Interstellar Clouds
Articles tagged with Interstellar Clouds
New SwRI laboratory to study the origins of planetary systems
The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has launched a new laboratory to investigate the chemical origins of planetary systems. The Nebular Origins of the Universe Research Laboratory aims to connect pre-planetary evolution to planetary formation, filling key data gaps in understanding the solar system's early history.
Close brush with two hot stars millions of years ago left a mark just beyond our solar system
Scientists studied the effects of two hot stars, Epsilon and Beta Canis Majoris, on the local interstellar clouds around our solar system. The team found that these stars' ultraviolet radiation ionized about 20% of the hydrogen atoms and 40% of the helium atoms in the clouds.
Euclid peers through a dark cloud’s dusty veil
The Euclid space telescope has begun observing the cosmic dawn in the dusty veil of a nearby dark cloud. Scientists are using this unique opportunity to study the formation and evolution of galaxies.
FAST telescope unveils supersonic filamentary network in very-high-velocity cloud
Researchers discovered an unexpectedly complex and dynamic filamentary network within a very-high-velocity cloud (VHVC) in the Milky Way using the FAST telescope. The study found that the cloud is primarily composed of warm neutral medium (WNM), with little or no cold component, suggesting a cleaner, earlier phase in cloud evolution.
‘Space ice’ is less like water than we thought
Researchers investigated low-density amorphous ice and found it was not fully disordered but contained tiny crystals. This discovery challenges the assumption that space ice is similar to liquid water and has implications for theories like Panspermia.
In the belly of the beast: massive clumps reveal star factories from a bygone era of the cosmos
Researchers surveyed luminous infrared galaxies to gain insight into galaxy formation in the early universe and possibly the Milky Way. They discovered massive clumps of newborn stars, unlike anything seen in the Milky Way.
A vast molecular cloud, long invisible, is discovered near solar system
A Rutgers-led team has detected a potentially star-forming cloud, Eos, located 300 light years away from Earth, using far-ultraviolet fluorescence emission technique. The discovery opens new possibilities for studying the molecular universe and understanding interstellar medium formation.
A little bit of space on Earth
Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, have identified unusual phosphorus molecules in space. These molecules, including phosphabutadiyne and vinylphosphaethyne, were studied using cryogenic techniques and infrared spectroscopy, providing new insights into their formation and properties.
Webb telescope captures images, insight from one of Milky Way’s most extreme environments
Scientists studied Sagittarius C using the James Webb Space Telescope to understand why fewer new stars are born in the region. They discovered powerful magnetic field lines that form long, bright filaments of hot hydrogen gas, slowing down star formation.
In ancient stellar nurseries, some stars are born of fluffy clouds
A team of researchers from Kyushu University discovered that about 60% of molecular clouds in the Small Magellanic Cloud had a filamentary structure, while 40% were 'fluffy' with higher temperatures. This finding provides new insights into star formation in early-universe-like environments.
Study reveals the Phoenix galaxy cluster in the act of extreme cooling
Astronomers have discovered a key ingredient within the Phoenix cluster that explains its mysterious starburst, using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to observe the cluster. The detection of warm gas confirms that the Phoenix cluster is actively cooling and able to generate a huge amount of stellar fuel on its own.
Scientists discover molecules that store much of the carbon in space
A team at MIT discovered pyrene, a large carbon-containing molecule, in a distant interstellar cloud. The finding supports the PAH hypothesis and suggests that pyrene may have contributed to the formation of our solar system's chemical inventory.
Extraterrestrial chemistry with earthbound possibilities
Undergraduate Kennedy Barnes led a study to explore the role of low-energy electrons in creating prebiotic molecules, which may have originated from extraterrestrial sources. The findings suggest that electrons play a more significant role than photons in synthesizing these molecules.
The solar system may have passed through dense interstellar clouds 2 million years ago, altering Earth’s climate
Astrophysicists calculate that two million years ago, the solar system encountered a cold, harsh interstellar cloud, which may have interfered with the sun's solar wind and affected Earth's climate. The heliosphere, a protective plasma shield, was compressed in such a way that it briefly placed Earth outside its influence.
Rethinking galactic origins through heavy-element mapping challenges conventional theory
Researchers at Nagoya University discovered IVCs have lower heavy elements than previously reported, contradicting the Galactic Fountain Model. This finding suggests that particles in these clouds originated outside our galaxy, leading to new insights into galaxy evolution.
The Radcliffe Wave is waving
Astronomers have discovered a massive, wave-shaped structure in the Milky Way, which is oscillating through space-time. The Radcliffe Wave is approximately 9,000 light years long and moves like a traveling wave, with star clusters along its path moving up and down.
Dark galactic region nicknamed "The Brick" explained with Webb telescope findings
Researchers discover substantial presence of frozen carbon monoxide in 'The Brick', a mysterious dark region at the Milky Way's center. The findings indicate a critical need to re-evaluate established theories regarding star formation.
Disc around star observed in another galaxy for the first time
Researchers from Rice University and Durham University discovered a rotating disc of material circling a massive young star outside the Milky Way. The finding provides strong evidence for the formation process of high-mass stars, which are several times bigger than the Sun.
Scientists reveal marvellous x-ray mask absorber in the active galaxy NGC 6814
Researchers reveal a partially covering 'Compton-thick' absorption component in the eclipsing cloud of NGC 6814. The team found that the occultation absorber was clumpy and consisted of many small clouds, similar to debris stripped from a comet.
Astrophysics: Scientists observe high-speed star formation
A team of scientists observed the dynamic formation process of interstellar gas clouds, revealing speeds of up to 20 km/s that compress gas into denser regions where massive stars form. The findings challenge previous assumptions of slow and quasi-static star formation processes in this region.
Tadpole Playing Around Black Hole
Researchers have identified a unique gas cloud, nicknamed the Tadpole, revolving around a massive black hole 100,000 times more massive than the Sun. The team used advanced telescopes to detect the unusual cloud's curved shape and motion, suggesting it is being stretched by gravitational forces.
James Webb Space Telescope identifies origins of icy building blocks of life
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified ice in deeper regions of interstellar molecular clouds, revealing unprecedented insights into the abundance of icy compounds. The team discovered complex organic molecules, such as methanol and potentially ethanol, suggesting that prebiotic molecules may be common in planetary systems.
SwRI-contributed study provides darkest view ever of interstellar ices
Researchers utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to observe dense interstellar clouds, revealing a treasure trove of pristine ices from the early universe. The study provides new insights into chemical processes in one of the coldest places in the universe, offering clues on molecular origins and sulfur storage.
SwRI examines the origins of the building blocks of life
Researchers recreated interstellar cloud and asteroid conditions to understand how carbonaceous chondrites acquired amino acids, finding that interstellar cloud conditions are resilient to asteroid processing but influence the amount of amino acids present.
An international team of researchers has successfully characterized the earliest galaxies in the Universe
An international team of researchers has successfully characterized the earliest galaxies in the Universe, which formed only 200 million years after the Big Bang. The study found that these early galaxies were relatively small and dim, processing less than 5% of their gas into stars.
Astronomy: Observation puzzles researchers
Researchers investigated open star clusters, finding they dissolve faster than predicted by Newton's laws. The team developed a new method to count stars in tidal tails, revealing a significant difference in the number of stars between the front and rear tails.
Building blocks for RNA-based life abound at center of our galaxy
A team of researchers has discovered a wide range of nitriles, key molecular precursors for life, in the interstellar molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027 near the Milky Way center. The study provides important insights into the chemical ingredients available in the nebula that give rise to our planetary system.
Researchers use galaxy as a ‘cosmic telescope’ to study heart of the young universe
A unique new instrument and powerful telescope allow researchers to peer into galactic nurseries at the heart of the young universe. The team used gravitationally lensed galaxies to observe two DLA clouds, determining their size and mass for the first time.
Extraterrestrial stone brings first supernova clues to Earth
A new study suggests that the Hypatia Stone, discovered in Egypt, may be the first tangible evidence on Earth of a supernova type Ia explosion. The stone's unique chemistry and elemental composition contradict conventional views of solar system formation, potentially revealing a long-hidden secret about our cosmic neighborhood.
Shadow of cosmic water cloud reveals the temperature of the young universe
A team of astrophysicists has discovered a new method to measure the cosmic microwave background radiation's temperature at an early epoch of the universe. By observing HFLS3, a massive starburst galaxy, they found a cold water cloud that casts a shadow on the microwave radiation, revealing the Big Bang's relic temperature.
Infant stars identified at the center of our galaxy
Three young stars have been discovered at the center of our galaxy, contradicting initial assumptions about a gas and dust cloud called G2. The unusual temperature of G2 has sparked debate among astronomers, but new observations reveal it is actually composed of three evolving young stars.
Gigantic cavity in space sheds new light on how stars form
Astronomers have discovered a gigantic cavity in space that sheds new light on how stars form. The sphere-shaped void, spanning nearly 500 light years, is believed to have been formed by ancient supernovae 10 million years ago.
Astronomers solve 900-year-old cosmic mystery surrounding Chinese supernova of 1181AD
Researchers have solved the 900-year-old mystery of the Chinese supernova of 1181AD by identifying a matching nebula and star in the Milky Way. The Pa30 nebula, surrounding Parker's Star, matches the profile, location, and age of the historic supernova.
Cosmic cartographers map nearby Universe revealing the diversity of star-forming galaxies
A team of astronomers mapped molecular clouds in the nearby Universe, discovering diversity in stellar nurseries across 90 galaxies. The study found that location and environment play a critical role in star formation, with clouds in dense central regions being more massive and turbulent.
Probing deeper into origins of cosmic rays
A team of researchers from the University of Notre Dame developed a simulation model to better understand cosmic ray transport characteristics and improve detection techniques.
NASA's Webb to study how massive stars' blasts of radiation influence their environments
Astronomers will use the James Webb Space Telescope to study a region of gas and dust in the Orion Nebula called the Orion Bar, which is shaped by intense ultraviolet light from young stars. The team hopes to understand how massive stars influence their environments and even the formation of our own solar system.
Small galaxies likely played important role in evolution of the Universe
Researchers observed the first-ever galaxy in a 'blow-away' state, which suggests that small galaxies were responsible for reionization. The study reveals that intense star-formation can cause galaxies to lose their hydrogen clouds, allowing high energy light to escape.
Stellar feedback and an airborne observatory; scientists determine a nebula younger than believed
Researchers used SOFIA to study the effects of stellar winds on RCW 120, finding it expands rapidly at 33,000 mph, indicating a young age limit of less than 150,000 years. This discovery suggests that positive feedback processes trigger high star formation rates during the early universe.
Stellar eggs near galactic center hatching into baby stars
Astronomers discovered over 800 dense gas and dust cores near the Galactic Center, which may be 'stellar eggs' hatching into baby stars despite harsh conditions. The findings suggest that star formation is more resilient than thought, with ALMA observations detecting small outflows indicative of star birth.
Student astronomer finds galactic missing matter
A student astronomer has developed a method to track down the Milky Way's missing matter using distant galaxies as 'locator pins'. The technique detects radio sources that have passed through a cold clump of gas, revealing a massive, invisible cloud about 10 light years from Earth.
The Milky Way primordial history and its fossil findings
Researchers found a fossil fragment of one of the giant stellar clumps that formed the central region of the Milky Way approximately 12 billion years ago. Liller 1 is composed of two stellar populations with dramatically different ages, one as old as the Milky Way and the other much younger.
Scientists peer into the 3D structure of the Milky Way
A new 3D survey of the Milky Way has revealed a wide range of structures within the galaxy, from individual star-forming clumps to giant molecular clouds. The study provides unprecedented detail on the inner structure and dynamics of the galaxy, shedding light on its star formation processes.
Building blocks of life can form long before stars
Scientists have discovered that glycine can form on the surface of icy dust grains in dark interstellar clouds, bypassing the need for energy. This finding challenges previous assumptions and suggests a more widespread formation of amino acids in space.
Ultraviolet shines light on origins of the solar system
A team of researchers from Arizona State University compared the sun's composition to ancient materials formed in the solar system, finding that oxygen isotopes were inherited from the protosolar molecular cloud. This suggests that ultraviolet light processing occurred before the solar nebula formed.
Hubble sees swirls of forming stars
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of the Great Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1365, showcasing hundreds of baby stars and dusty sites of future stellar nurseries. The PHANGS survey, conducted jointly with ALMA in Chile, aims to understand how galaxy environments influence star formation.
Gemini South's high-def version of 'A Star is Born'
Astronomers using Gemini South's adaptive optics system have captured detailed images of the Carina Nebula with a resolution comparable to the Webb Space Telescope. The high-def images reveal intricate structures within the nebula, including parallel ridges and fragments being sheared off by strong winds.
Tracing the cosmic origin of complex organic molecules with their radiofrequency footprint
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science use a special approach to detect acetonitrile in a low-density region of the Sagittarius molecular cloud. They analyze radio wave absorption patterns to infer the presence of this complex organic molecule, shedding light on its distribution and potential role in the origin of life.
Ancient star explosions revealed in the deep sea
Researchers found clear traces of iron-60 in deep-sea sediments dating back 33,000 years, suggesting the Earth has been traveling through a cloud of faintly radioactive dust. The discovery suggests that the solar system may have recently passed through a denser cloud of gas and dust, known as the local interstellar cloud.
Iron deposition and past supernova activity
Scientists detected high levels of the radioactive isotope 60Fe in deep-sea sediment samples, indicating exposure to supernova ejecta. The findings suggest that supernova-produced 60Fe permeates the interstellar medium and has been deposited on Earth over the past 33,000 years.
Breakthrough in deciphering birth of supermassive black holes
Astronomers have discovered one of the lowest-mass supermassive black holes (SMBHs) ever observed, weighing less than a million times the mass of our Sun. The finding provides a major step in understanding how SMBHs are formed and challenges the long-held assumption that they were born with extremely large masses.
Piercing the dark birthplaces of massive stars with Webb
The James Webb Space Telescope will study three dense clouds, known as infrared-dark clouds, to understand the formation process of massive stars. These clouds are thought to be raw dough before baking, providing a unique window into the environment needed for star birth.
ALMA resolves gas impacted by young jets from supermassive black hole
Astronomers used ALMA to observe a galaxy with young, powerful jets ejected from a supermassive black hole. The team found clear evidence of disrupted gaseous clouds impacted by the jets' high speeds, providing insight into the evolutionary process of galaxies in the early Universe.
Scientist recreates icy space conditions to understand makeup of molecular clouds
Astronomer Mark Loeffler recreates interstellar space conditions to study homonuclear molecules in ice form. The James Webb Space Telescope will help detect these molecules, allowing scientists to better understand molecular cloud composition and its role in planetary system formation.
Star formation project maps nearby interstellar clouds
A team of astronomers has captured detailed radio maps of three nearby interstellar gas clouds, including the Orion A region. The maps reveal details as small as 60 times the size of our Solar System and will help improve our understanding of high-mass star formation.
A close-up of Arrokoth reveals how planetary building blocks were constructed
Three studies provide new insights into the composition and origin of Arrokoth. The object's binary lobes were likely formed in a local collapse cloud, with an ancient age of about 4 billion years. Its surface is uniformly red, cold, and covered with methanol ice and complex organic molecules.
New map of Milky Way reveals giant wave of stellar nurseries
Astronomers at Harvard University have discovered a giant, wave-shaped gaseous structure made up of interconnected stellar nurseries in the Milky Way galaxy. The 'Radcliffe wave' stretches over trillions of miles and challenges traditional views of nearby stellar nurseries as an expanding ring.
Carbon cocoons surround growing galaxies
Researchers discovered gigantic clouds of gaseous carbon spanning over 30,000 light-years around young galaxies using ALMA. The findings indicate that carbon atoms produced inside stars in the early Universe have spread beyond galaxies, challenging current understanding of cosmic evolution.
Carbon soccer ball with extra proton probably most abundant form in space
Researchers at Radboud University have successfully measured the absorption spectrum of C60H+, a carbon molecule with an extra proton. This finding suggests that C60H+ is probably the most abundant form of carbon in interstellar clouds, which could provide insights into the formation of planets and our own solar system.
Milky Way raids intergalactic 'bank accounts,' Hubble study finds
Astronomers used Hubble data to find a surplus of incoming gas in the Milky Way, with unknown sources contributing to the excess. The galaxy's balance regulates star and planet formation.