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Dying radio galaxies reveal a shorter, more dynamic afterlife of black hole jets

Astronomers have discovered a new population of faint, rapidly fading remnant radio galaxies, revealing a shorter, more dynamic afterlife of black hole jets. The study found that these remnants are relatively young, with ages ranging from 8-42 million years, and span a wide range of evolutionary stages.

SourceUniversity of Cape Town - Faculty of Science·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateAug 18, 2026

Star light, star bright, baby stars blow rings alight

Researchers from Kyushu University used ALMA to observe a baby star producing a giant ring of gas about 1,000 au in size, which helps the star release excess energy. The team found that this ring is slightly warmer than its surroundings and hypothesize it's produced through magnetic field threading.

SourceKyushu University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 2, 2026

‘Root beer FLOAT’ burst’s home is located with extraordinary precision

Researchers pinpointed the location of the brightest fast radio burst (FRB) ever recorded, RBFLOAT, to a single spiral arm of a galaxy 130 million light-years away. The precision was achieved using the CHIME/Outrigger array, allowing scientists to explore the environment and potentially shed light on the nature and origins of these mys...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateAug 21, 2025

Astrophysicists explore our galaxy’s magnetic turbulence in unprecedented detail using a new computer model

A new computer model simulates magnetism and turbulence in the interstellar medium, providing unprecedented detail on the Milky Way Galaxy's overall magnetic field. The model also helps understand star formation and the propagation of cosmic rays, offering insights into astrophysical phenomenon.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 13, 2025

Brown astronomers create new technique to eliminate signals disrupting sensitive radio telescopes

Astronomers at Brown University have created a new method to pinpoint and filter out unwanted radio frequencies, crucial for preserving high-quality observations in the face of increasing satellite activity. By combining near-field corrections and beamforming techniques, researchers successfully tracked an airplane transmitting a telev...

SourceBrown University·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Australia·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 12, 2025

Origins of fast radio bursts come into focus through polarized light

A new study analyzing data from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) found that non-repeating FRBs appear to come from galaxies with modest densities and magnetic fields. This contradicts previous studies focused on repeating FRBs, suggesting a separate population or evolved versions of the same population.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 11, 2024

Twinkle twinkle baby star, 'sneezes' tell us how you are

Researchers at Kyushu University discovered that baby stars expel plumes of dust, gas, and electromagnetic energy in a phenomenon called 'interchange instability', releasing magnetic flux within the protostellar disk. This finding sheds new light on how baby stars develop and may be crucial for understanding star formation.

SourceKyushu University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateApr 11, 2024

Discovery of two potential Polar Ring galaxies suggests these stunning rare clusters might be more common than previously believed.

Researchers from Queen's University have identified two potential polar ring galaxies using data from the CSIRO's ASKAP radio telescope. The discovery suggests that these rare clusters might be more common than previously believed, with implications for our understanding of galaxy evolution and dark matter research.

SourceQueen's University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 13, 2023

A sharper look at the M87 black hole

A machine learning technique called PRIMO has been used to reconstruct a sharper image of the M87 black hole using Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) data. The new image reveals more detailed information about the bright accreting gas and a larger, darker central region.

SourceInstitute for Advanced Study·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 13, 2023

Astronomers detect radio recombination lines of carbon/oxygen ions for first time

Researchers from Shanghai Astronomical Observatory detect radio recombination lines of carbon and oxygen ions for the first time, using the TianMa 65-m Radio Telescope. The discovery allows for accurate measurement of element abundances and has significant implications for studying interstellar chemistry and molecular formation.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateMar 6, 2023

Record-breaking detection of radio signal from atomic hydrogen in extremely distant galaxy using GMRT

Researchers have detected a radio signal from atomic hydrogen in an extremely distant galaxy at redshift z=1.29, marking the largest distance so far. The signal was amplified by gravitational lensing, allowing the team to observe the galaxy's atomic hydrogen mass, which is almost twice its stellar mass.

SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 16, 2023

Astronomers capture radio signal from distant galaxy

Researchers detect radio signal from record-breaking distance galaxy, measuring gas composition and gaining insights into the early universe. The signal was amplified by a factor of 30 using gravitational lensing, allowing scientists to study a previously inaccessible region.

SourceMcGill University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 16, 2023

Black hole discovered firing jets at neighboring galaxy

Astronomers have discovered a rare system featuring a black hole spewing a jet at a neighboring galaxy, providing insights into radio jet feedback and its impact on star formation. The unique nature of RAD12 has allowed researchers to study the interaction between the black hole's jet and the companion galaxy.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 12, 2022

‘We’ve never seen anything like this before:’ Black hole spews out material years after shredding star

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'.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateOct 12, 2022

Astronomers develop novel way to ‘see’ the first stars through the fog of the early Universe

A team of astronomers has developed a novel way to observe the first stars and galaxies, detecting light through the fog of the early Universe. The Square Kilometre Array will likely make images of the earliest light, but current telescopes struggle to detect the cosmological signal through hydrogen clouds.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateJul 21, 2022

The hunt for the gravitational wave background

Astronomers have been searching for low-frequency gravitational waves by monitoring pulsar pulses, but now NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope can also be used to detect these waves. The satellite's high-energy light provides a clearer view of pulsars and offers an independent method to detect gravitational waves.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·TypeObservational study·DateApr 7, 2022

Mysterious source of fast radio bursts

Researchers have discovered a source of fast radio bursts in the vicinity of galaxy M81, adding to the ongoing mystery surrounding these enigmatic events. The findings suggest that magnetars, highly magnetized neutron stars, may be responsible for generating FRBs, but further study is needed to fully understand this phenomenon.

SourceNicolaus Copernicus University in Torun·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 23, 2022

Challenging Einstein’s greatest theory with extreme stars

A team of international researchers challenged Einstein's theory of general relativity using pulsars as a cosmic laboratory. They detected new relativistic effects, including light deflection and time dilation, with unprecedented precision. The study provides significant insights into gravity theories and the fundamental forces of nature.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeObservational study·DateDec 13, 2021

Dr. Sofia Sheikh awarded National Science Foundation Fellowship for Research & Education at the SETI Institute’s Allen Telescope Array

Dr. Sofia Sheikh has been awarded a Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to focus on fast radio bursts and develop improved technosignature detection methods. She will also mentor underrepresented students in physics and astronomy, leveraging the Allen Telescope Array's unique qualities.