Researchers have successfully measured wind speed on a brown dwarf, an object intermediate in mass between a planet and a star. The study found that the brown dwarf's atmosphere is rotating faster than its interior, with a calculated wind speed of about 1425 miles per hour.
Emerging technologies are opening a new era in SETI research, with innovative approaches expanding beyond traditional radio signal searches. New systems will detect technosignatures, such as laser emissions or atmospheric chemicals, indicating the presence of extraterrestrial technologies.
Thirteen massive black holes have been discovered in dwarf galaxies less than a billion light-years from Earth, with an average mass of 400,000 times that of the Sun. These findings suggest that half of these massive black holes are wandering in the outskirts of their galaxies, indicating galaxy mergers earlier in their history.
Astronomers have discovered hair-like filaments of magnetic field protruding above and below the disk of spiral galaxy NGC 4631. The filaments, extending beyond the disk into the galaxy's extended halo, indicate a large-scale, coherent magnetic field.
Researchers observed unique gas flows and identified three predicted planets around young star HD 163296. The gas flows, like waterfalls, indicate the presence of infant planets pushing aside dust and gas, providing evidence for planet formation. The study offers a more complete picture of planet formation than previously thought.
Astronomers have discovered a pair of enormous radio-emitting bubbles in the center of the Milky Way, likely formed by a powerful eruption near the galaxy's supermassive black hole. The hourglass-like feature dwarfs all other radio structures in the galactic center.
Researchers using ALMA observe a swirling disk of cold interstellar gas rotating around a supermassive black hole, NGC 3258. The study provides an unprecedented close-up view of the disk's rotation, allowing for the determination of the black hole's mass as 2.25 billion solar masses.
Astronomers have made the first-ever observations of a circumplanetary disk around PDS 70, a young star located 370 light-years from Earth. The ALMA data provide compelling evidence for the existence of multiple moons in the system, with two Jupiter-like planets and a potential third planet on its own orbit.
Astronomers have developed a new method to measure the expansion of the Universe by analyzing neutron star mergers and gravitational waves. This technique uses the orientation of the gravitational wave signal to determine the distance, providing a new 'cosmic ruler' for measuring the Hubble Constant.
Researchers have imaged a never-before-seen disk of cool, interstellar gas wrapped around the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The disk is composed of phenomenally hot and comparatively cooler gases, with temperatures ranging from 10 million to 10 thousand degrees Celsius.
Astronomers have made the first direct image of a dusty, doughnut-shaped feature surrounding a supermassive black hole in Cygnus A, a galaxy 760 million light-years from Earth. The feature, known as a torus, helps explain why objects with similar properties appear differently when viewed from different angles.
Astronomers have found a pulsar that has escaped the debris of a supernova explosion and is now speeding away at nearly 700 miles per second. The discovery provides important insights into how pulsars can gain speed from supernovae.
Researchers have discovered that large planets form quickly and in the outer reaches of their solar systems, which could explain the formation of rocky Earth-size worlds. High-resolution images of 20 nearby protoplanetary disks show common substructures, including concentric gaps and narrow rings.
Researchers discovered trans-galactic streamers flowing into the most luminous galaxy in the universe, W2246-0526. The galaxy is stripping away material from three smaller neighbors, which will fuel its star-forming activity for hundreds of millions of years.
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 detected a fast-moving jet from a neutron star with a strong magnetic field, challenging the long-held idea that magnetic fields prevent jets from forming. The discovery was made using the VLA, which revealed radio waves produced by the jet, characteristic of other jet-producing systems.
Astronomers used the VLBA to study the effects on radio waves coming from a distant galaxy when an asteroid passed in front of it. They measured the size and shape of the asteroid, improving the accuracy of its orbital path calculation.
Astronomers have detected the most-distant galactic 'wind' of molecules ever observed, seen when the universe was one billion years old. The galaxy SPT2319-55, 12 billion light-years away, shows a powerful outflow of hydroxyl (OH) molecules, which could help regulate starbirth and galaxy growth.
Astronomers used a continent-wide collection of radio telescopes to observe the aftermath of a neutron star merger and confirmed the presence of a narrow, fast-moving jet of material. The jet moved at nearly the speed of light and was likely powered by the gravitational energy released during the merger.
Astronomers observed water vapor jets streaming away from a protostar, detecting heavy water naturally emitted by water molecules. ALMA also observed a wealth of complex organic molecules surrounding the star-forming region, with over ten times more spectral lines than previous observations.
Astronomers have detected a strong magnetic field in a planetary-mass object beyond our Solar System, similar to Jupiter's but over 200 times stronger. The object is believed to be a free-floating planet, only 12.7 times more massive than Jupiter, and has a surface temperature of about 825 degrees Celsius.
Astronomers discover rare radioactive molecule 26AlF in debris of ancient stellar merger CK Vul, revealing insights into star formation and galactic evolution. The detection marks the first time this isotope has been found outside our solar system.
Astronomers have identified a blazar, TXS 0506+056, as the probable source of a high-energy neutrino detected by IceCube. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) provided clues about the blazar's radio emission.
Scientists used the Very Long Baseline Array to capture a quasar nearly 13 billion light-years away, revealing details about its composition and potential jet expansion. The bright object is thought to be one of the brightest radio emitters at an early age, offering insights into the first galaxies in the universe.
A team of scientists tracked a stellar death caused by a supermassive black hole ripping apart a star in the Arp 299 galaxy. The researchers directly imaged the formation and expansion of a fast-moving jet of material ejected when the black hole destroyed the star.
Two independent teams of astronomers identified three young planets in orbit around an infant star, using a new technique that analyzed anomalies in gas flow. The planets are similar in mass to Jupiter and are thought to be among the youngest in our galaxy.
Astronomers discover faint signal of oxygen in galaxy MACS1149-JD1, which is 13.28 billion light-years away and contains chemical maturity that suggests stars were forming as early as 250 million years after the Big Bang. This detection pushes back our understanding of cosmic dawn and the earliest phases of star formation.
Astronomers have observed a gargantuan cosmic collision of 14 young galaxies, poised to merge and form a colossal galaxy cluster. This protocluster is located 12.4 billion light-years away, offering an unprecedented opportunity to study the early stages of cluster formation.
Astronomers discovered a powerful stellar flare erupted from Proxima Centauri, making the habitability of its exoplanetary neighbor Proxima b uncertain. The flare was 10 times brighter than our sun's largest flares and could have evaporated any atmosphere or ocean on Proxima b.
Astronomers detected methanol, dimethyl ether, and methyl formate in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a chemically primitive galaxy. The findings suggest that complex organic molecules can form in early galaxies, potentially leading to life.
The discovery of benzonitrile marks a significant milestone in understanding the source of the Milky Way's mysterious infrared glow. The detection provides chemical breadcrumbs from simple molecules to larger PAHs, shedding light on their ubiquity in interstellar space.
Astronomers detected radio waves from a neutron-star collision, confirming a new explanation for the phenomenon. The observations suggest a 'cocoon' model, where the jet gathers up surrounding material, producing broad electromagnetic radiation.
Astronomers find two giant galaxies from the Big Bang era, forming stars at record rates and surrounded by massive dark matter halos. Their rapid star formation is triggered by close encounters with smaller companions.
Astronomers have discovered eleven low-mass protostars forming close to the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, defying predictions of hostile environment. These newly formed stars are about 6,000 years old and represent the earliest phase of star formation in this highly turbulent region.
New observations reveal previously undetected regions where shocks accelerated subatomic particles, causing radio emission. Astronomers believe a North-South and East-West collision occurred, with possible third collision still to be analyzed.
The VLA detection and ongoing observations reveal key facts about the event that generated gravitational waves, including the amount of energy released and the environment in which it occurred. Radio waves will continue to provide valuable information for months or even years.
Astronomers using the VLBA have directly measured the distance to a star-forming region on the opposite side of the Milky Way, nearly doubling the previous record. This achievement allows for the accurate mapping of the Galaxy's structure and spiral arms.
Researchers using ALMA detected methyl chloride around IRAS 16293-2422, an infant star system, and in comet 67P/C-G. The discovery indicates that organohalogens form naturally in interstellar clouds, challenging the search for life on other planets.
The VLA Sky Survey (VLASS) will produce the sharpest radio view of a large portion of the sky, detecting powerful cosmic explosions and superfast particles. The survey will reveal new information on galaxy growth, magnetic fields, and interactions between galaxies.
Scientists used a giant cosmic lens to study a star-forming galaxy nearly five billion light-years away, providing clues about the origin of galactic magnetic fields. The analysis revealed a large-scale, coherent magnetic field similar to those in nearby galaxies.
Scientists confirm the presence of vinyl cyanide on Saturn's moon Titan, suggesting chemical processes analogous to those important for life on Earth. The findings provide insights into Titan's unique environment and potential prebiotic chemistry.
Researchers use ALMA to capture intricate 3-D rendering of newly formed molecules inside the supernova remnant, revealing previously undetected molecules such as formyl cation and sulfur monoxide. The study provides new insights into the physical instabilities inside a supernova and its impact on the surrounding interstellar space.
Researchers have detected orbital motion in a pair of supermassive black holes, marking the first-ever 'visual binary' of such systems. The two black holes are estimated to complete an orbit every 30,000 years and may merge millions of years later.
Astronomers found new evidence suggesting that a jet of material ejected from one young star triggered the formation of another protostar. The younger star, HOPS 108, lies in the path of an outflow from the older star, HOPS 370. New measurements support the idea that the older star's outflow led to the younger's star formation process.
Researchers used ALMA to map the magnetic field surrounding a young protostar, finding it was surprisingly weak and wildly disorganized. This discovery suggests that the impact of magnetic fields on star formation is more complex than previously thought.
Researchers discovered new details about the Perseus Cluster's mini-halo, a pool of superfast particles emitting radio waves. The study revealed complex mechanisms causing the radio emission, including particle reacceleration and a powerful black hole's energy kick.
Astronomers using the VLA discovered a bright new object near Cygnus A's core, suggesting it could be either a rare supernova explosion or an outburst from a second supermassive black hole. The object's characteristics indicate it may have formed when the galaxy merged with another.
Astronomers have produced a highly-detailed image of the Crab Nebula by combining data from telescopes spanning nearly the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The image reveals intricate details about the nebula's structure and interactions with fast-moving particles and magnetic fields.
Astronomers have revealed extraordinary details about 2014 UZ224, also known as DeeDee, using ALMA. The icy body is roughly 635 kilometers across and has enough mass to be spherical, but lacks official dwarf planet status.
Researchers directly observed two Milky Way-like galaxies when the universe was eight percent of its current age, surrounded by massive hydrogen gas halos. The galaxies are forming stars at moderate rates and already rotating, similar to today's giant spiral galaxies.