Articles tagged with Astrophysics
Astronomers have captured detailed images of sinuous stellar jets emanating from young stars, suggesting that their sidewinding appearances are caused by gravitational attraction from companion stars. The observations were made using the Gemini South telescope's adaptive optics system.
Researchers have discovered a giant gas planet, TOI-2180 b, with a diameter comparable to Jupiter's and a mass nearly three times that of Earth. The planet is also believed to contain 105 times the mass of elements heavier than helium and hydrogen.
Astronomers have discovered a binary system consisting of a rapidly spinning neutron star and the precursor to an extremely-low-mass white dwarf, dubbed a 'cosmic spider'. The system emits powerful gamma-rays and has been observed using the SOAR Telescope in Chile.
Researchers have found the Milky Way to be significantly lighter than previously thought, with a total mass of 500-800 billion solar masses. This new estimate is based on high-precision data from Gaia EDR3 and advanced dynamical modeling methods.
The ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D has discovered that the youngest generation of stars will eventually stop contributing metals back to the universe. This change affects the composition of the galaxy over time, with around half of the carbon and all elements heavier than iron synthesized by stars like our Sun.
The FAST telescope detected accurate magnetic field strength in molecular cloud L1544, suggesting an early transition to supercriticality. The HINSA Zeeman effect revealed a coherent magnetic field structure throughout the interstellar medium.
A new study proposes that life could neutralize acidic environment, creating habitable pockets in Venus' clouds. The researchers identified a chemical pathway by which life could produce ammonia, explaining observed anomalies and anomalies.
Researchers have discovered that vast ice forms on Pluto's surface are formed by the sublimation of nitrogen ice, powering convection in the ice layer of Sputnik Planitia. This process is consistent with climate models and has implications for other planetary bodies.
An international team of astronomers has created a new map of the Milky Way's outer disc using data from the Gaia space mission. The findings reveal many previously unknown coherently rotating filamentary structures at the edge of the disc.
A team of astronomers has developed a new technique to detect active black holes in galaxies, measuring their impact on galaxy evolution. The method can be applied to millions of galaxies, searching for bright supermassive black holes at the centre of galaxies and studying their effect on star formation.
Researchers discovered a compact object in supernova AT2018cow, which was a product of a dying star. The team found X-ray pulses indicating an object measuring no more than 1,000 kilometers wide and with a mass smaller than 800 suns.
Physicists at Technical University of Munich discover potential existence of tetra-neutron, a bound state of four neutrons, which could significantly alter our understanding of nuclear forces. The experiment's results suggest a half-life of 450 seconds and stability comparable to the neutron.
Researchers at the DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory discovered a process in plasma swirling around black holes that causes previously unexplained emissions of light and heat. The process, known as magnetic reconnection, also jettisons huge plumes of plasma billions of miles in length.
A team of researchers has discovered a new object orbiting a Sun-like star that was missed by previous searches. The object is estimated to be between 10 and 20 times the mass of Jupiter and is thought to be a large planet or a small brown dwarf.
Astronomers observed a young, sun-like star ejecting a massive burst of energy and charged particles, potentially bad news for satellites and power grids. The study suggests that similar events could have shaped planets like Earth and Mars over billions of years.
Researchers have captured a 1,000-year-old supernova in 3D images, revealing unprecedented details about the elements ejected during a star's explosion. The study provides a three-dimensional map of these elements, shedding light on the conditions at the time of the explosion and the importance of asymmetries in supernovae.
A team of astrophysicists led by Boston University's Merav Opher has made a groundbreaking discovery about the heliosphere, the bubble surrounding our solar system. Their research suggests that neutral hydrogen particles play a crucial role in shaping the heliosphere's structure and stability.
Scientists from Niigata University, Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan detected a newborn star and its surrounding cocoon of complex organic molecules in the extreme outer Galaxy. The discovery reveals the hidden chemical complexity of our Universe.
A new study reveals how Earth's volatile elements, such as hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon, were formed through a combination of deep Earth processes, oceans' formation, and meteor impacts. The research suggests that these elements played a crucial role in creating the habitable environment necessary for life to emerge.
A team of astronomers discovered eight new stars and three more previously known stars belonging to the rare 'Main-sequence Radio Pulse emitters' (MRPs) using the GMRT. These discoveries suggest that MRPs may be more common than thought, but are difficult to detect due to their radio pulses being visible only at certain times.
Researchers have successfully created an experimental model of a skyrmion particle in a beam of light, providing a real system to demonstrate the behavior of this elusive type of fundamental particle. The study reveals the intricate structure and topological properties of skyrmions, which can be distorted but not broken.
Astronomers have discovered two previously invisible galaxies 29 billion light-years away that were camouflaged by cosmic dust. The discovery suggests that up to one in five such distant galaxies may still be hiding behind the cosmic veil.
Astronomers have detected a white dwarf star that spins at an incredible rate of once every 25 seconds, completing one rotation faster than Earth. The star is thought to be the size of the Earth but massive enough to pull material from its companion star, creating a magnetic propeller system.
The WVU-led Dolly Sods GPU cluster enables researchers to accelerate computational research in fields like drug development, interstellar phenomena, and biometrics. The cluster will facilitate the analysis of massive datasets and enable real-time processing of signals from satellites in space.
Researchers used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to focus on a post-starburst galaxy nearly 500 million light years away. They discovered two periods of intense starburst before the galaxy stopped forming stars, shedding new light on its history and evolution.
An international research team has measured neutron form factors with previously unattained precision, filling a blank space on the map. The new data provides a more comprehensive picture of the neutron's size and lifetime, and reveals oscillating patterns in its form factor.
Theoretical physicists modelled the region around M87's supermassive black hole, confirming that gravity plays a key role in accelerating particles out to thousands of light years. The findings provide further evidence for Einstein's theory of general relativity and its application to astrophysical phenomena.
A new study suggests that black holes grow in lockstep with the expanding universe, a phenomenon called cosmological coupling. This idea improves the explanation for large black hole masses observed in gravitational wave observatories.
A new study suggests that a gravitational 'kick' from colliding supermassive black holes could be responsible for the strange shape of stars at the center of the Andromeda Galaxy. The team used computer simulations to track the consequences of such a merger, finding that it could knock millions of stars into wonky orbits.
Researchers recreated superionic ice using advanced tools and found a new phase of matter. The ice has unique properties that make it less dense but darker, and its behavior affects planetary magnetic fields.
Researchers at MIT and UNH find that binary neutron star mergers produce two to 100 times more heavy metals than neutron star-black hole mergers. The study suggests that binary neutron stars are a likely cosmic source for gold, platinum, and other heavy metals.
Researchers have discovered evidence of a giant impact that occurred in a nearby star system, stripping part of the planet's atmosphere. The team observed carbon monoxide gas around the star, which they believe was released from a massive impact involving two proto-planets.
The Chang'E-5 mission has provided new insights into the Moon's surface features, including the Ocean of Storms, which may have been even more stormy than previously thought. The samples also reveal a distinct lunar basalt composition different from Earth-based basalt.
A team of researchers observed the evolution of warm gas coming from an active black hole for unprecedented detail, revealing structures reminiscent of volcanic eruptions. These gas bubbles, rings, and 'intergalactic smoke' filaments are formed when black holes consume surrounding matter and release energy, influencing galaxy evolution.
The special issue covers observations of exoplanet geology, composition, atmosphere, and potential habitability. SwRI researchers Dr. Natalie Hinkel and Dr. Cayman Unterborn collaborated with Dr. Oliver Shorttle to create a diverse overview of exoplanets, making it accessible to a wide community of scientists.
A new analysis suggests that a gap existed within the protoplanetary disk around 4.567 billion years ago, near the asteroid belt, affecting the composition of infant planets. The team found that meteorites from the outer region had stronger magnetic fields than those from the inner region.
Two independent research groups unveil new measurements to explain the birth of half the universe's elements. One group uses laboratory techniques to hunt for 'astromers,' while the other compares heavy elements in stars to better understand their origin.
A new study by WMU Professor Michael Famiano and colleagues finds that high magnetic fields in neutron stars can alter the composition of ashes and affect electron capture rates. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of stellar environments and the formation of elements.
Researchers propose a new quantum circuit that mimics black hole behavior, allowing for the study of Hawking radiation. The proposed system uses a white hole and metamaterial to amplify Hawking radiation, potentially leading to breakthroughs in quantum communication.
A new study reveals how supernovae explosions of massive stars can form heavy neutron star binaries, resolving a puzzle from gravitational wave observatories LIGO and Virgo. The team's results show that the explosion energy determines whether a stripped star forms a neutron star or black hole.
A new study by Dr. Benjamin Byron demonstrates the ability of the Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project to determine the composition of lunar surface areas using far-UV light reflectance. This method normalizes surface maturity features, revealing a close correlation with composition maps from other regions.
The 2021 Fall Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics presents cutting-edge research on nuclear astrophysics, quantum technology, and rare isotopes. Researchers will discuss breakthroughs such as the most precise measurement of neutron lifetime and novel experiments measuring neutron skin in calcium.
A team of astronomers has observed six massive galaxies in the early universe that have mysteriously stopped forming stars due to depleted gas reserves. The discovery was made possible by the Hubble Space Telescope's high resolution and gravitational lensing, allowing researchers to study these galaxies in unprecedented detail.
Researchers found significant reservoirs of large organic molecules in protoplanetary disks, providing a potential pathway for life to form elsewhere. The presence of these molecules suggests basic chemical conditions that led to life on Earth could exist more widely across the Galaxy.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge suggest that unexplained results from the XENON1T experiment could be attributed to dark energy, rather than dark matter. The study proposes a physical model to explain the findings, which may have originated from dark energy particles produced in the Sun's strong magnetic fields.
Researchers used gravitational lensing to observe the same exploding star in three different locations and predict a fourth image will appear in the sky by 2037. This study provides an opportunity to explore the expansion of our universe and sheds light on cosmological riddles, including the expansion rate.
Physicist Eve Armstrong aims to understand the origins of elements heavier than iron using weather prediction technique data assimilation. With a two-year NSF EAGER grant, she and her team will predict whether supernova stardust gave rise to these heavy elements.
Researchers used detailed simulations to detect and study 'quenched' UDGs, which are rare dwarf galaxies that have stopped generating stars. They found these galaxies were not in clusters but rather isolated in voids, with unique orbits that stripped away their star-forming gas.
Researchers from Osaka University and NASA discovered that cold planets exist throughout the Milky Way, even in the Galactic bulge, a region previously thought to be inhospitable to planet formation. The study used gravitational microlensing to determine the distribution of planets across the galaxy.
A new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society found that superflares on red dwarf stars occur at high latitudes, near the star's poles, which means they are not directed towards orbiting exoplanets. This reduces the danger to planetary atmospheres and habitability.
Researchers have discovered a remnant radio galaxy in Abell2065, providing insights into the dying phase of active galaxies. The discovery showcases the capability of upgraded GMRT to detect such objects, shedding light on their dynamics and evolution.
The Big Bear Solar Observatory will become home to NSF's Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun (SOLIS) telescope, enabling researchers to study long-term changes in the Sun's activity and its impact on Earth. SOLIS will provide comprehensive observations of the Sun's magnetic fields, solar flares, and space weather events.
Recent theoretical findings and astrophysical modeling suggest that scientists can accurately interpret gravitational wave signals from these events, hinting at the existence of so-called 'hierarchical' black holes. The detection of GW190521 in 2019 is thought to be the most promising candidate for such an event.
Astronomers have discovered a 0.6-second gamma-ray burst caused by the implosion of a massive star, revealing that some short GRBs might be imposters in disguise. The discovery suggests that most collapsing stars fail to produce a GRB jet, making this event an effective fizzle.
A NASA mission evaluates interactions between the sun and earth's magnetic fields, which can cause explosive energy transfers disrupting technology systems. A UTA professor recruits a first-year doctoral student to join the mission, where he will learn about meaningful magnetospheric events.
Ellen Price, a doctoral student at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, has been awarded the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship from the Heising-Simons Foundation. The fellowship will provide up to $375,000 in support for Price to conduct independent research in planetary astronomy over the next three years.
Astronomers at the University of Vienna used machine learning to trace groups of stars born together and found thousands of sibling stars surrounding well-known cores of star clusters. The discovery reveals that star clusters are enclosed in rich halos, or coronae, more than 10 times larger than previously thought.
I-Wen Mike Chu and Robert Weigel collaborate on analyzing STET code simulations to model magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes. They will produce visualization tools and co-author a journal article on their findings.
George Mason University's Dieter Bilitza has been awarded funding to work with the Space Physics Data Facility and NASA on advancing strategic science goals through data acquisition and archival services. He will focus on ITM data sets, ensuring useful products are generated for independent community use.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have solved a 100-year-old physics problem, enabling accurate predictions of infectious disease transmission. The discovery uses special mathematical functions and a technique called method of images to calculate encounter and transmission probabilities.