Articles tagged with Astrophysics
Researchers have discovered a globular cluster stellar stream in another galaxy, offering new insights into the nature of dark matter. The study demonstrates that these streams can be used to measure dark matter content beyond our own galaxy, opening doors to a broader understanding of its behavior.
Astronomers have discovered the earliest known 'black hole star,' which may explain how billion-solar-mass black holes formed in the early Universe. The object, dubbed MoM-BH*-1, exhibits properties normally associated with stars, resolving a long-standing challenge in understanding mysterious 'little red dots'.
A team of astronomers has discovered an extremely bright and red spot in the early universe, which they believe is a mashup of a black hole and a star. The object, dubbed a 'black hole star,' would help solve the mystery of other mysterious 'little red dots' found in deep-space images.
Astronomers have discovered water molecules in the envelope of star IRS 3, located near the supermassive black hole Sgr A*. The star's enormous envelope, fueled by rapid mass loss, has allowed water to thrive in its vicinity. This finding suggests that Sgr A* is being enriched with fundamental building blocks of life.
Researchers from the University of Missouri discovered that the ratio of large and small stars in distant galaxies depends on their environment, potentially altering how scientists estimate galaxy mass and age. This breakthrough could lead to more accurate estimates and a better understanding of the universe's history.
The SDSS-V survey has released its twentieth public data release (DR20), providing a massive catalog of high-quality spectra of stars across the Milky Way. The dataset includes over two million total spectra, revealing temperatures, ages, and chemical compositions of stars.
Astronomers observed a rare cosmic event where a massive star's shock breakout was detected without a typical gamma-ray burst. The star's characteristics matched other supernovae that produced gamma-ray bursts, but no jet was found.
A team of scientists has analyzed the activity of blazar PKS 2155-304 over a long period, finding no correlation between events in different radiation ranges. The data also failed to show the expected relationship between X-ray flares and higher-energy photon observations.
Researchers used the NSF Inouye Solar Telescope to capture high-resolution images of swirling vortices in the sun's photosphere, which are believed to be the 'engine' driving twisting magnetic field lines. This discovery could fundamentally change our understanding of solar dynamics and evolution.
Researchers reveal that spacecraft observations can conceal the true movement of particles in near-Earth space, challenging traditional assumptions about radiation belt dynamics. The study highlights a fundamental challenge for space scientists: different physical processes can produce similar observational evidence.
Researchers from Kyushu University found that low-density gas contributes to hub growth through direct inflow and by replenishing nearby dense filaments, substantially underestimating the material available for massive star formation. The study's combined analysis of dense and diffuse gas increased estimated material flowing onto hubs ...
Researchers at Kyoto University used the Earth's magnetic field to search for axions and dark photons, two leading candidates for dark matter. The team set new limits on axion mass, rivaling previous constraints from astrophysical observations, and detected potential signals from dark photons.
NC State is leading three Genesis Mission projects using AI to accelerate discovery in high-performance computing, cybersecurity, and astrophysics. The projects focus on developing AI-powered tools for scientific research, defending agentic AI against adversarial attacks, and embedding AI techniques in large-scale simulations of neutro...
The study provides the largest, most uniform spectroscopic follow-up of X-ray sources ever assembled, capturing tens of thousands of X-ray-emitting galaxy clusters. It reveals that rapidly growing giant black holes were surprisingly common in the early Universe and more 'hidden' black holes have been uncovered.
Researchers developed a method to detect water ice on the moon using seismic waves, which can travel faster through frozen soil. This discovery is critical for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to send crewed landings to the moon's south polar region in 2028.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has released its 20th data set, featuring over three million spectra of stars and galaxies, as well as 18 new value-added catalogs. This release marks a significant expansion of the survey's efforts, integrating full all-sky panoptic spectroscopy across both hemispheres.
Two university-led projects receive $2.96 million to develop next-generation instruments for mid-sized ground-based optical and near-infrared telescopes. The grants aim to improve sensitivity and expand access to key wavelengths, enabling observations of extremely faint astronomical objects.
The Netherlands has joined the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) as an Observer, reinforcing its long-standing partnership with the observatory. With observer status, the Dutch delegation will participate in key activities and contribute to the development of the CTAO's critical construction phase.
Researchers used machine learning to identify seven rare quasar candidates from a list of 800,000 quasars. The discovery offers an opportunity to expand knowledge of how quasars and their host galaxies work, as well as understanding our own galaxy's evolution.
Researchers at Facility for Rare Isotope Beams identified magnetic transitions within the nucleus of zinc-70 as the cause of an unexpected excess of low-energy gamma rays. This discovery sheds light on a long-standing puzzle in nuclear physics and has implications for astrophysics, including the formation of heavy elements.
Scientists at UC Riverside developed a new method to help LIGO detect weaker gravitational-wave events by measuring heat-induced distortions in mirrors. The technique combines thermal imaging with existing wavefront measurements and computer models, enabling the observatory to improve its sensitivity and detect more distant events.
Researchers reveal that missing ordinary matter exists in diffuse clouds surrounding galaxy groups, extending beyond predicted distances. The findings suggest stronger and more violent star activity and black hole jets, pushing matter to larger scales.
Researchers at Uppsala University recalculated the Sun's silver content using a new model that predicts 55% more silver than previous estimates. This resolves a long-standing problem of missing silver in the solar system and improves our understanding of how elements are produced in stars and incorporated into planets.
A team of researchers has identified an accelerator of extremely high-energy cosmic-ray protons, called a proton PeVatron, in the Milky Way galaxy. The discovery was made possible by combining data from multiple experiments, including Tibet AS gamma, LHAASO, Fermi-LAT, and Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Researchers analyze the 'ringdown' phase of black hole collisions to test Einstein's theory of General Relativity and uncover secrets about these mysterious objects. Future observatories may reveal fresh evidence for new physics and challenge current models.
A team of researchers from Kyushu University and Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics have detected ambipolar diffusion in a prestellar core, weakening magnetic support and leading to gravitational collapse. This finding provides insight into early star formation and the creation of stellar systems like our own.
Researchers have discovered stellar cocoons rich in complex organic molecules within a supernova remnant, indicating that newborn stars can remain protected and preserve their molecular composition. The study suggests that the environment of our Solar System's formation may be more diverse than previously recognized.
Researchers at Penn State simplify black hole mergers by applying thermodynamic principles, achieving accurate predictions of the final remnant's mass and spin. The maximum entropy conjecture shows that the merging black holes' energy and angular momentum map onto those of a sequence of hypothetical remnants, reaching a maximum entropy...
A team of scientists has discovered 31 of the most ancient quasars ever found, including two that radiated light from a trillion suns when the universe was just 670 million years old. These findings provide crucial clues for understanding how supermassive black holes formed and offer insights into the early universe's structure.
Researchers have theoretically modelled Hawking radiation generation in a non-linear optical environment, identifying a simple direct mechanism. Experiments showed the radiation affects the system, opening up new ways to calculate effects and potentially shedding light on quantum gravity.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new measure for entropy that is more closely tied to the black hole's physical properties of spin and energy. This allows them to extend the first and second laws of thermodynamics to dynamic black holes, enabling better understanding of their processes.
Astronomers have discovered a galaxy cluster in the distant universe that is more mature than expected, with unprecedented mass concentration toward its center. The James Webb Space Telescope images reveal strong gravitational lensing effects, providing valuable insights into dark matter distribution and cosmological models.
Astronomers have detected the [O I] 145 µm emission line in four typical star-forming galaxies, which serves as a clear tracer of neutral gas. This detection provides unprecedented detail on the physical and chemical conditions of star-forming material in these distant galaxies.
Gravastars may form when a star collapses under its own mass, triggering the creation of a mini universe with dark energy. This equilibrium stabilizes the object, preventing it from becoming a black hole.
New study by University of Southampton confirms the universe's expansion is still accelerating as previously found, debunking 2025 claims that the cosmos was slowing. The team re-evaluated data using Type Ia supernovae to calculate vast cosmic distances and found no error in their methods.
The Kavli Prize in Astrophysics 2026 is awarded to Vasily Belokurov, Amina Helmi, and Rodrigo Ibata for their discovery of past mergers that prove the Milky Way galaxy was built through hierarchical accretion. This breakthrough reveals how our universe is formed and challenges assumptions on galaxy formation.
Researchers used deep learning to model energy release during r-process nucleosynthesis in hydrodynamic simulations, gaining new insights into element formation. The results suggest that r-process heating is an important effect that should be better accounted for in future modeling.
The discovery reveals a surprisingly mature black hole at just 850 million years old, with an accretion disk resembling a flat pancake. This challenges the understanding of how supermassive black holes can grow and mature in a short amount of cosmic time.
A physicist at Mississippi State University has received a prestigious CAREER Award to study stellar explosions and their role in forming elements. The five-year project aims to improve computer models of supernovae and neutron stars, shedding light on the universe's elemental composition.
A team of astronomers used JWST to detect the motion of stars near a galaxy's center affected by a dormant black hole's gravity. The findings suggest that densest galaxies were sites of rapid black hole growth early in cosmic history.
Astrophysicists at Northwestern University have discovered evidence of a powerful wind blowing from the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*. The study resolves one of the longest-standing mysteries in astronomy and opens a new window into the physics at play in the center of the Milky Way. The team used five yea...
Researchers have discovered the most distant dormant black hole yet detected, located over 10 billion light years away. The black hole's mass is approximately 6 billion times that of the sun, providing unprecedented insights into black holes in the early universe.
A team of astronomers has identified a rare stellar system that provides a unique natural laboratory to study extreme physics. The system, called ASKAP J1745−5051, consists of a white dwarf and a red dwarf star, producing powerful bursts of radio waves and X-rays.
Researchers at Texas A&M University are designing how humans will build and survive on the moon, focusing on sustainable construction using lunar regolith. The institution's efforts aim to reduce costs associated with shipping materials to the moon, making it possible to produce rocket propellant locally.
The study suggests that massive galaxies formed through violent mergers, leading to a rapid burst of star formation and the growth of supermassive black holes. This process prevented these galaxies from producing new stars for over a billion years, leaving them as quiescent galaxies.
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.
Researchers use helioseismology to track sound waves inside the Sun, finding a gradual change in structure just beneath the surface that spans multiple cycles. This discovery reveals a shift towards more tightly confined magnetic activity near the surface, with implications for space weather predictions.
The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) is advancing towards initial operations with the inauguration of four Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) on October 15, 2026. The telescopes will enable groundbreaking gamma-ray astronomy, answering questions about dark matter.
The GWTC-5.0 catalog includes 161 new gravitational wave events detected between April 10, 2024 and January 28, 2025, bringing the total number of confirmed events to 390.
The LVK network has announced the release of its updated Gravitational Wave Transient Catalogue-5.0, containing 161 new events detected between April 2024 and January 2025. This update includes exceptional detections, such as the best sky localization ever achieved and evidence for second-generation black holes.
The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration has released a new catalog of gravitational-wave detections, revealing distinct sub-populations of merging black holes. These sub-populations are thought to arise from different formation pathways, including the collapse of gas clouds and hierarchical mergers between black holes.
Researchers from Vienna and Frankfurt have developed a mathematical formula describing critical collapse, where spacetime organizes into a regular structure that may form a black hole. This phenomenon is similar to the formation of ice crystals in liquid water.
Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf analyze ancient Antarctic ice to reveal the Local Interstellar Cloud's role in storing and supplying iron-60. The findings confirm a long-past stellar explosion as the source of this rare radioactive isotope, shedding new light on the origins of the Cloud.
Researchers from the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA Collaboration demonstrate how Astro Calibration technique improves signal processing by leveraging astrophysical models and comparison to predicted signals. This enhances detection of cosmic phenomena like black hole mergers, refining estimates of masses, spins, distance, and location.
Researchers at MIT and Europe create model predicting gravitational wave patterns from black holes in dark matter environments, detecting possible imprints on LVK data. The study offers a new way to screen gravitational-wave signals for hints of dark matter.
Researchers found amino acids are consistently more diverse and evenly distributed in biological samples than abiotic ones, while fatty acids show the opposite pattern. This fundamental principle of life may be detectable in data collected by space missions.
Researchers studied the unique planet using James Webb Space Telescope data, finding an atmosphere similar to Jupiter's, mostly composed of hydrogen and helium. The exoplanet orbits its star at just six Earth days, moving four times faster than Mercury around our sun.
The most massive black holes detected by gravitational waves were formed through repeated and violent collision events in densely populated star clusters. The study identifies two distinct populations, with high-mass systems showing rapid spins and a signature consistent with cluster mergers.
Research suggests that some ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays could consist of atomic nuclei heavier than iron, losing energy more slowly as they travel through intergalactic space. This finding could help narrow down the possible sources of these particles and impact how we search for their origins.
A team at the University of Arizona discovered exceptionally fast and powerful galactic winds from quasars a billion years after the Big Bang. These winds could have caused galaxies to lose gas supplies, effectively shutting down star formation. The study suggests that quasars with extreme outflows were more common in the early univers...