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How hypergravity impacts electric arcs

A new study reveals that hypergravity significantly affects the dynamic changes of electric discharges, causing the plasma channel to move due to external forces. The research has potential applications in improved safety precautions for manned space flights and ion thruster design.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateDec 18, 2013

Gravity variations much bigger than previously thought

A joint Australian-German research team has created the highest-resolution maps of Earth's gravity field, showing variations up to 40 percent larger than previously assumed. The new maps were calculated at three billion points and will improve civil engineering projects such as building canals, bridges, and tunnels.

SourceCurtin University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 4, 2013

Secret of plant geometry revealed

Scientists have long puzzled over how plants set and maintain the angle of their lateral branches. The mechanism, driven by auxin hormone, counteracts gravity-sensitive growth to sustain a non-vertical angle of growth, known as the gravitropic set-point angle.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 25, 2013

Team solves one of the moon's mysteries

A Purdue University-led team has mapped the location and development of mass concentrations, or mascons, on the lunar surface, resolving a decades-long mystery. The findings provide valuable insights into the moon's origin and evolution and will aid in navigating future lunar missions.

SourcePurdue University·JournalScience·DateMay 30, 2013

Birth of a black hole

Astronomers may witness the birth of a black hole for the first time using a new analysis that predicts a distinct burst of light just before the black hole forms. The study suggests that this signature light burst could be detectable in nearby galaxies and provide valuable insights into black-hole formation.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 3, 2013

Einstein was right -- So far

A team of scientists discovered a unique double object consisting of a massive neutron star and its white dwarf companion, pushing the limits of physical theories. The discovery offers an opportunity to test Einstein's general relativity with unprecedented precision.

SourceESO·JournalScience·DateApr 25, 2013

Sex at zero gravity

Researchers from the University of Montreal studied how hypergravity and microgravity affect plant reproduction, brain diseases, and cancer. They found that changes in gravity impact cellular traffic flow and construction of the cellular envelope, leading to compromised cell functioning and potential implications for human health.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 13, 2013

CSI: Milky Way

Astronomers suggest that a merger between a galactic black hole and an intermediate-sized black hole in a satellite galaxy could have produced the observed high-energy radiation in the Fermi bubbles. This scenario also explains the absence of old stars near the supermassive black hole.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 6, 2013

A cloudy mystery

The G0.253+0.016 cloud defies conventional wisdom on star formation, with a dense gas content 25 times higher than the Orion Nebula but only producing small stars. The cloud's high velocities and presence of silicon monoxide suggest it may be two colliding clouds, preventing star formation due to its dynamic nature.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJan 10, 2013

Testing Einstein's E=mc2 in outer space

Andrei Lebed's research suggests that the equation may not hold true for gravitational mass, which could have significant implications for our understanding of gravity and its relationship to inertial mass. He proposes an experiment to test his conclusions, which could potentially revolutionize our understanding of the universe.

Asteroid belt found around Vega

Researchers have found an asteroid belt surrounding Vega, a star similar to the Sun, and believe multiple planets are orbiting it. The discovery was made using Infrared Space Telescopes, which detected infrared light emitted by warm and cold dust in discrete regions around the stars.

Physics on a plane: Crystals grown under 0 gravity

Researchers successfully grew helium crystals under zero gravity, overcoming laboratory limitations to examine the dynamics of these peculiar materials. The crystals formed rapidly, exhibiting an unprecedented Ostwald ripening process that can help reveal the underlying physics of crystal development.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateDec 12, 2012

'Dark core' may not be so dark after all

Astronomers have found that a merging galaxy cluster's 'dark core' does not appear to be over-dense in dark matter. The study uses improved Hubble camera capabilities to map the cluster's dark matter distribution, with a ratio of 2.5 to 1 of dark matter to normal matter, aligning with expectations.

SourceOhio University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateNov 29, 2012

When galaxies eat galaxies

Astronomers discover that massive galaxies with 100 billion stars are growing denser due to repeated collisions and mergers. The study used gravitational lenses to analyze the mass distribution in these galaxies, finding that major collisions between large galaxies lead to increased mass density at their centers.

Greenland's current loss of ice mass

Research reveals Greenland's ice sheet is losing mass at an unprecedented rate, with melting and calving processes increasing by 0.07mm/year annually since 2005. The study provides insights into the impact of regional weather patterns on ice sheet dynamics.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateMay 29, 2012

ALMA reveals workings of nearby planetary system

The ALMA observatory has discovered a nearby planetary system with sharp-edged dust ring, indicating 'shepherding' planets that keep the disk within their gravitational effect. The planets are smaller than previously thought, about the size of Mars to a few times the Earth, and are among the coldest planets found orbiting a normal star.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 12, 2012

Looking at quantum gravity in a mirror

Researchers propose a new quantum experiment using Planck-mass mirrors to test predictions of quantum gravity. The team's findings suggest that certain modifications predicted by quantum gravity proposals could be verified in the laboratory, potentially shedding light on the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Physics·DateMar 18, 2012