The exhibit features research images that capture the exquisite harmony of natural systems, including a field rabbit regulating its body temperature and a simulation of galaxy birth. The competition aimed to reframe the concept of intelligent design, focusing on the beauty of both nature and engineered designs.
Researchers suggest looking for artificial illumination on distant planets as they orbit their stars, which could provide a measurable signal. This technique relies on the assumption that intelligent life uses Earth-like technologies and could potentially spot alien cities using future generations of telescopes.
A team of astronomers has discovered three new planets and a mystery object orbiting giant, dying stars. The research provides insights into the evolution of planetary systems around these stars and how metal content influences their behavior.
The NASA Swift Observatory has released a free iPhone application that provides up-to-date information on gamma-ray burst discoveries, allowing users to track the location of Swift as it orbits Earth. The app also offers an interactive map, gallery of images, and real-time observations.
The Crab pulsar generates beams of radiation from its spinning magnetic field, detected as rapid pulses of gamma-ray radiation. Researchers have detected these pulses with unprecedented energies, exceeding 100 billion electron-volts, putting new constraints on the mechanism for how this emission is generated.
Astronomers detect a double sunset on the newly discovered Kepler-16b, a planet similar to Saturn in size and mass. The planet orbits two smaller, cooler stars and is estimated to be around -100°C due to its distance from its parent bodies.
Astronomers propose a new way to search for supernova precursors by studying the spin of white dwarfs. This process could lead to a time delay of up to a billion years before the explosion, allowing for detection by upcoming surveys.
Researchers at University of California, Santa Cruz and Institute for Theoretical Physics in Zurich simulate formation of massive spiral galaxy like Milky Way, resolving key features with high-resolution simulation. The result supports prevailing cold dark matter theory, which predicts galaxies form within dark matter halos.
TrES-2b's extremely dark surface is attributed to its high temperature and the presence of light-absorbing chemicals. The planet emits a faint red glow due to its heat, revealing it's not pitch black despite its low reflectivity.
Astronomers have created an atlas of galactic 'train wrecks' to understand the collision process and form, growth, and evolution of galaxies. The study combines data from Spitzer Space Telescope and Galaxy Evolution Explorer to analyze areas where stars are forming rapidly.
Researchers have found a method to measure a star's true age using its spin. Astronomer Soren Meibom presented his findings in a press conference, nearly doubling the age covered by previous studies of younger clusters. The technique involves measuring stellar rotation rates for stars in clusters with known ages.
Kepler's first four months of data reveal evidence for over 1,200 planetary candidates, with 408 residing in systems containing two or more planets. These multi-planet systems are characterized by flat orbits, tilted less than 1 degree, and lack Jupiter-sized gas giants.
A 22-year-old undergraduate student has made a groundbreaking discovery of the Universe's 'missing mass' by detecting filaments in X-ray data. This finding is significant as it proves the prediction that the mass should be low in density but high in temperature, providing valuable insights into large-scale cosmic structures.
The University of Chicago's Flash Center has released a new version of supercomputer code, FLASH 4-alpha, with enhanced capabilities for simulating high-energy density physics experiments. This will enable researchers at universities and national facilities to investigate fundamental properties of matter under extreme conditions.
A newly merged black hole can be detected by observing the tidal disruption of surrounding stars, which will provide accurate distances and precise sky coordinates. This could lead to a better understanding of dark energy and Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Astronomers have discovered a binary system consisting of two white dwarfs orbiting each other every 39 minutes. The stars are expected to collide and merge in 37 million years, resulting in the formation of a single star. This discovery marks the first time such an event has been observed.
Scientists at Queen's University have won a £2 million grant from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to study dark matter, dark energy, and the Sun. The funding will support international collaborations with top universities, including Harvard and Vanderbilt.
Computer simulations suggest that changes in plasma flow within the Sun, which resembles ocean currents, contribute to prolonged solar minima. The team discovered that a faster flow during the first half of the solar cycle can lead to an extended period without sunspots and weak polar magnetic fields.
A new study led by Ryan Foley has found a way to correct for small variations in the appearance of Type Ia supernovae, making them better standard candles. This discovery allows cosmologists to improve their data analysis and make more accurate measurements of dark energy.
Scientists have discovered that narrow jets of plasma, known as spicules, shoot up from the Sun's surface and insert heated plasma into its outer atmosphere. This finding addresses a fundamental question in astrophysics and provides an observational challenge to existing theories of coronal heating.
Scientists observed temperatures of millions of degrees in gas jets, known as spicules, which could contribute to coronal heating. The discovery offers a new framework for understanding the sun's high atmosphere and its role in space weather.
Researchers discover that jets of plasma shooting up from just above the Sun's surface are a major source of hot gas replenishing the corona. This finding addresses a fundamental question in astrophysics and provides new insight into the Sun's subtle influence on the Earth's upper atmosphere.
Astrophysicists can now obtain accurate answers to the mystery of accelerating universe expansion thanks to a calibrated Pan-STARRS telescope. The telescope's performance was fine-tuned at many individual wavelengths, allowing for consistent information about supernovae.
The IceCube observatory, located in the crystal clear ice of the South Pole, has been completed as a world-first large-scale neutrino telescope. The telescope will investigate the sources and properties of neutrinos, which originate in spectacular phenomena in the universe.
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is a cubic kilometer instrumented ice detector that records rare collisions of neutrinos with the atomic nuclei of water molecules in the Antarctic ice. The observatory provides an innovative means to investigate fundamental particles originating from cosmic phenomena.
Astronomers have discovered a new alien world, Qatar-1b, a hot Jupiter located 550 light-years from Earth. The planet orbits extremely close to its star, resulting in scorching temperatures and a unique rotational period.
Researchers discovered a carbon-rich atmosphere in WASP-12b, suggesting rocky exoplanets could be composed of pure carbon rocks like diamond or graphite. This finding introduces an entirely new class of exotic exoplanets to explore, with implications for the possibility of life on these planets.
Astronomers have discovered a fourth giant planet in the HR8799 system, which is approximately seven times the mass of Jupiter. The system, consisting of four giant planets and two asteroid belts, is young compared to our solar system and may be on the verge of falling apart due to gravitational interactions.
Astronomers have made new discoveries about exploding stars, including pauses, flickers, and flares that were not previously observed. Using sensitive data from a satellite, they studied four novae and found three stalls before reaching peak brightness, with all experiencing flickering or flaring during the outburst.
A new study predicts where neutron star mergers are likely to occur in the local galactic neighborhood, providing valuable information for researchers at gravitational-wave detectors. The predictions suggest that astronomers might not want to look in the nearest galaxies for optical counterparts of gravitational waves.
Astronomers at Yale University have discovered that small red dwarfs are much more prolific than previously believed, increasing the total number of stars in the universe. The discovery found 20 times more red dwarfs in elliptical galaxies than in the Milky Way, with potential implications for galaxy formation and evolution.
A CU-Boulder scientist is using data gathered by a world-class telescope flying aboard a modified Boeing 747 to observe a distant star-forming region. The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) allows scientists to study stellar targets in wavelengths that can't be observed by ground-based telescopes.
The team made the first measurements of GJ 1214b's atmosphere, revealing a featureless spectrum that could be caused by a thick cloud or haze. The data suggests that the atmosphere is either dense with hydrogen or composed of steam vaporized by the nearby star.
Elliptical galaxies are found to contain five to ten times as many red dwarfs as thought, with implications for galaxy formation and evolution. The discovery could lead to a reevaluation of dark matter in these galaxies.
The DFG will establish 11 new Collaborative Research Centres, receiving €94.4m for four-year projects on astrophysics, immune systems, and data analysis. New CRCs focus on efficient lift systems, self-organisation in physics & biology.
The National Science Foundation has signed a five-year, $34.5-million agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to operate the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica. The observatory records rare collisions of neutrinos with ice, providing insights into these elusive sub-atomic particles.
Astronomers Andrey Kravtsov and Nick Gnedin's simulations reveal why galaxies were less efficient at making stars in the early universe. The team's model explains the connection between dust, gas, and star formation, shedding light on the evolution of spiral galaxies.
Astronomers from Bonn and St. Andrews discover that the discrepancy between calculated and observed star numbers may be due to an overestimation of stellar crowding, a phenomenon where young stars are born in groups, leading to more massive stars being overlooked.
Researchers have found a dozen double-star systems consisting of two white dwarfs, with half expected to merge and explode as supernovae. The merged stars will stir space-time, creating gravitational waves and causing them to spiral closer together.
The telescope discovered two gamma-ray-emitting bubbles that span 50,000 light-years north and south of the galactic center
Astronomers have discovered a neutron star with twice the mass of our Sun, ruling out certain theoretical models for its internal composition. The discovery has significant implications for astrophysics, nuclear physics, and our understanding of matter at extreme densities.
A new five-year program at Penn State seeks to enhance the teaching of Earth and space sciences in middle grades and beyond. Researchers will investigate young people's understanding of fundamental scientific concepts and develop professional development approaches for teachers. The goal is to increase student conceptual understanding ...
Astronomers using space telescopes have discovered a previously unknown brilliant X-ray explosion in the Milky Way galaxy, named MAXI J1409-619. The object, a binary system, was revealed to be emitting massive blasts of X-rays after being detected by an instrument on the International Space Station.
New York University has received a $1.6 million National Science Foundation grant to upgrade its Structural DNA Nanotechnology facility, enhancing its experimental capacity and creating a state-of-the-art laboratory setting. The facility will also bolster NYU's competitive edge in the field of structural DNA nanotechnology.
New work by astrophysicist David Kipping reveals that astronomers can calculate a star's mass using its orbiting planet and moon. By measuring the size of the planet and moon relative to the star and their orbital periods, scientists can use Kepler's Laws of Motion to determine the density of the star.
Scientists have found the largest known galaxy cluster at a staggering 7 billion light-years away, holding hundreds of galaxies. This discovery provides crucial insights into dark energy's influence on cosmic structure growth.
Distant galaxies in the early Universe are creating 1,000 new stars per year, exceeding our galaxy's star formation rate. These galaxies contain enormous amounts of raw material for new stars, suggesting a higher gas content than previously thought.
A new study reveals that asteroid 65 Cybele contains water ice, challenging the earlier finding of organic molecules and water on asteroid 24 Themis. This discovery supports the theory that asteroids may have delivered water to Earth, potentially shaping our planet's formation.
Researchers found binary systems in the Kuiper Belt would be destroyed by Neptune's interaction, contradicting previous assumptions. The study suggests the region formed near its present location and remained undisturbed over the age of the solar system.
Three NASA Goddard Space Flight Center employees, Matt Greenhouse, Randy Kimble, and Alexander Moiseev, received the 2010 Robert H. Goddard Award for Science for their outstanding work in sciences at NASA Goddard. The award recognizes their exceptional achievements in developing instrumentation and analysis methods for premier astronom...
A team of astronomers has discovered an Earth-sized planet orbiting a nearby star in the middle of its habitable zone, where liquid water could exist. The newly found planet, Gliese 581g, is tidally locked and has stable surface climates, offering a wide range of temperatures for potential life forms.
A new computer simulation by Gurtina Besla and her colleagues shows that the Magellanic Stream resulted from a past close encounter between the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, rather than the Milky Way's gravity. The study challenges traditional models of galaxy formation.
Scientists have discovered an Earth-sized exoplanet in the habitable zone of a nearby star, making it potentially habitable. The newly discovered planet, Gliese 581g, is about three to four times the mass of Earth and has a stable surface climate.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed 3D computer simulations of supernovae explosions, providing new insights into the universe. The simulations match massive blow-outs observed by astronomers and may lead to a better understanding of the physics involved.
Nautilus provides cutting-edge capabilities for analyzing large datasets in various fields, including life sciences and astrophysics. The system is designed to process vast amounts of data using its shared-memory architecture with four terabytes of memory.
The Center for Astrophysics (CfA) will play a major role in NASA's Solar Probe Plus mission by deploying the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) Investigation. SWEAP will directly sample the Sun's outer atmosphere, providing unprecedented insights into the Sun's effects on the solar system.
Roger Angel will receive the Kavli Prize for his pioneering work on telescope design, which has allowed astronomers to observe distant and ancient objects. His innovative approach has resulted in lightweight and rigid mirrors that can be used in larger telescopes, enabling more compact and cost-effective designs.
Astronomers measure velocity and composition of 'star guts' from nearby supernova Supernova 1987A using Hubble Space Telescope observations. The study reveals the deposition of energy and heavy elements into the host galaxy, including elements necessary for life on Earth.
Researchers have found potassium in the atmosphere of a giant planet, HD 80606 b, using narrow-band transit spectrophotometry. The discovery supports previous computer models and demonstrates the value of this observational technique for characterizing planets that might support life.
The discovery of two planets, Kepler 9b and 9c, confirms the first planetary system with more than one planet transiting the same star. The planets, both Saturn-sized gas giants, exhibit orbital resonance and gravitational interaction.