Add BrightSurf on Google Email

The earliest quasars yet observed are shedding light on the infancy of our cosmos

A team of scientists has discovered 31 of the most ancient quasars ever found, including two that radiated light from a trillion suns when the universe was just 670 million years old. These findings provide crucial clues for understanding how supermassive black holes formed and offer insights into the early universe's structure.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·DateJul 6, 2026
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Little red dots: New clues from the early universe

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 16, 2026
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

OJ 287: New image from the heart of a mysterious galaxy

A team of international researchers has taken an unprecedented image of the heart of the OJ 287 galaxy, revealing a curved segment of the plasma jet. The discovery provides new insights into the extreme conditions surrounding supermassive black holes and their role in shaping the jets.

SourceHeidelberg University·DateJul 30, 2025

Astrophysicist searches for gravitational waves in new way

Astrophysicist Jeremy Darling is pursuing a new method to measure the universe's gravitational wave background by analyzing the motion of quasars. His research could unravel the physics of gravity and help scientists understand galaxy evolution and fundamental assumptions about gravity.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 12, 2025
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.

How black holes could nurture life

Researchers found that AGN radiation can have a paradoxically nurturing effect on life, especially when oxygen levels are present, allowing the planet's protective ozone layer to grow and shield it from radiation. This process can help ensure life's success, but its effects depend on how close the planet is to the source of radiation.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 21, 2025

DESI uncovers 300 new intermediate-mass black holes plus 2500 new active black holes in dwarf galaxies

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has discovered a treasure trove of actively feeding black holes in small galaxies, revealing surprisingly few are of intermediate mass. The team identified 300 new intermediate-mass black hole candidates and 2500 active black holes in dwarf galaxies.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateFeb 19, 2025

Astronomers observe real-time formation of black hole jets for the first time

Astronomers have observed a phenomenon where a supermassive black hole forms plasma jets in real-time, marking the first-ever observation of this process. The discovery provides new insights into how black holes interact with their host galaxies and could help scientists understand the evolution of the universe.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateJan 16, 2025

Seeing a black hole's jet in a new light

A team of researchers has discovered a new pattern in the high-energy jet of particles blasted by the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy Centaurus A. The study found that the speed of one knot in the X-ray jet was at least 94% the speed of light, significantly faster than previously measured speeds using radio observations.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateOct 28, 2024
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

NASA’s Hubble, Chandra find supermassive black hole duo

Astronomers have detected two closely spaced supermassive black holes in the nearby universe using NASA's Hubble and Chandra telescopes. The black holes are fueled by infalling gas and dust, causing them to shine brightly as active galactic nuclei (AGN).

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateSep 9, 2024

AI helps distinguish dark matter from cosmic noise

A deep-learning algorithm developed by astronomer David Harvey can untangle the complex signals of self-interacting dark matter and AGN feedback in galaxy cluster images. The Inception model achieved an accuracy of 80% under ideal conditions, showcasing its potential for analyzing vast amounts of space data.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 6, 2024

How do supermassive black holes get super massive?

A team of researchers used a hybrid approach to track the growth of supermassive black holes, finding that accretion dominated growth in most cases. Mergers made notable contributions, especially for massive black holes over the past 5 billion years.

SourcePenn State·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2024

Astronomers detect an extremely red supermassive black hole in the early universe growing in the shadows

A team of astronomers has detected a gravitationally lensed supermassive black hole in the early universe, which was found to be significantly more massive than its host galaxy. The discovery, made using images from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealed the black hole's unique red color and confirmed it as a supermassive black hole.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 26, 2024
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Astronomers reveal marvellous eclipsing absorber in active galaxy NGC 6814

Researchers detected a marvellous, composite eclipsing absorber responsible for a highly distinct X-ray eclipse event in NGC 6814. The team found the absorber to be clumpy and multi-phase, with small clouds ablated from the main cloud cluster.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 28, 2023
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

The ultra-fast space winds that shape the evolution of galaxies

An international research team explores ultra-fast gas emissions from active galactic nuclei, which significantly change galaxy ecosystems. The study confirms the existence of these powerful emissions and their role in regulating star formation.

SourceUniversità di Bologna·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateMay 3, 2023
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Galaxy changes classification as jet changes direction

Astronomers have discovered a galaxy with a unique activity in its core, leading to a reclassification as a giant radio galaxy. The PBC J2333.9-2343 galaxy has a blazar at its center with jets that changed direction drastically by up to 90 degrees.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 21, 2023

HETDEX reveals galaxy gold mine in first large survey

Astronomers have cataloged over 51,863 Lyman-alpha-emitting galaxies, 123,891 star-forming galaxies, and 4,976 active galactic nuclei using HETDEX's spectroscopic data. The survey is a non-targeted, moon-sized survey that collects spectra from 35,000 fiber optic cables, providing a unique dataset for future galaxy mapping.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 9, 2023
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Study finds active galactic nuclei are even more powerful than thought

A new study reveals that active galactic nuclei are even more powerful than previously believed, with their far ultraviolet light dimmed by a large factor due to dust. This discovery implies that these objects are putting out an order of magnitude more energy than thought in the ultraviolet range.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 15, 2023

ALMA scientists find pair of black holes dining together in nearby galaxy merger

Scientists using ALMA discovered a rare instance of two supermassive black holes growing simultaneously near the center of a newly coalescing galaxy. This finding suggests that binary black hole pairs may be more common than previously thought, with potential implications for future gravitational wave detections.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJan 9, 2023

Black hole discovered firing jets at neighboring galaxy

Astronomers have discovered a rare system featuring a black hole spewing a jet at a neighboring galaxy, providing insights into radio jet feedback and its impact on star formation. The unique nature of RAD12 has allowed researchers to study the interaction between the black hole's jet and the companion galaxy.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 12, 2022
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

AI helps discover new space anomalies

Researchers used machine learning algorithms and k-D tree data structure to identify 11 previously undetected space anomalies, seven of which are supernova candidates. The team analyzed digital images of the Northern sky taken in 2018 using a k-D tree to detect anomalies through the 'nearest neighbour' method.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalNew Astronomy·DateAug 5, 2022

Astrophysicists prove neutrinos originate from Blazars

A team of scientists led by Clemson University's Marco Ajello has provided conclusive evidence that astrophysical neutrinos come from blazars, which are powerful black holes. This breakthrough resolves the long-standing question about the origin of high-energy cosmic rays.

SourceClemson University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 14, 2022

Astronomers discover how to feed a black hole

Researchers have discovered long narrow dust filaments that surround and feed supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. These filaments could be the natural cause of darkening at the centers of many galaxies when nuclear black holes are active, providing a new perspective on their behavior.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateJul 29, 2021
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.

Quasar jets confuse orbital telescope

Researchers found an error in active galactic nuclei measured by Gaia space telescope and corrected it. The findings rely on a new way of indirectly studying quasar optical emission using radio telescopes.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·DateMar 13, 2019

Changes of supermassive black hole in the center of NGC 2617 galaxy

Astronomers observe a dramatic change in the appearance of supermassive black hole in NGC 2617 galaxy, revealing previously hidden inner regions. Researchers believe rapid gas swallowing and intense radiation may be responsible for the transformation.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 20, 2017

How the brightest lights in the universe 'flicker'

Astronomers discover active galactic nuclei (AGN) exhibit flickering behavior, switching on and off every 200,000 years. This phenomenon affects star formation in host galaxies, with radiation from AGN potentially delaying or preventing the collapse of gas clouds.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 24, 2015
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Suspects in the quenching of star formation exonerated

A new survey of galaxies reveals active galactic nuclei in young, blue star-making factories, overturning the idea that these objects hinder star formation. The study finds X-ray signals from AGN in a wide range of galaxy types, including massive and smaller galaxies, old elliptical red galaxies and younger blue spirals.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·DateOct 11, 2011

RIT astronomer mines Spitzer Space Telescope data for massive starbursts

Astronomer Dan Dicken uses Spitzer Space Telescope data to study heat energy from distant active galaxies, aiming to distinguish between starbursts and supermassive black holes. His research could help understand galaxy evolution, co-evolution of black holes and their host galaxies, and the diversity of active galactic nuclei.

SourceRochester Institute of Technology·DateDec 8, 2009
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.