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Scientists show how baby stars’ cradles get their radial shape

Researchers at Kyushu University used 3D computer simulations to understand the physics behind hub-and-spoke patterns in star-forming regions. The study shows that oblique shocks create invisible channels guiding compressed gas into central filaments, forming the radial shape of baby stars' cradles.

SourceKyushu University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 28, 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

James Webb Space Telescope reveals an exceptional richness of organic molecules in one of the most infrared luminous galaxies in the local Universe

The James Webb Space Telescope reveals an extraordinary wealth of small organic molecules, including benzene and methane, in the deeply obscured nucleus of a nearby galaxy. The study suggests that cosmic rays are fragmenting PAHs and carbon-rich dust grains, releasing these molecules into the gas phase.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature Astronomy·DateFeb 6, 2026

Ultra-hot lava world has thick atmosphere, upending expectations

A team of astronomers used NASA's JWST to reveal an alien atmosphere in the ancient, ultra-hot super-Earth TOI-561 b. The planet's thick atmosphere is upending conventional wisdom about ultra-short-period planets, and its composition could be representative of planets that formed when the universe was relatively young.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateDec 11, 2025

K-DRIFT pathfinder: A compact telescope for observing faint galactic structures

The K-DRIFT pathfinder telescope, a compact off-axis freeform three-mirror system, has been developed to capture faint galactic structures. With its improved performance, the telescope achieves higher resolution and sharper images, paving the way for uncovering the hidden history of galaxy formation and evolution.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Astronomical Telescopes Instruments and Systems·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 9, 2025

Scientists get a first look at the innermost region of a white dwarf system

Researchers used NASA's IXPE telescope to study the innermost region of an intermediate polar, revealing a surprisingly high degree of X-ray polarization and an unexpected direction of polarization. The team found that X-rays were emitted from a column of white-hot material pulled in by the white dwarf's strong magnetic field.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateNov 20, 2025

Time crystals could power future quantum computers

Researchers at Aalto University have successfully connected a time crystal to an external system, enabling the development of highly accurate sensors and memory systems for quantum computers. This breakthrough could significantly boost the power of quantum computing by harnessing the unique properties of time crystals.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 16, 2025

Webb Telescope unveils doomed star hidden in dust

A Northwestern University-led team of astronomers used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to capture the most detailed glimpse yet of a doomed star before it exploded. The study reveals that massive red supergiants rarely explode due to thick clouds of dust, but JWST's new capabilities can pierce through the dust to spot these phenomena.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateOct 8, 2025

The NSF Inouye Solar Telescope delivers record-breaking images of solar flare, coronal loops

Astronomers captured dark coronal loop strands with unprecedented clarity during an X1.3-class flare, measuring 48.2 km in width, the smallest ever imaged. The team's high-resolution images offer a potential breakthrough in resolving the fundamental scale of solar coronal loops and improving space weather forecasting.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 25, 2025

Biggest boom since Big Bang: Hawaiʻi astronomers uncover most energetic explosions in universe

Astronomers have discovered the most energetic cosmic explosions yet discovered, named 'extreme nuclear transients' (ENTs), which occur when massive stars are torn apart after wandering too close to a supermassive black hole. ENTs release vast amounts of energy visible across enormous distances and remain luminous for years.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateJun 4, 2025

Einstein Probe releases its Science White Paper

The Einstein Probe mission aims to probe X-ray transient sources and explosive astrophysical phenomena, contributing significantly to astronomical research. The mission's sophisticated observational instruments will enhance the detection of sudden X-ray transients and monitor variability in known celestial sources.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Physics Mechanics and Astronomy·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 6, 2025

The future of telescope lenses is flar

A team of Utah engineers has developed a large aperture flat lens that focuses light as effectively as traditional curved lenses while preserving accurate color. This technology could transform astrophotography imaging systems in space-constrained applications.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalApplied Physics Letters·TypeImaging analysis·DateFeb 26, 2025

First detection of an ultra-high-energy neutrino

The detection of a single muon from a cosmic neutrino interacting with the ARCA detector provides compelling evidence for the origin of the event. The ultra-high-energy neutrino has an estimated energy of 220 PeV, opening a new observational window on the Universe and expanding our understanding of high-energy phenomena.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature·DateFeb 12, 2025

How special is the Milky Way Galaxy?

The SAGA Survey has found that the Milky Way Galaxy appears to be an outlier in terms of its satellite galaxies, having acquired only two large satellites recently compared to other systems. The survey also explores the mechanisms that would stop star formation in these small galaxies, finding that environmental factors play a role.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateSep 25, 2024

New study raises questions about validity of standard model of solar flares

A recent study tested the standard model of solar flares by comparing computer simulations with observational data from the McMath-Pierce telescope. The researchers found a significant delay in the paired chromospheric sources, which challenges the current energy transport mechanism by electron beam. This delay suggests that other fact...

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 23, 2024

High-precision measurements challenge our understanding of Cepheids

A new dataset from the VELOCE project has collected over 18,000 high-precision measurements of Cepheid radial velocities, providing insights into the structure and evolution of these stars. The data reveal complex patterns in pulsations that cannot be explained by traditional models, suggesting intricate processes within the stars.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateJun 14, 2024