Articles tagged with Theoretical Astrophysics
A research team at the Duke Quantum Center has observed string-breaking dynamics related to particle-antiparticle formation on a quantum simulator. The experiment emulates a phenomenon where two connected fundamental building blocks of matter stretch apart, creating new particles when the connection snaps.
Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a method to detect hidden matter around black holes by analyzing changes in ringdown waves. The study found that hidden matter affects ringdown differently depending on its pressure arrangement around the black hole.
The SDSS-V survey has released its twentieth public data release (DR20), providing a massive catalog of high-quality spectra of stars across the Milky Way. The dataset includes over two million total spectra, revealing temperatures, ages, and chemical compositions of stars.
The study provides the largest, most uniform spectroscopic follow-up of X-ray sources ever assembled, capturing tens of thousands of X-ray-emitting galaxy clusters. It reveals that rapidly growing giant black holes were surprisingly common in the early Universe and more 'hidden' black holes have been uncovered.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has released its 20th data set, featuring over three million spectra of stars and galaxies, as well as 18 new value-added catalogs. This release marks a significant expansion of the survey's efforts, integrating full all-sky panoptic spectroscopy across both hemispheres.
Researchers at Penn State simplify black hole mergers by applying thermodynamic principles, achieving accurate predictions of the final remnant's mass and spin. The maximum entropy conjecture shows that the merging black holes' energy and angular momentum map onto those of a sequence of hypothetical remnants, reaching a maximum entropy...
Gravastars may form when a star collapses under its own mass, triggering the creation of a mini universe with dark energy. This equilibrium stabilizes the object, preventing it from becoming a black hole.
New study by University of Southampton confirms the universe's expansion is still accelerating as previously found, debunking 2025 claims that the cosmos was slowing. The team re-evaluated data using Type Ia supernovae to calculate vast cosmic distances and found no error in their methods.
New simulations show that a magnetic field can decrease the distance between forming binary protostars, explaining observed characteristics of Milky Way binary star systems. This process also gives insights into massive black hole evolution and merger formation.
Researchers at Kyushu University used 3D computer simulations to understand the physics behind hub-and-spoke patterns in star-forming regions. The study shows that oblique shocks create invisible channels guiding compressed gas into central filaments, forming the radial shape of baby stars' cradles.
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.
Three young scientists in Israel have been awarded the prestigious Blavatnik Awards for their innovative research in chemistry, cancer biology, and astrophysics. Sergey Semenov, Uri Ben-David, and Paz Beniamini will each receive US$100,000 to advance their projects on complex materials, cancer treatments, and extreme cosmic events.
Astronomers used TACC supercomputers to develop models of Little Red Dot formation, finding better agreement with Direct Collapse Black Hole theories. Researchers also analyzed JWST data using a 'genetic technique' to understand the history of these enigmatic cosmic objects.
Researchers at ISTA team present theoretical evidence that magnetic fields in stars can persist through all stages of evolution, emerging as 'fossil fields' at the surfaces of older remnants. This discovery sheds new light on our understanding of stellar magnetism and its relation to starquakes.
A team of astrophysicists offers a new explanation for negative superhumps in cataclysmic variable star systems, proposing an eccentric accretion disk model. This theory explains the prevalence of negative superhumps across a wide range of binary star masses and may also explain positive superhumps in high mass ratio systems.
The Blavatnik Awards recognize exceptional early-career achievements in Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering. The 2026 Laureates are Maxie M. Roessler, Thi Hoang Duong Nguyen, and Paola Pinilla.
Three UK researchers will receive the top prize of £100,000 each, while six finalists will receive £30,000. The winners have developed groundbreaking techniques to study protein aggregates, detect fleeting electrons, and develop safer treatments for snakebites.
A team of physicists at UMass Amherst has proposed a new model for black holes, the 'dark charge' model, which explains high-energy neutrinos and solves cosmic mysteries. The model suggests that quasi-extremal primordial black holes, with a 'dark charge,' could be the missing link in explaining the universe's fundamental nature.
Researchers created the highest resolution map of dark matter, showing its interaction with normal matter through gravity. The new data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope confirms previous research and provides new details about dark matter's influence on the Universe.
Researchers developed a unified framework to measure spacetime fluctuations, enabling clear targets for experiments. The study provides measurable signatures for different categories of fluctuations, expanding the possibilities for testing quantum-gravity predictions.
A new study has created a comprehensive model of neutrino mapping, revealing that most stars in the Milky Way generate and emit these ghost particles. The research provides valuable insights into the universe, offering a unique way to explore cosmic phenomena.
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope's sixth and final data release confirms the 'Hubble tension' and rules out extended cosmological models, providing new insights into the Universe's evolution and current state. ACT's observations offer a cleaner starting point for future research.
The team discovered a flat, spherical gas and dust structure resembling a diamond ring, formed by a massive star's radiation and winds. The 'Diamond Ring' is around 20 light years in diameter and shines strongly in infrared light.
Researchers at RIKEN successfully simulated the Milky Way Galaxy with over 100 billion individual stars, far surpassing previous state-of-the-art models. This achievement demonstrates the power of AI-accelerated simulations in tackling complex multi-scale problems in astrophysics and beyond.
A study from Bielefeld University reveals that the solar system is moving more than three times faster than predicted by current models. This deviation was detected using data from radio galaxies, which emit strong radio waves and can penetrate dust and gas.
Physicists compare black hole shadow images to alternative theories of gravity, showing differences in extreme cosmic objects. High-resolution measurements could test Einstein's theory and confirm or refute exotic possibilities.
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt used complex simulations to study the origin of powerful jets emitted by black holes. They discovered that magnetic reconnection is involved in extracting rotational energy and powering these jets.
The institute aims to advance fundamental and applied science through interdisciplinary collaboration, with a focus on the unification of gravity and quantum theory. By pursuing the quantum-gravity crossover, researchers hope to develop new technologies and shape humanity's future.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University predict that detecting radio waves from the cosmic dark ages can help resolve the nature of dark matter. The study uses computer simulations to show that dense clumps of dark matter formed throughout the Universe, pulling in hydrogen gas and causing it to emit intense radio waves.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has made a significant milestone in its 10-year history, detecting over 300 black hole mergers and surpassing previous records. The improved sensitivity of LIGO's detectors allows for the detection of fainter sources, enabling scientists to test fundamental laws of physics.
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.
Physicists from the University of Copenhagen have discovered a step-like signature that resembles the signature of an elusive axion particle using galaxy clusters. This method has greatly increased what we know about axions, allowing researchers to narrow down the space where it can be found.
Researchers used infrared images to spot bright objects, then applied the 'dropout' technique to confirm their nature. The study could challenge current ideas about galaxy formation in the early universe if confirmed.
Researchers observed a flare caused by a star falling onto a black hole and surviving the encounter. The discovery suggests that these flares may be part of a longer, more complex story about supermassive black holes.
Researchers propose a novel method for detecting dark matter using thorium-229 nucleus properties, with potential to detect forces 10 trillion times weaker than gravity. The new approach aims to identify minute deviations in the absorption spectrum of thorium-229 to reveal dark matter's influence.
The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration has detected the merger of two massive black holes, producing a final black hole approximately 225 times the mass of our Sun. The signal presents a challenge to current astrophysical models and requires advanced theoretical tools to interpret.
Researchers successfully demonstrate Fermi acceleration mechanism with ultracold atoms, unlocking new understanding of cosmic rays behavior. The technology has the potential for high-precision control over particle acceleration and opens new possibilities for investigating phenomena relevant to high-energy astrophysics.
Researchers used machine learning to simulate galaxy evolution and supernova explosions, achieving speeds four times faster than supercomputers. This breakthrough enables the study of galaxy origins, including the creation of the Milky Way's elements essential for life.
Researchers at Dartmouth College propose a new theory on the origin of dark matter, suggesting it could have formed from high-energy massless particles that rapidly condensed into cold, heavy particles. The theory can be tested using existing observational data, including the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation.
Researchers used massive simulations to study galactic-type turbulence, finding that magnetic fields alter energy cascades and suppress small-scale motions. The findings could reshape our understanding of the Galaxy's turbulent structure and its impact on space weather.
Researchers explore alternative models of black holes without singularities, which could be distinguishable from standard black holes through subtle deviations in predictions. Observational tests using sophisticated instruments and different channels may reveal clues about internal structure.
Scientists use FAST to analyze FRB 20201124A and discover 90% circular polarization, a record high. The findings contradict theoretical models, suggesting pulsar-like mechanisms may be more plausible.
Researchers propose a revolutionary link between time and dark energy, suggesting that the mysterious force driving the universe's expansion may be used to measure time. The study could pave the way for groundbreaking new fundamental theories and breakthroughs in our understanding of the universe.
Researchers have discovered a strong connection between the long ringdown phase of post-merger gravitational waves and the properties of dense regions in neutron-star cores. Analyzing this phase can significantly reduce uncertainties in the equation of state at very high densities, shedding light on what neutron stars are made of.
The EHT Collaboration unveils a new analysis of the supermassive black hole at the heart of galaxy M87, combining observations from 2017 and 2018. The study confirms the presence of a luminous ring with a shifted brightest region, indicating turbulent accretion disk dynamics.
Researchers from NTU Singapore have developed a new crystal structure that shows naturally existing particles can behave like axions, promising to detect dark matter. The findings could lay the groundwork for understanding cosmic phenomena and uncovering the universe's greatest mysteries.
Researchers found a core-collapsing self-interacting dark matter subhalo is responsible for the peculiar spur and gap features observed in the GD-1 stellar stream. This discovery provides insights into the nature of dark matter itself and offers a new explanation for the observed perturbations.
A study of over 26,000 white dwarf stars confirmed that hotter stars are slightly larger due to higher temperatures. This finding brings scientists closer to understanding the effects of extreme gravity and potentially detecting dark matter particles.
A new paper in JCAP proposes a way to test the anthropic principle, which suggests the universe is fine-tuned for life. The proposal involves confirming three conditions: cosmic inflation, axion existence, and dark matter not being made of axions.
The Crab Pulsar features a unique zebra pattern due to diffraction in the electromagnetic pulses caused by its dense plasma. Researchers have proposed various emission mechanisms, but none have convincingly explained the observed patterns until now.
Astronomers have discovered patterns of regularity within the chaotic three-body problem, which is a fundamental challenge in physics. The researcher's findings suggest that certain configurations of three massive objects can lead to predictable outcomes, offering new insights into astrophysics and the behavior of black holes.
Simulations predict that the violent deaths of rapidly rotating stars can create detectable gravitational waves, which could aid understanding of collapsars and black holes. The signals from these events are strong enough to be picked up by LIGO and may already exist in datasets.
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.
Researchers used hydrogen to track dark matter's presence in the universe, revealing a tension between observations and theoretical predictions. The findings suggest that an unknown particle or new physics may be responsible for this discrepancy.
A new dataset from the VELOCE project has collected over 18,000 high-precision measurements of Cepheid radial velocities, providing insights into the structure and evolution of these stars. The data reveal complex patterns in pulsations that cannot be explained by traditional models, suggesting intricate processes within the stars.
Scientists have developed a new method to efficiently extract information from galaxy surveys, enabling the use of high-order information in future studies. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding dark energy, dark matter, and gravity.
The study suggests that graphitisation could provide simplicity and a clean environment required for life, theorising that an object roughly the size of the moon hit early Earth around 4.3 billion years ago, depositing iron and other metals that reacted with water to form useful nitrogen-containing compounds.
Researchers discovered a new class of plasma oscillations that can exhibit extraordinary features, enabling innovative advancements in particle acceleration and fusion. This finding has significant implications for achieving clean-burning commercial fusion energy.
Research suggests that planetary migration is the key to explaining the mysterious gap in the size distribution of super-Earths. Simulations show that sub-Neptunes' evolution contributes to the observed radius valley, while rocky planets 'shrink' by losing their atmosphere.
A new unified model confirms that some long-lasting gamma-ray bursts are created in the aftermath of cosmic mergers that spawn an infant black hole surrounded by a giant disk of natal material. The findings explain recently observed long GRBs that astronomers couldn't link to collapsing stars.