Articles tagged with Astrophysics
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 study suggests that self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) can explain unusual gravitational effects observed in various astrophysical environments. Dense clumps of SIDM can account for high-density structures in the universe, providing a promising candidate for explaining small-scale cosmic structure.
Scientists in Japan developed a high-resolution X-ray telescope using precision mirror-making technology, capable of distinguishing objects 3.5 mm wide from 1 km away. The telescope was tested on the ground using a unique evaluation system before launch on the FOXSI sounding rocket mission.
Astronomers have identified the most pristine star in the known universe, SDSS J0715-7334, with a metal content of less than 0.005%. This ancient immigrant was born about 80,000 light-years from Earth and has been pulled into the Milky Way galaxy over time.
Astronomers have discovered an ancient immigrant star in the Milky Way that formed in a companion galaxy and migrated billions of years ago. The star, SDSSJ0715-7334, has the lowest metallicity ever observed, suggesting it is one of the oldest stars in the universe.
A Mississippi State physicist has achieved a significant scientific advancement by producing a direct laboratory measurement of a key nuclear reaction believed to occur during explosive bursts on neutron stars. These reactions forge heavier elements, including oxygen and iron, which are essential for planet formation and life.
Researchers from ISTA identify two white dwarfs, Gandalf and Moon-Sized, which share five properties, including X-ray emission, despite being isolated objects. These discoveries suggest the existence of a new class of star remnants with unique magnetic and rotational properties.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a new theory that suggests the universe's rapid early expansion could emerge naturally from a deeper, more complete theory of quantum gravity. This approach offers a unified picture that connects the earliest moments of the universe to modern cosmology.
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.
GSI/FAIR's new Galactic Cosmic Ray simulator enables researchers to better understand radiation doses and control effects in human tissue and technical components. The simulator replicates the GCR exposure in a lightly shielded habitat, providing a crucial tool for space radiation research.
Researchers found our Sun joined a mass migration of similar stars 4-6 billion years ago, shedding light on galaxy evolution and the corotation barrier. The discovery reveals the time range over which the bar structure at the galactic center was formed.
A team of astronomers has detected rare evidence of two planets colliding, which could provide valuable insights into the formation of our solar system. The unlikely event was observed in a distant star, Gaia20ehk, which was found to have massive amounts of rocks and dust passing in front of it, blocking its light.
A team of international researchers led by a UC Santa Barbara graduate student has confirmed a long-standing theory of stellar death by applying the principles of general relativity to a superluminous supernova. The discovery suggests that a magnetar, a rapidly spinning neutron star with a massive magnetic field, powers the supernova, ...
The Global Physics Summit will feature over 12,000 individual presentations on new research in astrophysics, particle physics, and quantum information science. Registered journalists and public information officers will receive daily emails with information during the meeting.
Asteroids in binary systems actively exchange rocks and dust through gentle, slow-motion collisions, reshaping them over millions of years. The DART mission's findings confirm the YORP effect, where sunlight makes small asteroids spin faster, causing material to fly off their surfaces.
The updated catalogue, GWTC-4, doubles the number of events, revealing 128 new gravitational signals and a kaleidoscope of cosmic collisions, including massive black hole binaries and neutron star binaries. The data provides unprecedented precision to test Einstein's General Relativity and probe the universe's evolution.
The latest catalog more than doubles the number of gravitational-wave detections made by LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA observatories, revealing a kaleidoscope of cosmic collisions. The LVK's Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog-4.0 comprises 128 new detections from a nine-month period.
Researchers at Nagoya University found that magnetic fields keep the equator spinning faster than the poles in stars, preventing a rotation flip even as they slow down with age. This contradicts 45 years of theoretical predictions and could help scientists solve stellar mysteries.
Researchers analyzed over 40 years of astronomical data to find detectable changes inside the Sun during four quiet periods. The study reveals that even small differences in solar magnetic activity produce measurable changes in the Sun's internal structure.
Researchers analyzed Ryugu asteroid samples to understand magnetic field evolution in early solar system. The study found that 23 of 28 samples exhibited stable NRM components, providing critical information on the spatiotemporal evolution of magnetic fields.
The Rubin Observatory has launched a real-time monitoring system, producing up to 7 million alerts per night, which will enable scientists to discover rare and unusual objects in the universe. The alerts will chronicle the treasure trove of scientific discoveries made through the observatory's time-lapse record of the universe.
A team of researchers from Illinois and UChicago has developed a novel way to compute the Hubble constant using gravitational waves, improving accuracy over prior methods. The new method uses background gravitational-wave hum from merging black holes in distant galaxies to learn about the age and composition of the universe.
A team of astronomers led by UMass Amherst has discovered a population of dusty, star-forming galaxies at the edge of the universe, formed 13 billion years ago. These galaxies are linked to ultrabright, young galaxies and massive quiescent galaxies, providing new insights into galaxy evolution.
Astronomers from the University of Waterloo have observed a distant jellyfish galaxy, providing rare insight into how galaxies were transformed in the early universe. The discovery challenges previous beliefs about galaxy clusters and their impact on galaxy properties.
Researchers discovered a star in the Andromeda Galaxy that vanished without going supernova, instead collapsing directly into a black hole. The team's analysis revealed the process of stellar collapse and provided evidence for convection's role in shaping a black hole's outer layers.
A team led by Columbia University professor Kishalay De observed a massive star in the Andromeda galaxy collapse directly into a black hole without exploding as a supernova. This event challenges long-held assumptions about stellar deaths, suggesting that stars with similar mass may or may not successfully explode.
The American Physical Society's Global Physics Summit will feature over 10,000 individual presentations on new research in astrophysics and particle physics. Attendees can book discounted hotel rates near the Colorado Convention Center until February 12 to receive a discount.
Dr. Stephen Fuselier, a renowned heliophysicist and member of the National Academy of Sciences, has been appointed vice president of SwRI's Space Science Division. He brings over four decades of experience in space science to lead the division.
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.
The lack of widely accepted standards for managing reproductive health risks in space is a pressing concern. Limited reliable data from human studies shows that space can be hostile to human biology, with conditions like altered gravity, cosmic radiation, and circadian disruption affecting reproductive processes.
A Sydney PhD student has recreated a tiny piece of the Universe inside a bottle in her laboratory, producing cosmic dust from scratch. The results shed new light on how the chemical building blocks of life may have formed long before Earth existed.
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.
A study by researchers at Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe has developed a method to resolve phase ambiguity in measuring cosmic birefringence. The technique may provide clues to unknown physical theories and dark matter, reducing uncertainty in observations.
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 at the University of Plymouth have discovered a method to increase muon lifetime using intense laser pulses. By applying quantum interference principles, they aim to develop new scientific facilities that utilize muons instead of electrons.
Researchers at FRIB have measured proton capture on arsenic-73 to produce selenium-74, providing new constraints on the formation and destruction of p-nuclei. This experiment brings closer understanding of rare isotope origins in 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.
Researchers at Maynooth University found that chaotic conditions in the early Universe triggered the rapid growth of smaller black holes into super-massive behemoths. This breakthrough resolves a long-standing puzzle, suggesting that 'garden variety' stellar mass black holes can grow at extreme rates.
A new international study finds that Io and Europa's contrasting water makeup was established at birth, contradicting the idea that it evolved over time. The research suggests that Io formed from dry materials and Europa accreted from ice-rich building blocks.
Researchers found that reionization-driven turbulence can power the turbulent dynamo, amplifying weak magnetic fields over time. This mechanism relies on established physics rather than exotic particles or forces, explaining the origin of intergalactic magnetic fields.
Dr. Michael Davis, an astrophysicist at Southwest Research Institute, has been recognized by SPIE as a Fellow for his work on space instruments and UV imaging. He is the optics and detector scientist for NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Juno mission to Jupiter.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have explained the mysterious 'red dots' seen in James Webb Space Telescope images as young black holes. The discovery provides insight into how the universe's first black holes were born and sheds light on their early development.
The American Physical Society's Global Physics Summit will convene over 14,000 physicists worldwide for groundbreaking research presentations. The event will feature both in-person and online experiences, including scientific sessions, exhibits, and networking events.
Researchers at Kyoto University observe a peculiar supernova explosion, SN 2022esa, which reveals the birth of a black hole binary. The study provides new direction for understanding massive star evolution and black hole formation.
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.
Researchers found evidence that dark matter and neutrinos interact, offering a rare glimpse into the universe's darkest regions. The study casts doubt on the long-standing cosmological model, suggesting interactions between dark matter and neutrinos could explain a discrepancy in cosmic structure formation.
Astronomers have created a naturally occurring space weather station around complex periodic variable M dwarf stars to study the environment of planets. This discovery sheds new light on how stars affect their planets' makeup and might provide clues about the habitability of distant worlds.
A recent study suggests that lunar spacecraft exhaust methane can contaminate areas of the moon where original ingredients of earthly life may be found. The pollution can unfold rapidly, with more than half of the total exhaust methane settling in regions potentially harboring prebiotic organic molecules within seven days.
Researchers at Texas A&M University are building highly sensitive detectors to explore dark matter and energy. The team's work builds on previous breakthroughs in detecting low-mass particles, and they aim to find ways to amplify signals that were previously buried in noise.
Researchers identified nine objects with characteristics of stars and galaxies, sparking new questions about the cosmos. These 'platypus galaxies' have narrow emission lines indicative of active star formation, defying expectations.
Scientists at CU Boulder have solved a pressing mystery about the universe's gravitational wave background by revealing the role of smaller galaxies in galaxy evolution. The new study suggests that when a smaller supermassive black hole merges with a larger one, the smaller black hole gains mass, producing larger gravitational waves.
The CHSN01 jacket material has achieved an average yield strength of 1560 MPa at 4.2 K, setting a new benchmark in cryogenic steel properties. This breakthrough demonstrates exceptional mechanical properties, non-magnetic nature, and high-strength performance under extreme conditions.
A team of astronomers has discovered that the winds of giant stars like R Doradus are driven by complex processes, rather than being powered solely by starlight and stardust. The study used advanced computer simulations to model how starlight interacts with dust grains, finding that they are too small to be pushed outward by starlight ...
Researchers will use revolutionary technology to transform understanding of extreme environments, revealing how black holes behave and evolve. The project aims to deliver dynamic gravitational tomography, creating 3D movies showing plasma flows around black holes.
The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory has begun construction on its southern site in Chile, paving the way for the world's largest and most powerful observatory for gamma-ray astronomy. The CTAO will focus on understanding relativistic cosmic particles, probing extreme environments, and searching for dark matter.
Scientists have found that active galactic nuclei are two to six times more common in merging galaxies than non-merging counterparts. Galaxy mergers were most strongly associated with bright, dust-cloaked supermassive black holes linked to rapid growth.
Researchers reanalyze Cassini mission data to find that Titan's interior is more icy and slushy than previously thought, with implications for the search for life on Titan. The new findings suggest a slushy layer instead of an ocean, which could facilitate the growth of simple organisms.
Scientists have discovered a rare superkilonova event, which may have produced gravitational waves and light, as detected by LIGO and Virgo. The candidate kilonova AT2025ulz showed signs of a supernova before fading and brightening again in red wavelengths.
Researchers detect strong evidence for an atmosphere on ultra-hot super-Earth TOI-561 b, challenging the idea that small planets can't sustain atmospheres. The planet's unusually low density is explained by a thick volatile-rich atmosphere that circulates heat and cools the nightside.