Researchers from multiple institutions developed the largest-ever hydrological simulation of galaxy formation, expanding on their 2015 'Illustris' simulation. The new model includes a more precise accounting for magnetic fields and improves understanding of black hole physics, shedding light on star formation limits.
A new study using the LAser RElativity Satellite (LARES) demonstrates high-precision probing of General Relativity and fundamental physics. The research reveals frame-dragging effects on space-time, with implications for astrophysics.
Keivan Stassun, a renowned astrophysicist, has been awarded the 2018 AAAS Mentor Award for his dedication to mentoring underrepresented minority students. The award recognizes his innovative mentoring models that have led to the growth of numerous Ph.D. graduates in physics and astronomy.
Researchers predict characteristic light signals from supermassive black holes before merger using multimessenger astrophysics. The study simulates binary black hole collisions and provides insights into electromagnetic signals accompanying gravitational waves.
Astrophysicists at UChicago used laser experiments to verify the turbulent dynamo theory, explaining the generation of cosmic magnetic fields. The study confirmed that turbulent plasma can amplify a weak magnetic field to strengths observed in stars and galaxies.
A new universe simulation model, IllustrisTNG, provides fresh insights into how black holes influence dark matter distribution, heavy element production, and magnetic field origins. The simulation reveals a high degree of realism in predicting galaxy clustering patterns and the influence of supermassive black holes on the cosmos.
The IllustrisTNG project simulates the universe's large-scale structure, gaining insights into how supermassive black holes shape galaxies. The simulations predict a key transformation in galaxy life cycles, with black holes extinguishing star formation.
The observation of two neutron stars merging generated tiny ripples in spacetime called gravitational waves, detected by LIGO detectors on Earth. This event also triggered an explosion studied by hundreds of astronomers worldwide, marking a major breakthrough in astrophysics and offering new tools for observing the universe.
Scientists from NASA and universities are investigating exoplanets to determine their habitability, focusing on astrophysics, Earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science. Researchers use tools like DSCOVR's high-resolution images to simulate habitable planets and study the interaction between stars and planets.
Researchers have discovered two colossal galaxies from the early universe, each containing around 273 billion suns' worth of gas and dust. The combined mass of these galaxies is nearly as large as physically possible at that time, suggesting a vast amount of dark matter surrounding them.
The Max-Planck-Princeton Center has made significant progress in fusion research, investigating plasmas in astrophysics and advancing understanding of magnetic reconnection. New computer codes and experimentation have improved simulations, resolving long-standing questions about solar wind heating and magnetic field behavior.
Astronomers predict that gravitational waves generated by the merger of two supermassive black holes will be detected within 10 years using pulsar timing array data. The study estimates a 100% chance of detecting something in 10 years, with bigger galaxies offering longer detection windows.
A team of scientists and amateur astronomers have detected six exocomets, the smallest objects yet found outside our solar system, using transit photometry. The detection marks the first time an object as small as a comet has been identified using this technique.
A proposed NASA mission employs lobster-eye optics to locate the source of gravitational waves, a key feature in understanding cosmic ripples. The Transient Astrophysics Observatory on the International Space Station aims to characterize and alert other observatories to these events.
Researchers witnessed electromagnetic signals associated with the gravitational wave emission from a neutron star merger, complementing observations from multiple telescopes. This breakthrough marks the beginning of Multi-Messenger astrophysics, allowing scientists to study single events using various techniques.
Three GW astrophysicists contribute to global effort identifying kilonova explosion, a rare event roughly 1,000 times brighter than a nova. The discovery confirms predictions of gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation from neutron-star mergers, providing insights into the formation and expansion of our universe.
Third-year physics graduate students Kaitlin Rasmussen and Devin Whitten witnessed the historic event using the 2.5-meter Irénée du Pont Telescope in Chile. The observation provided valuable insights into the rapid-neutron capture process, a key mechanism for forming heavy metals like gold, platinum, and uranium.
The detection of light from a neutron star merger reveals the formation of heavy elements like gold and platinum. The observations support theoretical predictions and provide new insights into astrophysics.
Astronomers have made the first-ever observations of a merging neutron star, detecting both gravitational waves and a brilliant explosion of visible light. The discovery has opened a new window into understanding neutron star physics and could resolve a long-standing question about the origins of heavy elements.
The Dunlap Institute has received $23 million in funding to develop innovative astronomical technology, including a radio astronomy data centre and an infrared spectrograph. These projects will position Canada at the forefront of next-generation astronomy research.
The Columbia team will use machine learning and advanced techniques to filter out extraneous data and aid in the detection of gravitational waves. With a $1 million NSF grant, they aim to contribute to LIGO's historic breakthroughs and advance understanding of the cosmos.
The Cherenkov Telescope Array's (CTA) updated science case outlines the observatory's major science themes and potential discoveries in astrophysics and fundamental physics. CTA will explore extreme environments, probe cosmic voids, and search for dark matter, with the potential for unexpected breakthroughs.
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet, GJ 436b, with a huge gas cloud resembling a comet's tail, caused by intense stellar irradiation. The planet's atmosphere loses hydrogen due to the star's radiation, forming a massive cloud that absorbs UV radiation.
Researchers have gained a better understanding of the structure of hot jets and accretion disks surrounding black holes at the center of galaxies. They compared data from radio interferometry and Gaia space observatory, discovering discrepancies in object positions that revealed bright jets emitting visible light in many quasars.
Researchers from SLAC and Stanford used neural networks to analyze images of strong gravitational lensing, performing complex analyses in a fraction of a second. The technique has the potential to transform astrophysics by analyzing vast amounts of data quickly and automatically.
Researchers have developed a new algorithm to enhance observations from the Kepler Space Telescope and perform detailed studies of stellar variability. The technique, called halo photometry, reveals pulsations in B-type stars with day-long periods, offering insights into poorly understood processes in their cores.
Astronomers observe magnetic field of a galaxy 5 billion light-years away, finding a similar strength and configuration to the Milky Way's. This suggests galactic magnetic fields form early in a galaxy's life and remain relatively stable.
Researchers successfully performed thermonuclear measurements of nuclear reaction cross-sections in extreme plasma conditions, replicating previous accelerator experiments. This achievement lays groundwork for studying phenomena in stellar interiors, such as plasma electron screening.
A team of astronomers has discovered a superluminous supernova in a spiral galaxy, which is rich in elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. This discovery challenges current ideas about the origin of such powerful explosions.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that up to half of the Milky Way's matter may have originated from distant galaxies through intergalactic transfer. This phenomenon, identified in simulations, shows that gas flows from smaller galaxies to larger ones, such as the Milky Way, forming stars.
Researchers from an international collaboration have analyzed data from the Venus Express spacecraft to investigate Venus's complex atmosphere. They found that stationary gravity waves at higher altitudes are related to surface elevations, suggesting wind currents caused by topographical obstacles contribute to the planet's superrotation.
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) boasts the largest number of federally funded summer research programs for undergraduate students in New York. The institution's College of Science has launched several innovative research experiences, including a new program in multimessenger astrophysics that combines gravitational wave detecti...
Researchers used Pan-STARRS telescope data to search for stars crashing into hard surfaces around supermassive black holes. No such transients were detected, supporting the existence of event horizons. The team plans to improve the test with a larger telescope.
The European Research Council awards €2.4M to Thomas Sunn Pedersen for creating the world's first matter-antimatter plasma. The plasma is expected to exhibit extraordinary properties and may reveal new discoveries in astrophysics.
Researchers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory detected a brief, intense X-ray flare from a small galaxy 10.7 billion light years away. The source is thought to be either a gamma-ray burst not directed towards Earth or the destruction of a white dwarf star, but its exact nature remains unknown.
New research suggests that fast radio bursts might be evidence of advanced alien technology, powering interstellar probes in distant galaxies. A study found that a planet-sized transmitter could generate the needed energy to make such detection possible.
The discovery of over 60 extremely distant quasars nearly doubles the known number, offering a unique window into the early universe. Studying these 'lighthouses' of the cosmos will help understand how galaxies developed and interacted with supermassive black holes.
Scientists suggest a global network of cell phones or small radio receivers could 'hear' nearby Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). A free smartphone app could monitor appropriate frequencies, sending data to a central facility.
Astronomers have found strong evidence for an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) weighing 2,200 solar masses at the center of the globular star cluster 47 Tucanae. The IMBH is believed to be the missing link between stellar-mass and supermassive black holes, potentially providing insight into the formation of galaxies.
A new project from Liverpool John Moores University is using drones equipped with thermal cameras to help identify endangered species, such as rhinos and orang-utans. The technique involves analyzing thermal heat profiles to create a unique 'fingerprint' for each animal, allowing for more efficient conservation efforts.
Gabriela González, a professor at LSU and LIGO scientist, receives the 2017 Rossi Prize for her groundbreaking work on gravitational waves. Her discoveries have opened a new era in gravitational-wave astronomy.
New research reveals that the Milky Way's black hole can create hundreds of planet-mass objects, which are then flung throughout the galaxy. These objects, known as 'spitballs,' could be detected by future telescopes and may pose a challenge to distinguish from free-floating planets.
Researchers have discovered a star that ingested some of its planets, revealing a violent history for the planetary system. The star's composition suggests it devoured four planets, preserving lithium and other elements in its atmosphere.
Dome A's extreme dryness allows for terahertz observations, previously hindered by Earth's atmosphere. Researchers can now gain new insights into star and galaxy formation.
The GREGOR solar telescope has demonstrated its potential with high precision measurements of magnetic fields and material motion. High spatial resolution imaging data have also provided unprecedented details of the Sun's photosphere, revealing features smaller than 100 km in sunspot light bridges.
Scientists from Aarhus University used a state-of-the-art detector to measure the precise disintegration of carbon into three helium nuclei. Their findings reveal a sequence of fragmentations, relevant to developing aneutronic fusion reactions and improving our understanding of astrophysics phenomena.
Proxima Centauri, a small red dwarf star, has a regular cycle of starspots similar to our Sun. The study suggests that this cycle may impact the potential habitability of its planet, Proxima b.
Four Penn State researchers have been awarded a total of $450,000 by the Charles E. Kaufman Foundation to study RNA and its processes, as well as real-time gravitational wave detection. The research aims to advance methods for determining RNA structure in living cells and improve prospects for multi-messenger astrophysics.
Astrophysicists propose that inspiraling white dwarfs could produce a type of explosion that matches Type Ia supernovae. The model suggests that resonance in the binary orbit of the stars causes rapid jumps in energy that can lead to detonation.
A team of researchers found that crowdsourcing can be used to quickly evaluate test questions, identifying high-quality ones that are also effective for students. This approach can help schools, professors, and textbook publishers develop better tests without the need for expensive pilot testing.
The winners of the 2016 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics reveal their 40-year journey to detect gravitational waves. They share their insights on the challenges and breakthroughs in eavesdropping on space-time ripples, which have captured the world's imagination.
According to new theoretical work, life on Earth is actually premature from a cosmic perspective. The chances of life growing much higher in the distant future due to star lifetimes were found to be 1000 times higher than now. Scientists recommend studying nearby red dwarf stars and their planets for signs of habitability.
Rochester Institute of Technology professors Carlos Lousto and Manuela Campanelli have won separate grants worth $600,000 and $435,000 to advance gravitational wave astronomy. The funding will support research on black hole mergers and develop software tools for computational astrophysics.
Astronomers may discover these 'diamond worlds' around rare carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars, which formed in the early universe. Carbon-based life is thought to be universal, supporting the possibility of life on these unusual planets.
Researchers found that hot dust in the distant universe is often caused by three or four galaxies instead of a single one. This study applied statistical methods to data from the Herschel Space Observatory and dropped the number of stars these galaxies have to be producing by a third.
New research by astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics examines scenarios for Planet Nine's formation and finds most have low probabilities. The simplest solution suggests the solar system created an extra gas giant, boosting Planet Nine into its wider orbit over time.
Researchers develop a new approach to coupling Rydberg atoms to surfaces, reducing electric fields and enabling hybrid quantum systems. The findings show promise for the second quantum revolution in engineering quantum matter with arbitrary precision.
A Penn State-led research group has been selected by NASA to build a new instrument to detect planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. The NEID instrument will use the tiny gravitational tug of planets on their stars to discover and measure the orbits of rocky planets with liquid water.
A new study of the young, Sun-like star Kappa Ceti found that a magnetic field played a key role in making a planet conducive to life. The presence of such a field helped shield the atmosphere from intense stellar winds and superflares.
Researchers suggest that twin black holes detected by LIGO might have formed inside a single, massive star. The star's death generated a gamma-ray burst, which was observed by the Fermi Space Telescope.