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HKU and BNU astrophysicists use wave simulations to open a new window on dark matter

Researchers from HKU and BNU used wave simulations to test the effects of ultralight dark matter on gravitationally lensed images. The simulations reproduced observed image positions more closely than common models, suggesting gravitationally lensed systems could be used to test ultralight-dark-matter models.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateSep 22, 2026

Cosmic radiation at flight altitudes rises when the sun is less active

A new study found that cosmic radiation levels at commercial flight altitudes rise as solar activity falls, with levels potentially increasing by 40-60% during solar minimum conditions. The researchers also found a clear vertical pattern in radiation levels, with a peak around 17-20 km above Earth.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 8, 2026

Ultrahigh-energy cosmic messengers may carry ultraheavy secrets

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.

SourcePenn State·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 7, 2026

The leaking star cluster

Astronomers have detected a new gamma-ray source near Westerlund 1, a young massive star cluster in the Milky Way. The source is connected to a 'nascent outflow' of particles driven by the cluster's collective wind, creating a cavity in the interstellar medium.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut fur Kernphysik·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateDec 9, 2025

Unravelling the origin of mysterious radiation

A team from Norwegian University of Science and Technology proposes that supermassive black hole winds accelerate particles to create the mysterious high-energy radiation. The winds, which can reach speeds of up to half the speed of light, may be responsible for the creation of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 22, 2025

Astrophysicists explore our galaxy’s magnetic turbulence in unprecedented detail using a new computer model

A new computer model simulates magnetism and turbulence in the interstellar medium, providing unprecedented detail on the Milky Way Galaxy's overall magnetic field. The model also helps understand star formation and the propagation of cosmic rays, offering insights into astrophysical phenomenon.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 13, 2025

Cosmic anomaly hints at frightening future for Milky Way

Astronomers have discovered a cosmic anomaly that challenges our understanding of the universe, revealing a spiral galaxy harboring a supermassive black hole billions of times the Sun's mass. This discovery forces us to rethink how galaxies evolve and how supermassive black holes grow in them.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateMar 21, 2025

How do the universe’s highest-energy particles originate? Magnetic outflows stemming from star mergers, analysis concludes

New York University physicist Glennys Farrar introduces a theory explaining the origin of Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays, created through Binary Neutron Star mergers. This process generates powerful magnetic outflows and gravitational waves, providing a groundbreaking tool for understanding cataclysmic events.

SourceNew York University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 28, 2025

Small and yet so powerful

Scientists have discovered that even low-mass microquasars can accelerate particles to high energies, producing gamma-ray signals. This finding challenges the long-held belief that only high-mass systems are capable of particle acceleration.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut fur Kernphysik·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateJan 29, 2025

New study unveils breakthrough in understanding cosmic particle accelerators

Scientists have come closer to understanding the acceleration of electrons in collisionless shock environments. A new study using satellite observations from NASA's MMS and THEMIS/ARTEMIS missions found that electrons can be accelerated to high energies through the interaction of multiple processes across different scales.

SourceNorthumbria University·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2025

Interstellar methane as progenitor of amino acids?

Research finds that gamma radiation can convert methane into glycine and other complex molecules, potentially playing a role in the origin of life. The study also reveals new strategies for industrial conversion of methane under mild conditions.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 6, 2024

Glimmers of antimatter to explain the "dark" part of the universe

A recent study suggests that the observation of antihelium nuclei in cosmic rays may be consistent with the existence of WIMP particles, which could make up dark matter. The detection of two distinct isotopes, antihelium-3 and -4, is particularly intriguing as heavier nuclei are unlikely to be produced through natural processes.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 4, 2024

Probing the early universe

Researchers use high-resolution computer simulations and terabytes of data to detect faint signals from the Epoch of Reionization, providing insights into galaxy formation. The study sets an upper limit on when the EoR likely ended, offering a new parameter for scientists to work with as they continue to investigate the early universe.

SourceNational Center for Supercomputing Applications·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 30, 2024

Cosmic rays illuminate the past

A team led by the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Bern has precisely dated timber from the archaeological site of Dispilio in northern Greece, dating back to 5259 BC. This is made possible by using high-energy particles from space, known as Miyake events, which can be reliably dated to this period.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateMay 21, 2024

Does spaceflight increase men’s risk of erectile dysfunction?

Research published in The FASEB Journal suggests that spaceflight can negatively affect vascular tissues, increasing the risk of erectile dysfunction. Treatment with antioxidants may help counter some effects. Functional improvements after targeted interventions suggest that erectile dysfunction may be treatable.

SourceWiley·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateNov 22, 2023

Inaugural solar energetic particle event detected on the surfaces of Earth, Moon, and Mars

Researchers detected a high-energy particle event on the surfaces of Earth, Moon, and Mars, marking the first Ground Level Enhancement (GLE) on three planetary bodies. The study found that future humans may face significant radiation risks during approximately one out of every five Solar Energetic Particle events.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 21, 2023

Zeus also plays billiards

A research group led by Kyoto University collected data on gamma-ray glows from thunderstorms, which may help explain the origins of lightning. The team proposes that high-energy particles from space could trigger lightning discharges.

SourceKyoto University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 9, 2023

Helium nuclei research advances our understanding of cosmic ray origin and propagation

The CALET team, including researchers from Waseda University, found that cosmic ray helium particles follow a Double Broken Power Law, indicating spectral hardening and softening in high-energy ranges. This deviation from expected power-law distribution suggests unique sources or mechanisms accelerating and propagating helium nuclei.

SourceWaseda University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeObservational study·DateMay 25, 2023

The ice in Antarctica has melted before

Recent research by Norwegian University of Science and Technology revealed that East Antarctica's ice sheet melted rapidly along its margins between 9,000 to 5,000 years ago. The study suggests that the less stable, rapidly flowing parts of the ice sheet were broken up more easily, leading to the ice sheet becoming much thinner within ...

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateApr 4, 2023