Articles tagged with Helium
Astronomers have identified a possible new class of supernovae that produces high levels of calcium, which could explain the element's abundance in galaxies and life on Earth. The 'calcium-rich' supernovae were discovered by detecting unusual elements in their spectra.
Researchers identify third type of supernova with unique chemical composition, suggesting a pair of white dwarves are involved. This discovery may explain the prevalence of certain elements in the universe and account for observed concentrations of particles called positrons.
A team of UCSB astrophysicists has discovered a unique eclipsing binary star system, confirming a theory about white dwarf stars. The researchers measured the size of a rare helium-core white dwarf for the first time, revealing it burns hotter and is larger than ordinary white dwarfs.
Physicists have made significant progress in understanding the properties of helium, a key element used in lasers, nuclear reactors, and space exploration. The new findings may enable more accurate measurements of temperature and pressure, benefiting fields such as low-temperature condensed matter physics and metrology.
Scientists at UC Berkeley propose helium rain as explanation for neon depletion in Jupiter's atmosphere, with helium droplets forming around 10,000 km below the surface and releasing heat that explains Saturn's excess brightness.
Researchers discovered a layer where helium condenses into droplets, allowing neon to dissolve and fall towards the planet's interior. This phenomenon explains the observed lack of neon in Jupiter's upper atmosphere.
Astronomers have discovered a possible new type of supernova that occurs when helium flows onto a white dwarf, causing a thermonuclear explosion. The object, dubbed SN 2002bj, is characterized by its rapid rise and fall and strong helium signature.
A new class of supernova was discovered, predicted by UC Santa Barbara scientists Lars Bildsten and colleagues. The event is fainter than typical supernovae and rises and falls in brightness over a few weeks.
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the University of Illinois have determined the temperature at which helium becomes insoluble in dense metallic hydrogen. This finding has significant implications for models of the interior structure and evolution of Jovian planets, including Saturn and Jupiter.
A new simulation by UC Berkeley geophysicist Burkhard Militzer predicts Jupiter's rocky core is 14-18 times Earth's mass, surrounded by layers of metals, rocks, and icy materials. The result challenges previous models and provides a more precise physical description of Jupiter's interior.
Researchers at UC Berkeley and University College London discovered that metallic helium is produced under extreme conditions found at the centers of Jupiter and Saturn, mixing with metal hydrogen to form a liquid metal alloy. This finding challenges previous theories about the energy source powering these planets.
Scientists have discovered a timing mechanism in neutron stars that allows them to predict when incredibly powerful X-ray bursts will occur, releasing energy equivalent to 100 hydrogen bombs exploding simultaneously.
Physicists at the University of Alberta have made a major advance in understanding supersolidity by manipulating solid helium under extreme pressure and temperature conditions. They found that the material exhibits unusual behavior, becoming stiffer at lower temperatures.
Research by Arizona State University scientists reveals that helium-3/helium-4 ratios can be used to identify areas with high geothermal resource potential. Analyzing samples from over 60 hot springs and shallow wells in the Basin and Range province, they discovered a correlation between helium ratios and deformation rates.
Researchers have identified potential geothermal energy resources in the northern Basin and Range province, characterized by high thermal gradients and deep permeable pathways. The discovery uses helium isotope ratios to map zones of higher than average permeability, offering a new tool for identifying geothermal energy resources.
Researchers have found eight white dwarf stars with pure carbon atmospheres, challenging existing theories on stellar evolution. The discovery may provide a unique view into the hearts of dying stars, shedding light on their evolutionary sequences.
A team of engineers from Purdue University and Lockheed Martin Corp. developed a new technique to extend the service life of two communications satellites, saving $60 million for broadcasters. The technique equalizes propellant levels in all four fuel tanks, preventing premature shutdown and waste.
Researchers have found a 'short-circuit' in the Southern Ocean's circulation, which could aid predictions of future climate change. This process allows cold waters to return to the surface more rapidly than previously thought, affecting global heat and carbon distribution.
New observations by the Hubble Space Telescope reveal that a massive globular cluster can go through several periods of intense stellar formation, contradicting the previous accepted single burst theory. The analysis shows three distinct populations of stars, each with a slightly different mix of chemical elements.
Researchers found evidence of three distinct star populations born within 200 million years in the massive globular cluster NGC 2808. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that all stars originated at the same time and place, shedding new light on stellar formation in distant galaxies.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a model that explains the avalanche-like behavior of superfluid helium. The model balances interaction and disorder, revealing a high-temperature synchronous regime and a low-temperature asynchronous regime.
Researchers have successfully replicated high-quality helium crystals exhibiting supersolid behavior, a phenomenon initially thought to be exclusive to poor-quality solid helium. The new findings suggest that supersolidity can occur in ultra-cold solid helium with crystallinity above 1%, contrary to previous theories.
Researchers at the University of Alberta discovered that combining helium with 40% oxygen improves the exercise tolerance of COPD patients, allowing them to increase their exercise capacity by an average of 245%. This treatment could have significant clinical implications for people with severe respiratory problems.
Astrophysicists have resolved a long-standing issue with the Big Bang theory by studying gas movements in stars. Computer models revealed that low mass stars destroy helium 3 before it can be released into space, resolving the discrepancy.
Researchers at Brown University use a kitchen table physics experiment to study supersolid helium, finding evidence of its behavior in 3 out of 13 trials. The team suggests that a layer of superfluid helium only a single molecule thick forms at grain boundaries, creating a path for movement through the solid.
Researchers from Alfred Wegener Institute and L-DEO have determined the temporal variability of helium flux between glacial and interglacial periods using an Antarctic ice core. The study reveals a marked difference in terrestrial dust composition during the last Ice Age versus current warm period, with implications for climate archives.
A newly devised nozzle allows researchers to distribute helium atoms with X-ray-like waves on randomly shaped surfaces. The technique could power a non-invasive, high-resolution approach to studying materials at the nanoscale.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison developed a new approach that tracks helium gas molecules in lungs to detect micro-structural changes in smokers. The technique has shown promise in identifying structural changes in asymptomatic smokers and may help screen for genetic predispositions to conditions like emphysema.
Researcher Steven W. Van Sciver is investigating the properties of liquid helium to develop a cryogenic technique for separating particles at the submicron level. This could lead to more efficient medication delivery, particularly for respiratory medications that require precise particle sizing.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a prototype sonic gas analyzer that automatically detects gas concentrations in air/gas mixtures by analyzing pitch changes. The system can track toxic or flammable gases and detect changes as low as 0.003 percent, making it suitable for monitoring hydrogen levels in microbial fuel cells.
Researchers Cornelia Class and Steven L. Goldstein re-evaluate geochemical arguments using new databases, finding evidence favors whole-mantle convection. This supports the idea that most of Earth's mantle has been subject to the same forces driving crust movements.
Researchers at Yale University have devised a method to precisely date the timing and temperature of a meteorite impact on Mars. The (U-Th)/He dating method provides a far more accurate picture than conventional methods, shedding light on the history of Martian impacts and their effects on interplanetary material transfer.
Researchers observe supersolid behavior in solid helium-4, where a small fraction of atoms exhibit zero friction and nonclassical rotational inertia. The discovery challenges the accepted picture of crystalline solid 4-He and forces theorists to revise their understanding of quantum mechanics.
Penn State's new thermoacoustic chiller uses helium gas to keep ice cream in delicious condition without damaging the atmosphere. The technology has potential for widespread use in applications where chemical refrigeration is difficult or banned due to global warming.
Researchers at Indiana University led by Martin Jarrold have made a groundbreaking discovery about the stability of gallium clusters. The findings show that these tiny clusters can withstand high temperatures and remain in a solid state, contrary to classical physics predictions.
Researchers discovered niobium clusters exhibit ferroelectric behavior when cooled to ultra-cold temperatures, displaying negative and positive charges. The phenomenon is linked to superconductivity in transition metals, offering clues to this complex phenomenon.
Researchers DePaolo and Manga argue that mantle plumes are the primary cause of volcanic activity on Earth. They cite strong evidence from Hawaii and other hotspots, including rapid magma movement and unique chemical signatures. The debate highlights the importance of understanding plume origins for connecting seismology and geochemistry.
A new imaging technique using hyperpolarized helium MRI offers a noninvasive method to study the airways of people with asthma. The technique provides information on ventilation and depicts structure and function of the airways, which can help correlate symptoms with treatment.
Researchers pinpoint stellar production of helium, revealing it was 24-25% of matter in the primordial universe. The study's findings suggest metal-rich stars produce 2.1 times as much helium as metals, with implications for dark energy.
Astronomers uncover a star with extremely low element abundance, providing a unique window into the Milky Way's early stages. The discovery challenges current theories and offers hope for finding 'unpolluted' Big Bang material.
Researchers use helium-3 diffusion MRI to detect emphysema changes in the smallest airways of the lung. The technique reveals enlarged air spaces that allow helium atoms to move freely, enabling the visualization of lung structure at a scale too small for traditional imaging methods.
Cosmologists have developed a new simulation model that suggests the first star in the universe formed from a cloud of hydrogen and helium at least 100 times more massive than our sun. The simulations provide insights into the chemical elements produced in stars, including metals heavier than lithium.
Astronomers have observed a web-like structure in space using NASA's FUSE satellite, confirming theoretical models of how matter condensed into galaxies. The helium traces the universe's architecture back to very early times, shedding light on its re-energization by quasars and star birth.
Researchers have found that a cluster of 60 helium atoms is sufficient to create a superfluid, defying gravity and exhibiting macroscopic properties. This discovery was made possible by the development of new methods to explore superfluidity on a microscopic scale.
Geochemists found high-pressure fluids from the Earth's mantle weaken the San Andreas Fault by acting as a lubricant, contradicting previous models. The discovery raises questions about the structure of the fault and potential regional decollements that extend far beyond the Sierra Nevada.
Researchers use liquid helium as a 2D fluid to study the finite size effect and its impact on conductivity. The experiment aims to improve signal-to-noise ratios and push understanding even further.
Physicist John Lipa's Shuttle Experiment could revolutionize electronics miniaturization. The experiment aims to measure the confinement effect on materials in ultra-low temperatures.
Researchers have found evidence of a 'missing' form of ordinary matter, known as baryonic matter, that was thought to be needed to form the cosmos billions of years ago. The findings suggest that this matter was spread throughout intergalactic space in a diffuse gas of hydrogen and helium atoms.
Microbial subsurface life is likely to be found on Mars and other planetary bodies in our solar system. The theory proposes that life evolved from the inside out, using rocks for oxygen, and suggests that petroleum has come up from great depths, not from biological sediments.