An international team of researchers has identified a previously unseen component of gamma-ray bursts, emitting trillions of times more energetic photons than visible light. The discovery supports the possibility that inverse Compton emission is commonly produced in gamma-ray bursts.
Southwest Research Institute successfully demonstrated a miniature solar observatory on a high-altitude balloon, collecting 75 minutes of solar images. The SwRI Solar Instrument Pointing Platform provides optical precision equivalent to imaging a dime from a mile away, supporting the development of custom solar instruments.
Researchers developed nanoparticles that attach to microcracks, allowing for clear imaging using X-ray-based technique with hafnium particles. This breakthrough could enable doctors to detect serious problems like heart blockages more accurately.
William Zhang won the Goddard Technology Award for developing ultra-lightweight and sensitive X-ray mirrors using mono-crystalline silicon. This innovation could represent a paradigm shift in X-ray astronomy, enabling more efficient and detailed observations of celestial targets.
The sunshield has passed a test critical to preparing the observatory for launch, with technicians deploying and tensioning each of its five layers. The deployment simulates the conditions it will face in space, with temperatures ranging from -394°F to 230°F.
Researchers have successfully used a massive galaxy cluster as an X-ray magnifying glass to detect a tiny dwarf galaxy in its first, high-energy stages of star formation. The technique allows for the zooming in on extreme, distant X-ray-emitting phenomena and could be used to age-date different parts of a galaxy.
Researchers observed how football molecules made of carbon atoms burst in X-ray laser beam. The study reveals the temporal course of bursting process and contributes to a more detailed protein analysis with X-ray free-electron lasers.
The Gemini Observatory has captured the first-ever image of an interstellar comet, C/2019 Q4 (Borisov), in multiple colors. The object exhibits a pronounced tail indicative of outgassing, a characteristic that defines cometary objects.
Astronomers can now automatically follow up on variable astronomical objects with a range of 0.4-meter to 8-meter telescopes, observing in UV light to infrared. The network uses automated software and generates dynamic observing schedules every 15 minutes.
The new optics made of silicon material meet stringent imaging requirements, offering a two orders-of-magnitude leap in sensitivity over previous telescopes. The technology will be tested on a sounding rocket mission in 2021 and could benefit future missions if Lynx is not chosen.
Serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography (SFX) allows researchers to analyze the tertiary structure of proteins previously inaccessible. This method uses powerful X-ray free-electron lasers to generate diffraction patterns before destroying the sample, enabling faster and cheaper drug design.
Scientists at the University of Tokyo have discovered a connection between lightning strikes and gamma-ray phenomena in thunderclouds. Weak gamma-ray glows may precede lightning bolts, offering new insights into the mechanism underlying lightning discharge. The research aims to improve predictive models for lightning strikes, potential...
An international team of astronomers has captured the first-ever polarized radio waves from a distant cosmic explosion, known as gamma-ray burst GRB 190114C. The discovery provides new insights into how jets are formed in gamma-ray bursts and could shed light on the role of magnetic fields in powering these energetic events.
Scientists have detected the first polarized radio waves from a gamma ray burst jet, revealing that magnetic fields are more patchy and tangled than previously thought. The discovery was made possible by advanced radio telescopes and allows researchers to test theories about the structure of magnetic fields within jets.
The IAC and ESA have signed an agreement to expand the programmes of optical communication with space missions and studies of space debris at the Teide Observatory in Tenerife. The new agreement will enable the installation of additional optical systems on the existing telescope, enhancing the observatory's capabilities.
Astronomers have observed a unique X-ray signal from a binary neutron star merger 6.6 billion light years away, which is highly likely powered by a magnetar. This discovery provides new insights into the physics of neutron stars and challenges existing theories on the ending of a binary neutron star merger system.
A team of international astronomers, including UNLV's Bing Zhang, has discovered a new way to spot neutron star mergers using a bright X-ray burst detected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The observation validated predictions made in 2013 and provided a rare glimpse into how neutron stars are formed.
Using simulations, researchers found that photons in long gamma-ray bursts originate from the photosphere of relativistic jets emitted by exploding stars. This discovery provides a promising explanation for the emission mechanism and could help unlock insights into dark matter and dark energy.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory create a new technique called ultrafast surface X-ray scattering to study the motion of atoms in single atomic crystals. The method reveals counterintuitive effects on atomic behavior, shedding light on the properties of two-dimensional materials.
Researchers used X-ray spectroscopy to investigate liquid water's properties and found a continuous distribution model that describes near-tetrahedral liquid water at ambient conditions. This contradicts the existence of two separate phases in liquid water, supported by previous X-ray spectroscopic methods.
Researchers led by Penn State astronomer Pragati Pradhan found that stellar winds, composed of protons, electrons, and metal atoms, contain dense clumps. The Chandra data revealed a 'Compton shoulder' indicating back scattering by surrounding matter, providing new insights into star environments.
Researchers measured temperatures of slow-moving gas atoms surrounding a star after an exploding star's shock wave, answering a long-standing question about their physical processes. The results confirm the relationship between atomic weight and temperature, settling an important issue in astrophysics.
A bright source of femtosecond soft X-ray pulses has been created using extreme high-order harmonic generation process. This enables the simultaneous local probing at both carbon and nitrogen sites within molecules, facilitating multiple-site investigation with potential correlations between these sites upon molecular rearrangements.
A recent study published in Journal of Radiological Protection found that severely obese patients require higher doses of radiation during X-rays to create images, increasing their cancer risk. The research, conducted on over 600 patients, showed a 153% increased risk of cancer compared to normal-weight individuals.
Comet 46P/Wirtanen's unique orbit allowed astronomers to study its nucleus, coma, and chemical makeup. The telescope observations shed light on the origins and history of Earth's oceans.
A Japanese team has developed a new technique for manufacturing ultraprecise multilayer focusing mirrors that can achieve X-ray beam sizes of less than ten nanometers. This breakthrough enables high-performance X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) with improved quality and intensity.
Researchers from RIKEN and JAXA use ALMA radio observatory to measure magnetic field strengths near two supermassive black holes. The findings reveal that the magnetic fields are insufficient to heat coronae to one billion degrees Celsius, contradicting previous assumptions.
Astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory have discovered a relic cloud of gas from the Big Bang, providing new information about how the first galaxies formed and offering clues to the universe's early structure.
Researchers from the University of Sydney develop a new X-ray method called X-ray rheography, which allows scientists to see flowing grains within opaque materials. The technique uses Sudoku-style puzzle-solving to gather information and has helped uncover unique patterns and waves in granular flows.
A new study has discovered a promising approach to significantly lower doses of X-rays in 3D medical imaging, making it cheaper and safer. The technique, known as ghost imaging, uses a sensor instead of an X-ray camera to create 3D images.
Researchers from NUS developed novel lead halide perovskite nanocrystals for high-sensitivity X-ray detection, reducing diagnostic radiation dose by 400 times. These nanocrystals also enable lower-cost and faster imaging technology with improved resolution.
Researchers have identified a direct relative of the historic neutron star merger that produced the first simultaneous detection of light and gravitational waves. The newly described object, named GRB150101B, shares remarkable similarities with GW170817 and suggests that these events may be from the same family of objects.
Astronomers have discovered the afterglow of a powerful gamma ray burst that produced no detectable gamma rays, offering clues to understanding these highly energetic events. The 'orphan' GRB was found in data from the VLA Sky Survey and is believed to be the result of an explosion that occurred over 280 million light-years away.
Astronomers have found a new type of gamma-ray burst that could not be detected by traditional telescopes. The discovery was made using archived radio data and suggests that these 'orphan' bursts may be related to the collapse of massive stars.
The W. M. Keck Observatory has received a NSF grant to develop the Keck All-Sky Precision Adaptive Optics (KAPA) system, which will deliver sharper images of the universe over nearly 100% of the night sky. KAPA aims to investigate modern astronomy's greatest mysteries, including dark matter and cosmology.
Scientists have detected gamma rays coming from the outermost regions of SS 433, a black hole system in our galaxy. The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma-Ray Observatory (HAWC) has observed these high-energy signals, which suggest electron acceleration and collisions at the ends of microquasar jets produced them.
Researchers have found a new source of high-energy photons in the cosmos: a microquasar located in our galaxy. The gamma rays emitted by this system are among the most energetic ever observed and were detected using the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma-Ray Observatory.
The HAWC observatory has identified spectacular details of the processes responsible for high-energy radiation in microquasar SS 433. This is a rare opportunity to observe the object in detail, as its jets are directed almost perpendicular to our line of sight.
The new Windows on the Universe Center for Astronomy Outreach will provide a unique public experience with data visualization systems, interactive exhibits, and simulated telescope control rooms. The center highlights research carried out at NSF facilities worldwide.
The observatory will collaborate with the Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to study the impact of pollution on children's health, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and brain function in children. The Observatory aims to mobilize society to see pollution as a serious threat...
A team of Japanese scientists has demonstrated a method to produce novel light beams from synchrotron radiation, enabling the generation of X-ray vector beams. This breakthrough could pave the way for new applications in X-ray diffraction, scattering, and absorption/emission spectroscopy.
University of Houston researcher Chandra Mohan receives $2 million grant to examine the connection between lupus and female sex hormones, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment of the autoimmune disease.
A single gene, insulin-like peptide 2 (ilp2), regulates eusociality in ants by influencing reproductive cycles and division of labor. High expression of ilp2 in reproductive ants suggests a key role in the development of complex societies.
Researchers at University of Surrey develop ground-breaking flexible X-ray detector, overcoming rigid detector limitations. The new technology achieves high sensitivity levels while operating at low voltages, enabling real-time imaging and border security monitoring.
The Republic of Korea has become a full Participant in the International Gemini Observatory, allowing Korean astronomers to access the twin 8-meter telescopes. This partnership is expected to yield new scientific discoveries and collaborations with other international partners.
HaloSat mission aims to search for the universe's missing matter by studying X-rays from hot gas surrounding the Milky Way galaxy. The satellite will help determine if the diffuse galactic halo is shaped more like a fried egg or a sphere, which will impact our understanding of the universe's mass and composition.
The Calorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) successfully measured the cosmic-ray electron spectrum in an energy range from 11 GeV to 4.8 TeV, significantly improving statistical power and reducing systematic uncertainties. The findings will aid in understanding high-energy cosmic rays and dark matter.
Researchers discovered a blazar, a giant elliptical galaxy with a massive black hole, is the source of high-energy cosmic neutrinos detected by IceCube Observatory. The discovery resolves a century-old mystery about what creates and propels cosmic rays.
The VERITAS array confirmed detection of gamma rays from a supermassive black hole, potentially the first astrophysical source of high-energy cosmic neutrinos. This discovery may shed light on the acceleration mechanisms that create cosmic rays.
Researchers capture strong evidence for intermediate-mass black holes using satellite imaging and multiwavelength radiation flares. The discovery provides insight into the nature of these elusive objects and their potential prevalence in galaxy peripheries.
Researchers confirmed that last fall's union of two neutron stars caused a short gamma-ray burst, revealing a key relationship between binary neutron star mergers, gravitational waves and GRBs. Short gamma-ray bursts are the universe's most powerful electromagnetic events.
A team of researchers using the Herschel Space Observatory, APEX antenna, and ALMA interferometer discovered a cluster of galaxies in deep space when the universe was only 1,500 million years old. This finding challenges current theories on galaxy formation and evolution.
Researchers at PPPL will develop innovative X-ray diagnostics to measure plasma temperature and density, as well as tungsten content. The new instruments will provide vital information for future fusion devices.
Researchers used a powerful X-ray laser to analyze amyloid proteins, which are linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The new method allows for detailed structural analysis of individual amyloid fibrils, enabling scientists to better understand their role in disease development.
Astronomers have discovered an isolated neutron star with low magnetic field located beyond our Milky Way galaxy using the MUSE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope in Chile. The neutron star is surrounded by a ring of gas that includes neon and oxygen.
Engineers are conducting final testing at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems to ensure the observatory is ready for space. The science payload has already undergone rigorous testing, and the integrated spacecraft and sunshield will soon undergo their own launch environment tests.
Researchers have identified a fourth ULX as a neutron star, shedding new light on how these objects can shine so brightly. The study found unusual dip in the ULX's light spectrum attributed to cyclotron resonance scattering, revealing strong magnetic fields around the neutron star.
A UCF-led consortium will take over management of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, with plans to expand its capabilities and provide new research opportunities. The partnership aims to create a pipeline for students studying space sciences and enhance public outreach through formal education.
Researchers detected objects in extragalactic galaxies with masses ranging from the Moon to Jupiter using microlensing. The discovery marks the first time planets have been found outside the Milky Way galaxy.
A team of researchers, led by Dr Gianluca Sarri from Queen's University Belfast, has created the first small-scale replica of a gamma ray burst in a laboratory. The experiment used the Gemini laser to produce a mini gamma ray burst, confirming current models' predictions for magnetic field generation and gamma-ray emission.