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.
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.
A team of astronomers searched for visible light after the first direct detection of gravitational waves by LIGO, but found none. The Dark Energy Camera was rapidly pointed at the location of the event, using large telescopes to scan a vast sky area.
Researchers propose a novel approach to determine the origin of the universe by analyzing variations in the cosmic microwave background. The new method identifies
Researchers argue that globular clusters can host planets with conditions suitable for life, despite initial concerns. The environment of these dense star clusters may allow for stable planetary systems to form and survive for billions of years.
The VERITAS telescope detected powerful gamma rays from a distant galaxy, PKS 1441+25, revealing details about the black hole engine at its center. The gamma-ray emission was found to be located within the relativistic jet, but surprisingly far from the black hole, and is estimated to be around 5 light-years away.
The Event Horizon Telescope detected magnetic fields near the event horizon of the Milky Way's central black hole, Sgr A*, for the first time. The findings suggest that these magnetic fields are disordered in some regions and organized in others, possibly related to jet generation.
Researchers have discovered thousands of stellar pulses in the galaxy Messier 87 (M87), providing a new method for calculating a galaxy's age. The pulsations are caused by bright, pulsating stars that were previously unknown to affect distant galaxies' light.
The discovery of GJ 1132b, a rocky planet orbiting a red dwarf star, has sparked excitement among astronomers. With temperatures potentially conducive to hosting an atmosphere, this planet is close enough (39 light-years away) to be studied in detail with the Hubble Space Telescope and future observatories.
A new study suggests that disk gaps may be a cosmic illusion and not necessarily caused by hidden planets. The researchers used models to show that growth, migration, and destruction of small particles can create apparent gaps in the disk.
Astronomers have spotted a large, rocky object disintegrating in its death spiral around a distant white dwarf star, confirming a long-standing theory behind the source of white dwarf 'pollution' by metals. The system shows signs of surrounding debris disk and at least one compact, rocky object.
Researchers propose a new technique to detect stars at galactic center by looking for radio waves from supersonic stars. Stars with high speeds can create shock waves, producing radio emission that can be detected.
A new study proposes that if life can travel between stars through panspermia, it would spread in a characteristic pattern, creating clusters of life-forms. These clusters could resemble bubbles in a pot of boiling water, growing and overlapping with each other.
Theoretical work suggests water vapor could have existed in pockets of space a billion years after the Big Bang, with temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit allowing for its formation. The team found equilibrium levels similar to those seen in our local universe.
Researchers identified 200 previously unknown compact elliptical galaxies using public archives of data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the GALEX satellite. Of these, 11 isolated compact galaxies were found moving faster than their cluster counterparts
New research using high-resolution observations reveals that magnetic fields in the Cat's Paw Nebula preserve their direction from large to small scales. This suggests that self-gravity and turbulence cannot significantly alter the field direction, allowing for a more detailed understanding of star formation.
Harvard-Smithsonian astronomers created a new 3-D map of the interior of Cas A using a CAT scan equivalent. They found six massive cavities, or bubbles, that likely formed from radioactive nickel generated during the supernova explosion.
Astronomers discovered eight new planets in the habitable zone of their stars, doubling the number of small planets believed to exist. Two of these, Kepler-438b and Kepler-442b, are the most Earth-like known exoplanets, with a high probability of being rocky and having liquid water on their surface.
Researchers have developed a method to calculate the ages of individual stars by measuring their spin periods and masses. The technique, known as gyrochronology, uses mathematical relationships between mass, rotation rate, and age to determine stellar ages with precision.
Research suggests that super-Earths can maintain oceans for at least 10 billion years due to a planet-wide recycling process. This finding implies that older super-Earths are more suitable for searching for complex life.
Astronomers have found evidence that the recipe for Earth applies to terrestrial exoplanets orbiting distant stars. The HARPS-North instrument measured the masses of small, Earth-sized worlds and found a tight relationship between mass and size, suggesting rocky compositions similar to those of Venus and Earth.
Astronomers have successfully detected a super-Earth's transit using a ground-based telescope, marking the first time this has been done. The transit occurred in front of a bright Sun-like star and demonstrates that small planets can be characterized with existing facilities.
New observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) suggest that miniature solar flares called 'nanoflares' could be partly responsible for heating the Sun's million-degree corona. High-energy electrons generated by these nanoflares may deposit energy in the plasma, leading to coronal heating.
Researchers propose using industrial pollution as a sign of intelligent life, which could be detectable with the James Webb Space Telescope. The team found that CFCs could be used to identify advanced civilizations, but this method requires an ideal environment, such as an Earth-like planet circling a white dwarf star.
Astronomers have used a new technique to measure the ages of 22 Sun-like stars, revealing properties similar to our Sun. The study's lead author found 'solar twins' that can be studied to predict planetary system evolution.
A team of astronomers led by Ivana Damjanov has found a treasure trove of compact, densely packed 'red nugget' galaxies in online archives. These galaxies are abundant in the middle-aged universe, providing new constraints on theoretical models of galaxy formation and evolution.
A team of astronomers has discovered a new type of planet, Kepler-10c, a mega-Earth with a diameter of approximately 18,000 miles. The planet's mass is 17 times that of Earth, indicating it is composed primarily of rocks and other solids.
A new study reveals that red dwarf planets may be stripped of their atmospheres due to harsh space weather, making life potentially even rarer. The extreme environment also triggers spectacular aurorae, but would lead to constant darkness and hurricane-force winds.
Researchers found that planets between 1.7 and 3.9 times the size of Earth are dubbed 'gas dwarfs' with thick atmospheres of hydrogen and helium. The study also revealed that metallicity plays a crucial role in determining planetary composition, with stars hosting gas giants containing about 50% more metals than our Sun.
Two planets in the Kepler-56 system will meet their fate when they are dragged into the star's expanding orbit. The inner planets will be destroyed due to tidal forces and intense heat from the growing star.
The Illustris simulation recreates the evolution of the universe with unprecedented resolution, including spiral galaxies, elliptical galaxies, and large-scale structures. It also accurately models chemistries of individual galaxies, offering a realistic view of cosmic evolution.
Researchers found a runaway star cluster named HVGC-1 in the M87 galaxy, moving at over two million miles per hour. The cluster was likely flung out of the galaxy by supermassive black holes at its core.
Researchers from BICEP2 collaboration announce groundbreaking discovery of cosmic inflation, providing first direct image of gravitational waves. The data also confirm a deep connection between quantum mechanics and general relativity.
The study provides new insights into stellar nurseries, showing that high-mass stars form in groups rather than alone and that these seeds can be fragmented into individual star seeds early in the formation process.
The asteroid belt's diverse composition suggests that giant planets' migrations reshaped the solar system, potentially delivering water to Earth and influencing its habitability. Small asteroids show particularly varied compositions, suggesting a complex history of collisions and re-deposition.
Researchers from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) have measured galaxy distances over six billion light-years away to an unprecedented one-percent accuracy. This achievement places new constraints on dark energy and provides valuable insights into the mysterious force driving the universe's accelerating expansion.
The discovery of KOI-314c reveals a planet weighing as much as Earth but 60% larger in diameter, indicating a thick, gaseous atmosphere. The planet's mass was measured using transit timing variations (TTV), a young method for studying low-mass planets.
A new study proposes that fast radio bursts come from flaring stars in the Milky Way, contradicting previous theories of distant galactic origins. The researchers analyzed six detected bursts and found a correlation with stellar flares, suggesting a closer origin.
A new study by Smithsonian researchers at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics shows that iPad-based simulations improve student understanding of astronomical scale, compared to traditional classroom instruction. Students grasped the concept more effectively when using iPads to explore 3-D simulations of the universe.
Kepler-78b is the first known Earth-sized planet with an Earth-like density, posing a challenge to theorists due to its extremely tight orbit. The planet's mass measurement confirms it as the poster child for a new class of small, hot planets.
New research reveals that 'red nugget' galaxies, previously thought to be extinct, were actually hidden within previous survey data. These compact galaxies may represent a missing link between distant 'red nuggets' and nearby elliptical galaxies.
Recent study reveals that coldest brown dwarfs are warmer than initially thought, with temperatures around 250-350 degrees Fahrenheit. This challenges current understanding of their behavior and raises questions about the role of other factors in driving chemistry at their surfaces.
Scientists found gold in a short gamma-ray burst caused by the collision of two neutron stars. The team estimates that up to 10 moon masses of gold were created and ejected during this event.
Astronomers have discovered that the Sun's corona loops appear as a constant width due to an optical illusion, but in reality, they are tapered structures. This finding has significant implications for coronal heating models.
Astronomers found two planets smaller than Neptune orbiting Sun-like stars in the dense star cluster NGC 6811. The discovery shows that planets can form and survive even in crowded clusters.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured spectacular images of June 7, 2011 solar eruption and splashdown. The event provided an 'up close' view of what happens on distant stars during accretion. Astronomers can now learn about young star growth by analyzing ultraviolet light emission.
Astronomers studied young star TW Hydrae to understand the birth of our Sun, finding it was clumpy and episodic in accretion. The study revealed that accretion drove magnetic activity on TW Hydrae.
The Cat's Paw Nebula is forming stars at an unprecedented rate of 200,000 suns' worth of material, with over 2,000 extremely young and still trapped inside their dusty cocoons. The cause of this 'mini-starburst' remains unclear, but its proximity to Earth makes it an ideal target for detailed study.
Astronomers have measured the spin rate of a supermassive black hole, providing insights into the galaxy's evolution. The black hole's spin is linked to its accretion disk and can offer clues about the galaxy's past.