Scientists have developed a way to generate super-high pressures without using shock waves, allowing them to study materials at conditions corresponding to the core of gas giant planets. This breakthrough could lead to new revelations about how the Earth evolved and how iron functions at extremes.
Kostas Skenderis, a University of Southampton professor, has been awarded a $175,000 grant to investigate the laws of physics at the beginning of time and space. He aims to combine Einstein's theory with quantum physics to develop a new holographic theory for the early universe.
New data from WiggleZ galaxy survey finds matter distributed evenly on scales over 350 million light years, contradicting fractal theories. The study's findings support the standard model of cosmology, confirming our understanding of space and time.
Researchers explore dark energy's impact on the Universe's fate, citing a 'big rip' scenario as a possibility with predicted timelines for object destruction. The study uses the Ma-Zhang parameterization to forecast the evolution of the Universe.
The Particle Data Group's 2012 edition is a comprehensive review of high-energy physics, covering results from the Large Hadron Collider and new data on neutrino oscillation. The online version includes an interactive web application for browsing the database and print-quality displays of mathematical expressions.
Researchers discovered a commonality among superconductors, Bose-Einstein condensates, magnets, crystals, neutron stars, and cosmic strings. The Nambu-Goldstone boson theory applies to all these phenomena, predicting or designing unusual behavior in new materials.
A recent study proposes that up to 100,000 nomad planets might exist in the Milky Way Galaxy for every star, with an estimated quadrillion number of total nomads. If confirmed, this could mean nomad planets play a significant role in the universe.
Astronomers have discovered a group of over 675 hypervelocity stars on the outskirts of the Milky Way, which are believed to have been ejected from the galactic core. These stars, found in intergalactic space between the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy, exhibit high metallicity indicating an inner galactic origin.
A team of researchers has demonstrated an optical frequency transfer with high stability through a standard telecommunication optical fiber network. This achievement enables the ability to compare optical clocks located far apart and transmit their stability to distant laboratories, benefiting fundamental research in physics and industry.
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) has made precision measurements of the large-scale structure of the universe five to seven billion years ago. By using a technique called baryon acoustic oscillation, BOSS can determine the distances to faraway galaxies with unprecedented accuracy.
Researchers at Brookhaven Lab used cryo-electron microscopy to visualize how protein machines bind to DNA strands, setting up for duplication. This study may lead to new ways to attack cancers by targeting the basic process of cell division.
Astronomers have detected a cosmic effect that could provide insight into the forces behind the universe's formation, including dark energy and dark matter. The kSZ effect was seen in the movement of distant galaxy clusters, with velocities measured up to 600 kilometers per second.
Researchers at the University of Chicago experimentally demonstrate quantum criticality in ultracold atoms, a phenomenon that may connect the atomic realm to deep questions of cosmology. This breakthrough could lead to simulations of the early universe by studying systems in states of quantum criticality.
Researchers used Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes to map dark matter in galaxy cluster Abell 383. The study found a stretched-out, football-like shape of dark matter, with the point aligned close to the line of sight. The results challenge standard models and suggest further research is needed to resolve the discrepancy.
A University of Oklahoma graduate student has been awarded a national physics award for his groundbreaking research on dark matter. His thesis explores the mixture of two particles, axion and lightest supersymmetric (LSP) theory, providing a more intricate picture of dark matter.
Scientists studying micron-size particles trapped at fluid interfaces found a collective dynamic governed by seemingly unrelated laws. The study uses numerical simulations to model long-range gravitational attraction, which transitions to short-range attractive and repulsive forces at certain length scales.
A team of astronomers has discovered the largest galaxy cluster ever seen in the distant Universe, nicknamed El Gordo. The cluster consists of two separate subclusters colliding at high speeds and is so far away that its light has travelled for seven billion years to reach Earth.
Researchers used Hubble Space Telescope data to rule out some proposed progenitor systems for Type Ia supernovae. The study suggests that the companion star was likely a normal star like our sun, a subgiant, or possibly a white dwarf.
Astronomers have observed the closest Type Ia supernova in decades, providing direct evidence for what a carbon-oxygen white dwarf looks like before it explodes. The study reveals that the supernova's progenitor was likely a binary system with a small white-dwarf star orbiting a companion.
Scientists use NASA's Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope to detect high-energy gamma rays from the remnant of Tycho's supernova. This detection supports the notion that supernova remnants can accelerate cosmic rays, providing clues to their origins.
Researchers recreated universe's first billion years using largest cosmological simulation to date. Thin streams of cold gas flowed into early black holes, causing rapid growth and challenging astrophysical theory.
Researchers studying a binary star system in the Whirlpool Galaxy have detected a star dimming noticeably before its companion exploded in a supernova. The study provides evidence that certain patterns of brightening and dimming may signal an impending doom for stars, making it possible to predict when a star is near death.
Researchers confirm detection of antimatter positron excess with assistance from Earth's magnetic field, casting doubt on dark matter explanation. The Fermi Gamma-ray Telescope's unique approach utilizes the Earth's magnetic field to separate charged particles, providing valuable insight into the universe.
For the first time, astronomers have produced a complete description of a black hole using precise measurements. The new information reveals that the black hole is nearly 15 times more massive than our Sun and spinning over 800 times per second.
Researchers analyzed neutron decay patterns, placing constraints on theories explaining the universe's matter-antimatter imbalance. While no clear answer emerged, improved detector sensitivity limited possible explanations, offering a fresh perspective for future investigations.
Saul Perlmutter, along with Brian Schmidt and Adam Riess, discovered the accelerating expansion of the universe through distant supernovae observations. This discovery implies the existence of dark energy, a mysterious force opposing gravity and increasing galaxy distances.
Saul Perlmutter, a physicist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, won the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics with colleagues Brian Schmidt and Adam Riess. Their groundbreaking work discovered the accelerating expansion of the universe through observations of distant supernovae.
Astrophysicists have measured how light is affected by gravity on its way out of galaxy clusters, confirming the general theory of relativity. The observations show that the gravitational redshift of light is proportionally offset in relation to the galaxy cluster's gravity.
Researchers at Princeton University and NYU have developed a method to detect the collision of stars with primordial black holes, which are believed to be a source of dark matter. The new technique uses existing solar observation methods to identify subtle vibrations in a star's surface caused by a passing black hole.
A supercomputer simulation by University of Pittsburgh researcher Christopher W. Purcell suggests that the Milky Way's spiral arms were triggered by a collision with the Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy. The impact stripped off 80-90% of the dark matter halo, producing instabilities that eventually formed the spiral arms and ring structures.
Researchers leverage supercomputers to investigate dark energy, a mysterious force driving the universe's expansion. They develop new models that allow for more accurate analysis of subtle dark matter clustering features, such as Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO), crucial for constraining cosmological parameters.
Researchers found a nearly 20-year-old observation of the faint galaxy ESO 546-G34, which offers insights into the earliest galaxies in the universe. The discovery suggests that small low surface brightness galaxies may have more in common with the first galaxies formed after the Big Bang.
The Gang of Four, including Davis, Efstathiou, Frenk and White, receives the prize for their pioneering use of numerical simulations to model the Universe's large-scale distribution. Their work, which began with a survey of 2400 galaxies in 1981, showed that observations were consistent with a simulated Universe based on cold dark matter.
Stenger examines the concept of fine-tuning in physics and cosmology, arguing that many claims by theists are based on misunderstanding science. He finds evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that God does not exist, exploring standard models of physics and cosmology to support his argument.
Recent analysis by University of Maryland astronomer Stacy McGaugh confirms MOND's prediction for gas-rich galaxies, performing better than dark matter models. This finding raises new questions about the accuracy of the reigning cosmological model and the nature of gravity on small scales.
Researchers found that up to 20% of the most distant galaxies appear brighter than they actually are due to strong gravitational lensing. This effect enables astronomers to detect more galaxies but requires correction to ensure accurate tallies.
The discovery of gamma-ray flares in the Crab Nebula, powered by a rapidly spinning neutron star, challenges current theories on cosmic particle acceleration. The flares were caused by super-charged electrons of up to 10 peta-electron volts, 1,000 times more energetic than any man-made accelerator.
Eberhard Möbius, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union for his exceptional scientific contributions to space plasma physics. His work on pickup ions in the solar wind and the development of state-of-the-art instrumentation have far-reaching applications in gala...
Researchers detect signal from the Epoch of Reionization, a period 13 billion years ago when the universe was dark and hydrogen gas dominated. The discovery provides insights into how the first galaxies formed and evolved, shedding light on the early universe's history.
Four New York University researchers have been recognized for their groundbreaking work in various scientific fields. Evgeny Nudler, Daniela Schiller, Neal Weiner, and Elza Erkip received funding to support their research on transcription, memory, dark matter, and wireless communications.
A team of Rutgers and Chilean astrophysicists has discovered 10 new massive galaxy clusters, shedding light on the universe's birth and evolution. The breakthrough technique uses 'cosmic shadows' to reveal these previously unseen clusters.
Researcher Stelios Kazantzidis uses Ohio Supercomputer Center's powerful systems to model galaxy mergers and simulate the formation of massive black holes. His work has potential to shed light on astrophysical phenomena and verify general relativity.
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.
Physicist Adilson E. Motter and colleague Katrin Gelfert show that chaos is absolute in the universe's early expansion, disagreeing with previous studies' relative views. The study implies that the early universe experienced erratic changes between red- and blue-shift directions, confirming chaotic behavior.
Physicists have discovered a method to test string theory, a fundamental concept that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. The breakthrough enables researchers to verify string theory's predictions about entangled quantum particles.
Astronomers studying a galactic black hole have found similarities between its eruption and the Eyjafjallajokull volcano on Earth. The cosmic eruption prevents hundreds of millions of new stars from forming by lifting cooler gas upwards.
Researchers use gravitational lensing in galaxy cluster Abell 1689 to study the properties of dark energy. The distortion induced by lensing allows them to reconstruct light paths and understand its effect on space geometry.
Using gravitational lensing, researchers probe elusive dark energy for the first time, improving current measurements of mass and energy content. The results narrow the range of estimates about dark energy's effect on the universe by 30 percent.
Researchers credited with discovery, PSR J2007+2722, a neutron star rotating 41 times per second, has no orbiting companion and is likely recycled or young, sparking interest in basic physics of neutron stars. This is the first genuine astronomical discovery by a public volunteer distributed computing project.
A team of volunteer researchers have discovered a new radio pulsar, PSR J2007+2722, in data from the Arecibo Observatory. The pulsar is believed to be a disrupted recycled pulsar, spinning at an unprecedented 41 times per second, offering insights into neutron star formation and evolution.
Researchers at Durham University use huge computer simulations to recreate the beginnings of the Milky Way, finding that many ancient stars originated from smaller galaxies torn apart by galaxy collisions. The simulations provide a blueprint for galaxy formation and reveal clues to the early history of the Milky Way.
Charles Steidel receives the 2010 Cosmology Prize for his revolutionary studies of distant galaxies, opening a direct observational window to the universe's early age. His work has allowed us to witness the dramatic transformation galaxies undergo throughout their lives.
Researchers explore cosmic microwave radiation as favored method to detect primordial gravitational waves, offering a potentially new probe of early universe cosmology. The discovery could provide a dramatic new window on the origin and evolution of the universe.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have achieved a significant breakthrough in charge breeding, reaching an unprecedented 11.9% ionization efficiency with metallic particles of rubidium. This achievement surpasses the previous metal record of 6.5% and paves the way for further improvements in efficiency.
The Kavli Institute at Cornell is shifting its focus from a think tank to a proving ground for pushing the limits of nanotechnology. Under new leadership, it will fund projects and researchers to create novel instruments and tools for next-generation microscopies and optoelectronic nanocharacterization.
A massive galaxy in the early Universe created stars like our sun at a rate equivalent to 250 suns per year, researchers say. The team observed four star-forming regions within the galaxy, each over 100 times brighter than similar regions in the Milky Way.
Astronomers have observed fast-growing primitive black holes at the center of distant galaxies, weighing between 100 million and 10 billion solar masses. The researchers found that these black holes are active and growing, and their growth is linked to the formation of stars in the galaxy.
A team led by Charles L. Bennett will build an instrument to measure cosmic microwave background radiation, searching for unique polarization patterns that could confirm the 'inflation' theory. The five-year project is expected to create 39 full-time jobs and support further research.
Astronomers using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope found that less than a third of gamma-ray emission arises from black-hole-powered jets. The study suggests that alternative explanations, such as particle acceleration in normal star-forming galaxies and dark matter, may be responsible for the extragalactic gamma-ray background.
McGill University astrophysicist Matt Dobbs has been awarded a prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship to investigate cosmic microwave background radiation and shed light on the universe's fundamental structures. The $50,000 two-year award supports Dobbs' research on the origins and evolution of the universe.