent galaxy.
SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 6, 2021
A new study suggests that carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen cosmic rays travel through the galaxy toward Earth in a similar way, but iron arrives differently. Scientists believe this could indicate unique sources or propagation methods for different elements.
SourceUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 18, 2021
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.
SourceUniversity College London·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 14, 2021
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Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.
Researchers have discovered a unique 'blinking giant' binary star system, where a giant star is eclipsed by an unseen orbital companion every few decades. The system has been spotted near the centre of the Milky Way, more than 25,000 light years away.
SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 11, 2021
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.
Roman will study thousands of type Ia supernovae across vast distances to pin down dark energy and understand the universe's expansion history. The mission aims to clarify discrepancies in measurements of the Hubble constant, which describes the current expansion rate.
New study questions precession in the Milky Way's warp, suggesting it could disappear or become slower over time. Researchers used Gaia Mission data to analyze stars' positions and velocities.
SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateMay 25, 2021
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SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
The discovery of UGC 10738 reveals that galaxies with similar structures and properties are likely common. The galaxy's thick disc consists mainly of ancient stars, while its thin disc stars are more recent and contain more metal.
SourceARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D)·DateMay 24, 2021
Researchers discovered a galaxy with a spiral structure 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang using ALMA data. The galaxy's estimated mass is roughly equal to that of the Milky Way and contains a large amount of dust, making it difficult to study in visible light.
SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScience·DateMay 20, 2021
The Galactic Plane Pulsar Snapshot (GPPS) has discovered 201 pulsars using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), including many very faint and millisecond pulsars. The survey reveals more electrons in the Milky Way's spiral arms than previously known.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalResearch in Astronomy and Astrophysics·DateMay 19, 2021
LHAASO's discovery opens up an era for UHE gamma astronomy, prompting scientists to rethink high-energy particle acceleration and propagation mechanisms. The observatory detected 12 stable gamma ray sources with energies up to 1 PeV, revealing the Milky Way is full of PeVatrons.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature·DateMay 18, 2021
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Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.
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.
SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Astronomy·DateMay 17, 2021
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.
SourceOhio State University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateMay 17, 2021
Astronomers used ALMA to discover a rotating baby galaxy, providing insights into the early Universe. The galaxy, RXCJ0600-z6, is about 1/100th the size of the Milky Way and has a mass of 2-3 billion times that of our Sun.
SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·DateApr 22, 2021
Astronomers have released a new all-sky map of the Milky Way's outer halo, revealing a massive reservoir of dark matter. The map also shows a wake of stars stirred up by the Large Magellanic Cloud, set to collide with the Milky Way in about 2 billion years.
SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalNature·DateApr 21, 2021
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Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.
A new species of aquatic snail, Travunijana djokovici, was discovered in Montenegro's karstic springs. The snail is adapted to live in the underground habitats of the Dinaric karst and has a milky-white shell.
SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalSubterranean Biology·DateApr 15, 2021
Researchers detect first evidence of ultrahigh-energy gamma rays spread across the Milky Way, providing proof of cosmic ray superaccelerators. The discovery confirms the existence of PeVatrons and opens new avenues for understanding cosmic ray origins.
SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 31, 2021
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum found that flashlight fish use blink patterns resembling Morse code to communicate in schools. The frequency and intensity of these signals affect the animals' behavior, with faster blinking associated with increased attraction to group members.
SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 19, 2021
The LAMOST survey has identified 1534 low-α metal-rich member stars of the Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus galaxy, challenging previous understanding of the merging process. The newly discovered component extends from a previously detected metal-poor region and suggests that these stars were formed during subsequent evolution.
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GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.
The Tibet ASgamma experiment has discovered gamma rays beyond 100 TeV from a supernova remnant, suggesting that cosmic-ray nuclei are accelerated up to PeV energy and collide with a nearby molecular cloud. This discovery identifies the first candidate object in the Milky Way that can accelerate cosmic rays up to 1 PeV.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Astronomy·DateMar 2, 2021
Researchers from the GLOBE Institute at University of Copenhagen found that water may be present during planet formation, applicable to Earth, Venus, and Mars. The study suggests that planets with similar building blocks and temperature conditions as Earth may have oceans and continents.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalJournal of Mathematical Sciences Advances and Applications·DateFeb 22, 2021
The latest observations from Insight-HXMT have discovered the origin of fast radio bursts (FRBs), revealing they come from soft-gamma repeater (SGR) J1935+2154, a magnetar in our Milky Way. This discovery resolves the longstanding puzzle concerning the origin of FRBs.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Astronomy·DateFeb 19, 2021
A new study using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) has refined the distance to Cygnus X-1 and found its black hole mass to be approximately 21 solar masses, exceeding current stellar evolution models. This massive black hole suggests that lower mass loss through stellar winds during progenitor star evolution may have occurred.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateFeb 18, 2021
A student astronomer has developed a method to track down the Milky Way's missing matter using distant galaxies as 'locator pins'. The technique detects radio sources that have passed through a cold clump of gas, revealing a massive, invisible cloud about 10 light years from Earth.
SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 4, 2021
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The Roman mission will use microlensing to detect exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy, uncovering thousands of worlds similar to those in our solar system. The survey will also reveal extreme planets and planet-like bodies, including hot Jupiters and brown dwarfs, thanks to their gravitational tug on stars.
Two giant radio galaxies have been discovered in a small patch of sky, exceeding the size of the Milky Way. The discovery was made possible by the MeerKAT International Gigahertz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration (MIGHTEE) survey, which revealed these cosmic beasts with unprecedented sensitivity.
SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 18, 2021
A team of astronomers has created the most complete 3D map of cool brown dwarfs in the Sun's local neighborhood, cataloging over 500 objects including 38 new discoveries. The results provide evidence that the Sun's immediate neighborhood is unusually diverse relative to other parts of the Milky Way Galaxy.
SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateJan 14, 2021
The most distant quasar known has been discovered, powered by the earliest known supermassive black hole weighing over 1.6 billion times the mass of the Sun. This fully formed distant quasar is also the earliest yet discovered, providing insight into massive galaxy formation in the early Universe.
SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·DateJan 12, 2021
Researchers measured pulsar accelerations to clock star motions, revealing tiny accelerations at a few centimeters per second. This opens a new window into galactic dynamics and provides clues in the search for dark matter.
Meta Quest 3 512GB
Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
Researchers found a fossil fragment of one of the giant stellar clumps that formed the central region of the Milky Way approximately 12 billion years ago. Liller 1 is composed of two stellar populations with dramatically different ages, one as old as the Milky Way and the other much younger.
SourceUniversità di Bologna·JournalNature Astronomy·DateDec 18, 2020
A graduate student developed an open-source code called BADASS, which provides a way to fit stellar motions simultaneously with other components in astronomical spectra. The code is versatile enough to fit not just active galactic nuclei but also normal galaxies, and can be used for any kind of spectroscopy.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 16, 2020
A new 3D survey of the Milky Way has revealed a wide range of structures within the galaxy, from individual star-forming clumps to giant molecular clouds. The study provides unprecedented detail on the inner structure and dynamics of the galaxy, shedding light on its star formation processes.
SourceCardiff University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 3, 2020
A new study using VERA data has revised Earth's velocity around the Galactic Center from 220 km/s to 227 km/s, making it faster. The revised calculation places Earth approximately 2000 light-years closer to the supermassive black hole at the Galaxy's center.
SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·DateNov 30, 2020
A team of astrophysicists has created a complete family tree of the Milky Way, revealing a previously unknown galaxy collision that permanently altered its appearance. The researchers used advanced computer simulations and artificial intelligence to study the merger history of the galaxy.
SourceHeidelberg University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 23, 2020
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Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
A recent study reveals that the Milky Way galaxy is being warped and twisted by the gravitational force of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a smaller galaxy that crossed its boundary 700 million years ago. The effects are still being witnessed today and should force a revision of how our galaxy evolved.
SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 23, 2020
The team observed the nebula with two different spectrographs on large telescopes, finding that the central star is inflated and signatures of accretion are present. The data suggest a merging binary star system, offering a clear view of the central stellar remnant.
A study of ancient star orbits reveals unexpected patterns, contradicting previous assumptions about the Galaxy's metal-poor stars. The research, conducted by a team of astronomers, found that some of these stars orbit in previously unpredicted paths, similar to the Sun's path within the disk.
SourceARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 16, 2020
A supermagnetized stellar remnant, magnetar SGR 1935+2154 produced a mix of X-ray and radio signals, including the first fast radio burst (FRB) observed from within our Milky Way galaxy. The event suggests that magnetars in other galaxies may produce similar signals.
A team of Canadian astronomers detected an intense radio burst from a nearby magnetar, lending weight to the theory that magnetars are behind at least some fast radio bursts. The findings suggest that magnetars could be responsible for some FRBs, but further research is needed to confirm this.
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Astronomers detect tiny free-floating planet with timescale of just 42 minutes, shedding light on turbulent past of young planetary systems. The discovery demonstrates that low-mass free-floating planets can be detected and characterized using ground-based telescopes.
SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 29, 2020
For the first time, astronomers have surveyed over 250 million stars in the Milky Way's bulge, measuring their chemical composition and gaining new insights into the galaxy's formation. The data will help scientists understand how the Milky Way formed its central bulge and gain a better understanding of other galaxies.
SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 27, 2020
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered the first shell-like formations of stars in the Milky Way, created by a 2.7 billion-year-old broadside collision with a dwarf galaxy. The findings offer new insights into the ancient event and its potential implications for other stellar phenomena.
SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateOct 20, 2020
The Milky Way's circumgalactic medium (CGM) has a disk-like geometry, with denser areas where stars are forming and material is being traded between the galaxy and the CGM. The discovery provides insight into the galaxy's formation and evolution, as well as its interaction with the surrounding universe.
SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalNature Astronomy·DateOct 19, 2020
Researchers used a well-known optical illusion to isolate key clusters of neurons in zebrafish, finding only a dozen or so neurons required for motion perception. The study aims to understand how these neurons are wired within the neural circuit and their connections with visual input.
SourceResearch Organization of Information and Systems·JournalNeuron·DateOct 15, 2020
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Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.
Astronomers find galaxy Dragonfly 44 has normal amount of dark matter, contrary to earlier claims. The team discovered only 20 globular clusters, reducing the amount of dark matter, and confirming that the galaxy is not unique or anomalous.
SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 13, 2020
Astronomers used the VLBA to measure the distance to magnetar XTE J1810-197, one of the closest known at about 8100 light-years. This precise measurement can help determine if magnetars generate Fast Radio Bursts, a long-mysterious phenomenon.
SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 18, 2020
Astronomers have discovered a halo of warm gas surrounding the Magellanic Clouds, which explains the formation of the massive stream of gas in the Milky Way. The new model explains how the stream adopted its filamentous shape and why it lacks stars.
SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalNature·DateSep 9, 2020
Researchers have eliminated dark matter candidates as the origin of excess gamma rays detected in the Milky Way's galaxy center through extensive modeling exercises. The study puts strongest constraints yet on dark matter properties, ruling out weakly interacting massive particles up to very high-mass particles.
SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalPhysical Review D·DateAug 26, 2020