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Astronomers discover super-bright quasar lenses

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.

SourceOhio State University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateJul 27, 2026

How black holes light up the dark

Researchers use high-resolution simulations to model the disruption of stars near supermassive black holes, uncovering details about their mass, spin, and orientation. The study sheds light on the formation of tidal disruption events (TDEs), which offer a unique way to observe these invisible objects.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 14, 2026

Kissing the sun: Unraveling mysteries of the solar wind

A University of Arizona-led research team has measured the dynamics and ever-changing hot gas shell from where the solar wind originates. The study helps scientists answer fundamental questions about energy and matter moving through the heliosphere, affecting space weather events and planetary orbits.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 29, 2026

Cosmic crash caught on camera

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured a cosmic fender bender, revealing two luminous clouds of debris from violent collisions between space rocks. The discovery offers insights into planet formation and asteroid composition, shedding light on the structure of asteroids crucial for planetary defense programs.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience·TypeObservational study·DateDec 18, 2025
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Uranus and Neptune might be rock giants

A new study by the University of Zurich suggests that Uranus and Neptune may be more rocky than icy, challenging their classification as ice giants. The researchers developed a unique simulation process to model the planets' interiors, which found that the two planets could have either water-rich or rock-rich compositions.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·DateDec 10, 2025

Astronomers spot one of the largest spinning structures ever found in the Universe

Researchers have identified a massive cosmic filament containing 280 galaxies, many of which are spinning in the same direction as the filament itself. The discovery provides rare insight into how galaxies gain their spin and could inform future efforts to model intrinsic alignments of galaxies.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 3, 2025

UZH device searches for light dark matter

Scientists have developed a new device to probe the existence of dark matter particles across a wide mass range below one mega electron volt. The QROCODILE experiment uses an improved superconducting nanowire single-photon detector to detect changes in direction, which can help filter out non-dark-matter events.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2025
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Astronomers find protoplanetary disk candidates in galactic center

Researchers find over 500 dense star-forming cores with possible protoplanetary disks in the Milky Way's Central Molecular Zone. Dual-band observations reveal unexpected spectral reddening, suggesting the presence of these early stages of solar system formation.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeObservational study·DateMay 21, 2025

Nanohertz gravitational waves are cool but not supercool

A new study published in Physical Review Letters suggests that nanohertz gravitational waves may not originate from supercool first-order phase transitions. Researchers found that such transitions would struggle to complete, shifting the frequency of the waves away from nanohertz frequencies.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 14, 2024

Probing the effects of interplanetary space on asteroid Ryugu

Researchers analyzed asteroid Ryugu samples to study magnetic and physical bombardment environment in interplanetary space. The investigation revealed changes likely caused by micrometeoroid bombardment, providing insights into the solar system's early stages.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 29, 2024

Under pressure - space exploration in our time

The commercial space sector has seen significant growth, with over 2,660 satellites launched into orbit in recent years. International collaborations are also expanding, enabling diverse perspectives and new ideas to emerge in science and space exploration.

SourceETH Zurich·DateFeb 16, 2024
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Space Archaeology study: life & culture on the International Space Station

Researchers are reconstructing life on the ISS over two decades to understand space culture and how astronauts interact with their tools and colleagues. The project uses digital photography, crowdsourcing, and archaeological surveys to document developments and changes within the station's lifestyle and cultural makeup.

SourceFlinders University·JournalAntiquity·TypeObservational study·DateOct 1, 2021

Solar Ring mission: A new concept of space exploration for understanding Sun and the inner heliosphere

The Solar Ring mission aims to study the Sun and its influence on the inner heliosphere using a novel six-spacecraft configuration. The mission will provide unprecedented capabilities, including determining the photospheric vector magnetic field with unambiguity and resolving solar wind structures at multiple scales.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Technological Sciences·DateJun 1, 2020

Spacecraft measurements reveal mechanism of solar wind heating

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London, University of Arizona, and University of Iowa made the first direct measurement of how energy is transferred from electromagnetic fields to particles in the solar wind. This process, known as Landau damping, causes electrons to be energized and heats interplanetary space.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 14, 2019

New insights into how magnetic lines around Earth reconnect

High-resolution measurements from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission have provided new insights into the reconnection process of Earth's magnetic field lines. The results suggest that this process is driven by electron-scale dynamics, shedding light on the complex interactions within magnetized plasmas.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateMay 12, 2016
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Heliophysics CubeSat to launch on NASA's SLS

The Heliophysics CubeSat will measure incoming radiation that can affect Earth's radio communications, satellite electronics, and power grids. The satellite will provide unprecedented insight into the sun's impact on our planet.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateFeb 2, 2016

Space research briefs - August

Researchers examine how personality, culture, and group dynamics influence behavior and health outcomes in isolated environments. They also investigate the risks of space radiation exposure on astronauts' bodies, aiming to identify traits that maximize crew functioning and reduce individual and group problems.

SourceNational Space Biomedical Research Institute·DateJul 31, 2001
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