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New proof for black hole spin

A team of international researchers has provided direct evidence that the supermassive black hole at the heart of galaxy M87 is spinning. The findings are based on 20 years of observational data, which show that gravitational interactions between the accretion disk and the black hole's spin cause the jet to wobble or precess.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateSep 27, 2023

Trapping spins with sound

Scientists demonstrate acoustic manipulation of electron spins in silicon carbide, enabling efficient control of magnetic quantum properties. The technique uses surface acoustic waves to tune the spin state, preventing information loss and paving the way for more affordable quantum technologies.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 1, 2021

Does the Milky Way move like a spinning top?

New study questions precession in the Milky Way's warp, suggesting it could disappear or become slower over time. Researchers used Gaia Mission data to analyze stars' positions and velocities.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateMay 25, 2021
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.

For the brain, timing is everything

A Columbia Engineering/UCLA team discovers phase precession in the human brain, allowing neurons to signal information through precise timing. This finding has implications for understanding brain function and creating brain-machine interfaces.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalCell·DateMay 11, 2021

Short duration of the Yixian Formation and 'Chinese Dinosaurs Pompeii'

The study provides precise geochronological constraints on the duration of the Yixian Formation and its units, revealing a shorter duration than previously estimated. The results suggest a rapid bio-diversification event during this period, supported by the exceptionally preserved volcanic-influenced ecosystem.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateApr 14, 2021

First observation of nutation in magnetic materials

Physicists have directly observed nutation in magnetic spins, a phenomenon 1000 times faster than precession. This discovery has significant implications for data centers and digital storage, paving the way for more efficient technologies.

SourceUniversità Ca' Foscari Venezia·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 29, 2020

Insight-HXMT discovers closest high-speed jet to black hole

The satellite detected a low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) above 200 keV in a black hole binary, indicating the presence of a relativistic jet near the event horizon. The discovery resolves the long-running debate on the physical origin of low-frequency QPOs.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 21, 2020
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Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Jodrell Bank leads international effort which reveals 157 day cycle in unusual cosmic radio bursts

A four-year study at Jodrell Bank Observatory reveals a repeating Fast Radio Burst (FRB) follows a cyclic pattern with radio bursts observed every 90 days, followed by a silent period of 67 days, repeating every 157 days. This discovery provides an important clue to identifying the origin of FRBs.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 7, 2020

Driver of El Niño on orbital-cycle timescales

A study reveals a half-orbital precession cycle in thermocline temperature linked to El Niño-Southern Oscillation fluctuations. The thermocline is identified as a key driver of climate change on orbital timescales.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 16, 2020

Pulsar-white dwarf binary system confirms general relativistic frame-dragging

A new study confirms Lense-Thirring precession - a phenomenon of relativistic frame-dragging - in a distant binary star system. The research observes a long-term drift in the orbital parameters due to the rapidly rotating white dwarf companion, confirming Einstein's general theory of relativity.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJan 30, 2020

Precession-driven precipitation cycles in Chile

A study reveals a correlation between precession and Atacama rainfall, suggesting that precession reconfigures southern hemisphere westerlies differently. Model simulations replicate this relationship, which may impact global ocean circulation patterns.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 4, 2019

Targeting individual atoms

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method to directly track the precession of single nuclear spins, allowing for precise molecular analysis. This breakthrough enables scientists to study molecules at the atomic level, with potential applications in fields like materials science and chemistry.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateJun 24, 2019
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

ALMA differentiates two birth cries from a single star

Astronomers using ALMA have found evidence of independent origins for two gas flows from a baby star. The slow outflow and high-speed jet have misaligned axes, indicating they were launched from different parts of the disk around the protostar.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2019

The occurrence of magnetism in the universe

Scientists at HZDR aim to demonstrate that precession is sufficient to create a magnetic field using liquid sodium. The experiment could provide insights into the geodynamo and clarify the role of precession in generating the Earth's magnetic field.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 12, 2018

Can we see a singularity, the most extreme object in the universe?

A team of scientists has found a way to distinguish a naked singularity from a black hole using the precession frequency of a gyroscope orbiting around it. The frequency increases as matter approaches a rotating black hole, but decreases or becomes zero for a naked singularity.

SourceTata Institute of Fundamental Research·JournalPhysical Review D·DateApr 20, 2017
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When ultrafast laser pulse meets magnetic materials

The study examines the impact of ultrafast laser pulses on ferromagnetic La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 thin films with epitaxial grown BiFeO3 coating layers. Researchers observe distinct oscillations in magnetization precession, which are attributed to the suppression of anisotropy by BFO coating layers and exchange interaction across the interface.

SourceScience China Press·DateFeb 17, 2017

Earth's orbital variations and sea ice synch glacial periods

A new study by Brown University researchers shows that the 100,000-year orbital cycle and the 21,000-year precession cycle work together to drive the glacial cycle. The team found that sea ice in the Southern Hemisphere plays a crucial role in modulating the effects of precession on global temperature, leading to an expansion of sea ic...

SourceBrown University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJan 26, 2017

Spin pumping effect proven for the first time

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum demonstrated spin pumping effect in magnetic layers using ultrafast X-ray scattering. This behavior is crucial for magnetic sensors in hard disk read heads and data storage.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateSep 12, 2011
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

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NRL scientists achieve high temperature milestone in silicon spintronics

Researchers at NRL demonstrate electrical injection, detection and precession of spin accumulation in silicon at temperatures up to 225°C, overcoming a major obstacle for spin-based devices. The findings provide key enabling steps for developing semiconductor spintronics that offer higher performance and lower power consumption.

SourceNaval Research Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 5, 2011

First measurement of magnetic field in Earth's core

The measured magnetic field strength of 25 Gauss is significantly stronger than the 5-Gauss weak field or the 100-Gauss strong field that would imply large radioactive decay contributions. The result constrains heat sources in the core, with the outer core likely producing 60% of the planet's power.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature·DateDec 16, 2010

Eclipses again prove key for Einstein

Researchers confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity using observations of a unique pulsar system. The discovery shows that one pulsar is 'wobbling' in space, a effect precisely as predicted by Einstein.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalScience·DateJul 3, 2008
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Wobbly polarity is key to preventing magnetic avalanches on disk drives

Physicists have discovered that correcting a typo in an e-mail requires dozens of bits of information, each forcing its polarity to align up or down. The researchers found that the spin precession effect, where magnetic fields exert forces on neighboring spins, can lead to avalanches if not properly damped.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 16, 2007

The origin of perennial water-ice at the South Pole of Mars

Researchers suggest that perennial water-ice deposits at Mars' South Pole are juggled between the North and South Poles every 51,000 years due to precession. Water vapour is transported from the North Pole to the South Pole, where it re-condenses and freezes, forming a thick layer.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·DateJul 13, 2007
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.