Articles tagged with Astrophysics
Researchers estimate a 6-10% chance of casualties from uncontrolled re-entry of abandoned rocket stages within the next decade. The study suggests that governments should mandate safe re-entry guidelines to minimize risks and save lives.
Asteroids like Bennu and Ryugu appear rough due to the loss of fine-grained regolith caused by tiny space dust grains hopping around on their surfaces. This process may help small asteroids migrate faster through space, affecting their orbits.
Researchers have detected the most distant galaxy rotation ever observed, suggesting an initial stage of rotational motion development. The galaxy's rapid rotation and small diameter provide valuable insights into its age and evolution.
A new technique has identified previously hidden protoclusters that could reveal new details about galaxy evolution. The ancestors of large galaxy clusters were found to be hiding in plain sight, with some protoclusters harboring unseen galaxies that evolved differently.
Asteroid Psyche's varied surface suggests a dynamic history, with metallic eruptions, asteroid-shaking impacts, and a lost rocky mantle. The new maps hint at the asteroid's ancient core, which could be composed of silicate-rich material that has since disappeared.
The Chang'E-5 team found hydroxyl signals in lunar rocks and soil, indicating the presence of indigenous water on the Moon's surface. The bulk of this water is contained in apatite minerals, suggesting a lunar origin.
Astronomers observed the fastest nova ever recorded, which drew attention to an unusual star. The research team studied its many baffling traits, including a pulsing light pattern, and may find answers to questions about our solar system's chemistry, star death, and universe evolution.
Researchers studied over 500 stars in a region of Andromeda called the Northeast shelf, finding conclusive evidence of an ancient collision. The findings provide insights into how material from collisions shapes a galaxy's appearance and makeup.
Researchers have discovered a new repeating fast radio burst, FRB 190520B, which exhibits extreme behavior similar to the initial discovery, FRB 121102A. The source has high ambient electron density and reliable bursting behaviors, suggesting it may be a 'newborn' with characteristics resembling a super luminous supernova.
Researchers combined knowledge from nuclear theory, nuclear experiment, and astrophysical observations to gain new insights into neutron star matter. The study found a higher pressure at intermediate densities in neutron stars using data from heavy-ion collision experiments.
Researchers discovered a massive protostellar disk in the Galactic Center with spiral arms, challenging previous understanding of star formation. The disk was perturbed by a close encounter with a nearby object, leading to the formation of spiral arms through accretion disk dynamics.
Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment has produced the most precise measurement yet of theta13, a key parameter for understanding how neutrinos change their 'flavor.' The result will help physicists explore mysteries surrounding matter and the universe.
An international team analyzed five ultraluminous galaxies with dim visible wavelengths, finding no significant metal deficiency when observed in infrared wavelengths. The study reveals that these galaxies have a metallicity consistent with the fundamental metallicity relation determined by stellar mass and star formation rate.
Researchers analyzed iron samples from asteroid cores to determine the timing of asteroid core cooling and collisions. The study suggests that violent collisions occurred within a 7.8-11.7 million year window after solar system formation, indicating a chaotic early phase.
Researchers have found a significant number of massive black holes in dwarf galaxies, contradicting previous assumptions that they are rare. The newly discovered black holes offer insights into the life story of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole and its potential mergers with other galaxies.
Three high school students from Portugal used a Raspberry Pi computer to measure Earth's magnetic field in orbit, comparing their results to data provided by the International Geomagnetic Reference Field. They found significant differences due to static magnetic fields inside the space station, but improved results with more measurements.
Researchers found that planetary systems around binary stars form differently than those around single stars, potentially creating new targets for extraterrestrial life. The study also suggests that comets could play a key role in delivering organic molecules necessary for life.
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has captured the first image of Sagittarius A*, a black hole at the center of the Milky Way, revealing a ring-like structure and shadow. The observation confirms Einstein's theory of general relativity and provides new insights into giant black holes.
Researchers have identified the rarest type of black widow binary yet, featuring a pulsar and a third star that orbits every 10,000 years. The system, ZTF J1406+1222, has the shortest orbital period ever recorded, with the pulsar and companion star circling each other in just 62 minutes.
A study published in Cell Reports Physical Sciences has measured the physical limits for liquid water in icy extraterrestrial worlds. The results show that cold, salty liquids can remain liquid at much cooler temperatures than previously thought, extending the range of possible habitats on icy moons.
Researchers find that black holes go through a 'hard' and 'soft' state during outbursts, with the final flash possibly indicating a brief expansion of the corona. The findings help scientists understand how supermassive black holes shape galaxy formation.
Astronomers at Stanford University propose a new method to manipulate solar gravitational lensing to create advanced imaging capabilities for detecting and studying exoplanets. The technique, developed by Alexander Madurowicz, uses the sun's gravity as a natural telescope to capture fine details on planet surfaces.
A Boston University–led team has won a major new grant from NASA to continue advancing its breakthrough work in heliophysics. The funding will also support the team’s efforts to diversify the field of space physics, with a focus on outreach and mentorship for underrepresented groups.
Researchers at MIT and University of Waterloo propose stimulating the Unruh effect to increase its probability of detection, potentially shaving wait time from billions of years to just a few hours. The new approach, known as acceleration-induced transparency, enhances the Unruh effect while suppressing competing effects.
A team of astronomers has discovered micronovae, extremely powerful events that occur on the surface of white dwarfs and can burn through billions of kilograms of material in a few hours. These new stellar explosions challenge our understanding of thermonuclear reactions in stars and may be more abundant than previously thought.
The study suggests that Venus' atmosphere plays a crucial role in determining its rotation speed, with fast winds dragging along the surface and slowing it down. This has significant consequences for the sweltering Venusian climate, with average temperatures of up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit.
Astronomers identify GNz7q, a dusty compact object with properties of both galaxies and quasars, born 750 million years after Big Bang. The discovery provides new insights into the rapid growth of supermassive black holes in early universe.
A new experimental setup provides precise calibration references for soft X-ray transition energies in neon, carbon dioxide, and sulfur hexafluoride gases. This improves the accuracy of astrophysical plasma analysis, enabling scientists to access techniques currently not available.
Researchers have discovered a large sample of compact galaxies, including the rare 'Green Pea', 'Blueberry' and 'Purple Grape' types. These galaxies are found to have high star formation rates and low metallicity, providing new insights into galaxy formation and evolution.
Researchers have created the Thesan simulation, a cubic volume spanning 300 million light years across, to study cosmic reionization and galaxy formation. The simulation aligns with observations and sheds light on key processes, such as how far light can travel in the early universe.
Physicists from Cracow-based Institute of Nuclear Physics found that the proton's charm structure might affect our understanding of cosmic neutrinos. Recent LHCb detector measurements support a model with a higher charm quark contribution, which could mislead astronomers about high-energy neutrino origins.
Researchers suggest that asteroid Ryugu could be a relic of an ancient comet due to its high organic content and spinning top shape. The study proposes a simple physical model that fits the observed data, suggesting that comets can leave behind rocky debris in the inner solar system.
Three exoplanets mistakenly identified as planets are actually small stars, according to a new MIT study. The discovery was made using updated measurements of planet-hosting stars from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission.
Researchers propose a new mechanism for eccentric black hole mergers, suggesting that interactions between three black holes in a flat disk environment could lead to chaotic orbits. This finding challenges previous studies on the rarity of such events.
Researchers used simulations to compare Einstein's theory and modified gravity, finding that 'dark gravity' may be equally good at explaining data from binary neutron star collisions. This could lead to the discovery of new phenomena detectable by next-generation gravitational interferometers.
A team of international scientists has created a detailed radio image of over 4.4 million objects in the northern sky, including galaxies with massive black holes and new star-forming regions. The discovery is made possible by state-of-the-art data processing algorithms and high-performance computing resources.
Neutrinos, produced by astrophysical sources and artificial means, interact subtly with matter due to their chargelessness and masslessness. The study of neutrinos challenges our understanding of particle physics, particularly the phenomenon of neutrino oscillation, where particles transition between three flavours.
The study provides the first detailed view of an exoplanet's global atmosphere, revealing a water cycle that dwarfs Earth's jetstream. The planet's night side is home to iron clouds, titanium rain, and winds that whip around at speeds of up to 5 kilometers per second.
Researchers propose that cognitive activity operating on a planetary scale is necessary to tackle global issues. A mature technosphere involves integrating technological systems with Earth through feedback loops, making it self-maintaining and exhibiting emergent behavior.
Researchers have updated the lunar chronology model using radiometric ages of new Chang'E-5 samples and crater counting data from the landing area. The new model provides a more accurate timescale, essential for understanding lunar and planetary history.
Physicists at the University of Sussex have developed a remote monitoring system for quantum devices, allowing for real-time control and issue resolution. This system enables researchers to monitor environmental factors such as temperature, pressure, and laser beams in ultracold quantum laboratories.
Physicists have measured the oscillation frequency of Bs0 mesons with unprecedented accuracy, revealing that they oscillate between matter and antimatter three trillion times per second. This measurement agrees with quantum mechanics predictions and narrows search areas for particles undescribed by the Standard Model.
The CUNY Graduate Center is introducing a comprehensive and fully funded Astrophysics master’s program, alleviating financial barriers for low-income students from underrepresented communities. The program, supported by the Simons Foundation, will provide tuition-free education and research opportunities.
Researchers found that passing stars, misaligned binary stars, and passing gas clouds can warp protoplanetary discs, disrupting spiral structures. This warping heats up the disc, making it harder for planets to form via gravitational instability.
A team led by Basmah Riaz has detected deuterated methane in three proto-brown dwarfs, indicating a warmer gas composition than expected. This finding suggests that brown dwarfs may not be simply scaled-down versions of stars.
A team of astronomers has discovered a mysterious object releasing giant bursts of energy three times an hour, which could be a neutron star or white dwarf with an ultra-powerful magnetic field. The object is incredibly bright and smaller than the Sun, emitting highly-polarised radio waves.
Scientists at Osaka University demonstrated the ability to generate gigagauss magnetic fields via gyro motion of relativistic electrons, with polarity reverse occurring instantly. The study, published in Scientific Reports, reveals a new mechanism for magnetic field growth and amplification.
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.
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.
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.
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.