A team of astronomers has detected the first atmosphere on an Earth-like, rocky planet orbiting within the habitable zone of another star. The discovery provides evidence that worlds with conditions similar to Earth could exist beyond our solar system.
The Event Horizon Telescope has achieved the highest resolution ever obtained from Earth, detecting light from the centers of distant galaxies at a frequency of 345 GHz. This allows for multi-color views of the region immediately outside the boundary of cosmic beasts, revealing new properties about supermassive black holes.
Scientists unveil strong and organized magnetic fields near Sagittarius A* black hole, strikingly similar to M87*, suggesting common traits among all black holes. The discovery hints at a hidden jet in Sgr A* and reveals the importance of magnetic fields in black hole interactions.
Astronomers have shed new light on the origin of gamma-ray bursts using the brightest ever recorded event, GRB 221009A. The study reveals a complex jet producing both visible and X-ray light, as well as unexpected excess millimeter and radio emission.
A new study proposes using space dust as a sunshield to mitigate global warming. The team found that launching lunar dust from the moon into orbit at the Lagrange Point between Earth and the sun could provide effective shading, but would require precise simulations and an astronomical cost.
Researchers have spotted an exoplanet spiraling towards its star due to tidal interactions, shedding light on the late stages of planetary orbital decay. The discovery provides new insights into how evolved stars affect their planets' orbits, and may help explain why one exoplanet appears brighter than expected.
Researchers suggest using ancient red giant stars' winds as a potential source of material for observing the supermassive black hole. This could provide the accretion rate needed to detect the black hole, which is currently undetectable due to its low activity.
A new study has revealed the true shape of the diffuse cloud of stars surrounding the disk of our galaxy, with the stellar halo found to be oblong and tilted. The findings shed light on the history of our galaxy and galactic evolution, while also offering clues in the ongoing hunt for dark matter.
The Pantheon+ analysis reveals that the universe is composed of about two-thirds dark energy and one-third matter, mostly in the form of dark matter. This finding strengthens the Standard Model of Cosmology, but also highlights an unresolved disagreement over the pace of expansion.
Astronomers were surprised to find that a black hole is ejecting material at half the speed of light nearly three years after shredding a nearby star. The delayed outflow challenges scientists' understanding of black hole feeding behavior, with one researcher likening it to a 'black hole burping'.
Astronomers have discovered a small Neptune-like planet in the protoplanetary disk LkCa 15, using high-resolution ALMA observations. The planet is estimated to be around one to three million years old and has accumulated material at the Lagrange points, providing strong evidence for its presence.
Astronomers find that carbon monoxide is three to 100 times less than predicted in disk observations, suggesting a massive ice formation problem. The new model suggests carbon monoxide forms on large particles of ice, especially after one million years.
A team of researchers used advanced imaging algorithms to sharpen the image of the M87* black hole, revealing new insights into its behavior. The study found a thin, bright ring of light created by photons flung around the back of the black hole by its intense gravity.
Betelgeuse, a bright red supergiant star, experienced a catastrophic Surface Mass Ejection (SME) in 2019, losing a substantial part of its visible surface. The star is now slowly recovering from this event, with astronomers using Hubble data to study the phenomenon and its effects on stellar evolution.
A team of astronomers, known for debunking black hole discoveries, found a dormant stellar-mass black hole in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The newly discovered black hole is at least nine times the mass of the Sun and orbits a hot star weighing 25 times the Sun's mass.
Researchers have spotted the most distant astronomical object ever: a galaxy named HD1, 13.5 billion light-years away. The team proposes two ideas: HD1 may be forming stars at an astounding rate and possibly home to Population III stars or contain a supermassive black hole about 100 million times the mass of our Sun.
Researchers at the Center for Astrophysics created a suite of simulations named Thesan, resolving interactions in the early universe with unprecedented detail. The simulations capture properties of early galaxies and how light impacts gas, spanning over 300 million light years across.
Astronomers at Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics offer a new explanation for mysterious downflows in solar flares, which are not generated by magnetic reconnection. Instead, they form from the interaction of two fluids with different densities, resulting in 'dark finger-like voids'.
Astronomers reconstruct evolutionary history of galactic neighborhood, showing a chain of events led to the creation of a vast bubble that's responsible for forming all nearby, young stars. The Local Bubble is home to seven well-known star-forming regions and continues to slowly grow.
The Parker Solar Probe successfully entered the corona of the Sun, a region approximately 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, and collected data using the Solar Probe Cup instrument. The probe's historic achievement sheds light on phenomena such as solar flares, high-speed solar winds, and the Sun's atmosphere's heat and magnetic fields.
Researchers found that a supermassive black hole slurping down a star generated nowhere near the energy needed for the neutrino. The outflow of material was equivalent to the Sun's radiated energy over 30 million years, but lacked the necessary power.
Astronomers have discovered a gigantic cavity in space that sheds new light on how stars form. The sphere-shaped void, spanning nearly 500 light years, is believed to have been formed by ancient supernovae 10 million years ago.
Astronomers have mapped out the chemicals inside planetary nurseries with unprecedented detail, revealing dozens of molecules within five protoplanetary disks. The locations of these molecules vary dramatically across each disk, resulting in diverse chemical environments that may impact planetary formation and potential for life.
Astronomers Amir Siraj and Avi Loeb found that interstellar objects outnumber objects in our solar system's Oort Cloud. This discovery suggests that there could be substantially more visitors from other star systems.
Researchers at the Center for Astrophysics have detected a clear presence of a moon-forming region around exoplanet PDS 70c, one of two giant planets orbiting a star nearly 400 light-years away. The disk surrounding PDS 70c has enough mass to form up to three satellites the size of the Moon.
Astronomers have explained Betelgeuse's sudden dimming by a cloud of dust formed from stardust, which temporarily blocked the star's light. The discovery was made using new images taken with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope.
A new panorama of the Galactic Center builds on previous surveys, expanding Chandra's high-energy view. The image features X-ray and radio emission intertwined threads, bound by magnetic fields that may have formed through magnetic reconnection. This process drives galactic-scale outflows and affects cosmic rays and interstellar medium.
Researchers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian are using a $2.8 million grant to test their theory that astronomy can be an early gateway to attract youth to STEM fields. The program, YouthAstroNet, has already shown positive results in increasing interest and confidence among students from underrepresented groups.
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.
Astronomers have found powerful evidence for a neutrino-driven explosion in the remains of a supernova called Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The discovery was made using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and suggests that titanium bubbles play a crucial role in driving the shock wave forward to trigger the supernova explosion.
Data from 19 observatories reveal insight into M87's behavior, spin, and energy output, improving tests of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The observations also shed light on cosmic rays and their origin.
Ellen Price, a doctoral student at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, has been awarded the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship from the Heising-Simons Foundation. The fellowship will provide up to $375,000 in support for Price to conduct independent research in planetary astronomy over the next three years.
Astronomers have captured the first-ever image of a black hole's magnetic fields, revealing that polarized light reveals the structure of these fields just outside the event horizon. This breakthrough observation will help scientists understand how energy is extracted from spinning black holes to produce powerful jets.
Researchers detect over a dozen unexpected molecules in Taurus Molecular Cloud, revealing complex chemistry in interstellar space. The discovery sheds light on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their potential impact on asteroid composition and planet formation.
Astronomers at the Center for Astrophysics have detected a cloud-free exoplanet, WASP-62b, which is similar to Jupiter. The discovery was made using spectroscopy and revealed the presence of sodium in the planet's atmosphere. This finding provides valuable insights into the formation and composition of such rare planets.
A new study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals that three galaxies colliding can lead to triple mergers with growing supermassive black holes. The research found one single, four double, and one triple merger system, shedding light on how these events shape galaxy growth.
A new machine learning algorithm has classified over 2,300 supernovae with an accuracy rate of 82%, using real data from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey. The classifier was trained on a subset of supernovae with spectra and then applied to the remaining data, achieving high accuracy rates.
Scientists warn that limited resources on the moon could lead to overcrowding and conflict as site selection and extraction become reality. A framework for managing these challenges already exists, drawing from analogs on Earth like common-pool resources.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Astronomers discover that the 'afterglow' of a fast radio burst was actually a persistent radio source from a supermassive black hole. The discovery resolves the mystery of the black hole's behavior, which varies randomly due to scintillation and changes in matter consumption.