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Black hole brings down curtain on jellyfish galaxy's star turn

A supermassive black hole at the centre of jellyfish galaxy JO201 is stripping away gas and throwing it out into space, accelerating the suppression of star formation. This process, known as ram-pressure stripping, has caused a brief increase in star formation due to the compression of clouds of gas.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·DateJul 2, 2019

Health checks from age 40 avoid 'black hole'

A study of 561 healthy adults found an average of five unidentified health problems per person, including undiagnosed high blood pressure and hearing loss. Regular health checks can help identify these issues and improve health outcomes through individualized screening and self-management recommendations.

SourceFlinders University·JournalBMC Geriatrics·DateJun 30, 2019
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Study: Internet perpetuates job market inequality

Researchers found that access to online job opportunities has not led to greater equality in the hiring process. Instead, lower-wage jobs are highly competitive, while higher-wage positions have limited openings.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·DateJun 26, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Cool, nebulous ring around Milky Way's supermassive black hole

Researchers have imaged a never-before-seen disk of cool, interstellar gas wrapped around the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The disk is composed of phenomenally hot and comparatively cooler gases, with temperatures ranging from 10 million to 10 thousand degrees Celsius.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalNature·DateJun 5, 2019

Spinning black hole sprays light-speed plasma clouds into space

Astronomers have discovered rapidly swinging jets from a black hole in V404 Cygni, behaving in a way never seen before. The jets are thought to be caused by the misalignment of the accretion disk and the black hole, resulting in a wobble-like motion.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalNature·DateApr 29, 2019

Peeling back the darkness of M87

A team of researchers unveiled an image of the shadow cast by a black hole at the center of galaxy Messier 87, using the Event Horizon Telescope and supercomputers like Stampede1 and Stampede2. The image confirms that supermassive black holes exist and match the appearance expected from simulations.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 15, 2019
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.

DIY gravitational waves with 'BlackHoles@Home'

West Virginia University researchers aim to unlock secrets of gravitational waves from binary black hole collisions with public computing power. They are building a website with downloadable software to generate self-consistent simulations, covering gaps in knowledge about gravitational wave parameters.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateApr 13, 2019

Travel through wormholes is possible, but slow

A Harvard physicist has shown that wormholes can exist and are theoretically useful for quantum gravity research. However, travel through them would be slower than direct travel, making it impractical for space exploration.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateApr 13, 2019

International astronomers reveal first image of event horizon of super-massive black hole

A team of international astronomers, including those from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, have successfully captured the first direct image of a supermassive black hole's event horizon. The image reveals the black hole at the center of Messier 87, a massive galaxy 55 million light-years from Earth.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 10, 2019

Astronomers capture first image of a black hole

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has captured the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole, located 55 million light-years from Earth. The image reveals the black hole's mass is 6.5-billion times that of the Sun.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 10, 2019
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.

Astronomers capture first image of a black hole

Scientists have captured the first-ever image of a black hole, which reveals the massive black hole at the center of the galaxy Messier 87. The image was achieved using the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), an unprecedented Earth-sized virtual telescope linking telescopes around the globe.

SourceESO·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 10, 2019

Astronomers capture first image of a black hole

The Event Horizon Telescope project has captured the first-ever image of a black hole, located at the heart of galaxy Messier 87. The image reveals a ring-like structure with a dark central region, confirming our understanding of general relativity.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 10, 2019

Physics tip sheet: APS April Meeting

The 2019 APS April Meeting features talks on Event Horizon Telescope project's first results, nucleosynthesis in neutron star mergers, and the proposed AMEGO mission. These discoveries shed light on black holes, dark matter, and the universe's evolution.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateApr 9, 2019
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.

VLA makes first direct image of key feature of powerful radio galaxies

Astronomers have made the first direct image of a dusty, doughnut-shaped feature surrounding a supermassive black hole in Cygnus A, a galaxy 760 million light-years from Earth. The feature, known as a torus, helps explain why objects with similar properties appear differently when viewed from different angles.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 2, 2019

Subaru Telescope helps find dark matter is not made up of tiny black holes

An international team of researchers used the Subaru telescope to detect primordial black holes using gravitational lensing effects. The study found that these black holes can contribute no more than 0.1% to all dark matter mass, ruling out their theory as a primary composition.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalNature Astronomy·DateApr 2, 2019
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Astronomers discover 83 supermassive black holes in the early universe

A team of astronomers has discovered 83 quasars powered by supermassive black holes in the early Universe, increasing the number of known black holes at that epoch. The survey reveals the average spacing between supermassive black holes is a billion light-years, providing insights into their origin.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 13, 2019

Ion experiment aces quantum scrambling test

Researchers at Joint Quantum Institute demonstrate a new way to distinguish between quantum scrambling and true information loss using a small quantum computer. They achieved an accuracy of 80% in correctly diagnosing scrambling with seven atomic ions.

SourceJoint Quantum Institute·JournalNature·DateMar 6, 2019
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Can entangled qubits be used to probe black holes?

Researchers demonstrated scrambling of information in a quantum computer, simulating the behavior of matter inside a black hole. They showed that entangled qubits could potentially be used to probe the mysterious interiors of black holes.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature·DateMar 6, 2019

Hiding black hole found

Astronomers have discovered an intermediate-mass black hole, 30,000 times the mass of the Sun, hidden within a gas cloud near the Galactic center. The finding provides new insight into black hole growth and evolution, suggesting that small black holes can merge to form larger ones.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateFeb 28, 2019

Philosophy: What exactly is a black hole?

A precise definition of a black hole's singularity proves elusive, with diverse definitions among physicists and different physical approaches to understanding the phenomenon.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature Astronomy·DateFeb 14, 2019

Zwicky Transient Facility spots a bumper crop of supernovae, black holes and more

The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) has discovered over 1,100 supernovae, two black holes, and 50 near-Earth asteroids since its operations began in March 2018. The facility is also conducting a systematic study of transients in galaxy nuclei, aiming to catch stars being ripped apart by supermassive black holes.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific·DateFeb 8, 2019
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

NASA's NICER mission maps 'light echoes' of new black hole

Researchers have charted the environment surrounding a stellar-mass black hole using NASA's NICER payload. The study reveals changes in the environment's size and shape, including the corona contracting vertically from 100 to 10 miles at vast distances.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature·DateJan 30, 2019

How black holes power plasma jets

Astronomers have discovered that particle escapees from black holes steal rotational energy through interactions with magnetic fields, resulting in high-speed plasma jets. The new simulations show two main mechanisms: the Blandford-Znajek process and a particle-boosting mechanism near the equator.

SourceSimons Foundation·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 29, 2019

How to escape a black hole: simulations provide new clues about powerful plasma jets

Researchers have combined decades-old theories to provide insight into the driving mechanisms of plasma jets in black holes. The simulations describe how twisting magnetic fields and 'negative-energy' particles produce these powerful displays, allowing black holes to steal energy and propel it far from their event horizons.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 24, 2019

Birth of massive black holes in the early universe revealed

Massive black holes may have formed in rare, densely populated areas of the early universe, a new study suggests. The team used simulations to model the growth of dark matter halos and found that rapid assembly prevented normal star formation, leading to black hole formation instead.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateJan 23, 2019

POLAR experiment reveals orderly chaos of black holes

A recent study using high-precision polarization measurements of five gamma-ray bursts has found that GRBs oscillate in the same direction within short time slices, with the oscillation direction changing over time. The results challenge previous theoretical models and provide new insights into the physics of GRB prompt emissions.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 15, 2019
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

The orderly chaos of black holes

Researchers discovered that photons emitted during black hole creation appear to be disordered, yet highly ordered within short time slices. This contradicts theories of either complete polarization or randomness, presenting new challenges for understanding the birth environment of black holes.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 14, 2019

Birth of a black hole or neutron star captured for the first time

A Northwestern University-led team captures the exact moment a star collapsed to form a compact object like a black hole or neutron star, revealing evidence of an accreting black hole or neutron star. The event, known as AT2018cow, was detected in the Hercules constellation and emitted remarkable bright glow.

SourceW. M. Keck Observatory·DateJan 10, 2019

Birth of a black hole or neutron star captured for first time

A Northwestern University-led team captures the moment a star collapsed to form a compact object, such as a black hole or neutron star. The team used multiple imaging sources and a comprehensive approach to study the object's makeup, finding evidence of hydrogen and helium.

SourceNorthwestern University·DateJan 10, 2019
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.

Unusual supernova opens a rare window on the collapse of a star

Astronomers have observed a rare supernova that provides a unique glimpse into the physics of black hole or neutron star creation. The object, known as AT2018cow, is thought to be the formation of an accreting black hole or neutron star.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·DateJan 10, 2019

Astronomers map 'light echoes' of newly discovered black hole

Researchers used NASA's NICER payload to detect X-ray light from a small black hole (J1820) consuming material from a companion star. Light echoes revealed changes in the environment's size and shape, providing new insights into stellar-mass black holes' behavior.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature·DateJan 9, 2019

Astronomers uncover the brightest quasar in the early universe

Researchers have discovered a bright quasar at a time when the universe was less than one billion years old, providing a rare opportunity to study black holes in the early universe. The quasar is fueled by a supermassive black hole and emits light equivalent to 600 trillion suns.

SourceW. M. Keck Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJan 9, 2019
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.

Cosmic telescope zooms in on the beginning of time

Astronomers have detected a distant quasar from the early universe using Gemini Observatory, which provides critical insights into the formation of galaxies. The quasar is fueled by a supermassive black hole at its center, with mass 700 million times that of our Sun.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJan 9, 2019

Beyond Einstein

Physicists at LSU and Penn State develop new mathematical equations that go beyond Einstein's theory of general relativity, showing that black hole singularities do not exist. The theory predicts a funnel to another branch of space-time instead.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 20, 2018

Beyond the black hole singularity

Loop quantum gravity allows physicists to extend gravitational physics beyond general relativity's limitations, enabling the analysis of black hole interiors. The theory predicts a repulsive force that can overwhelm classical gravity, potentially resolving the information paradox at black holes.

SourcePenn State·DateDec 20, 2018

Mystery of coronae around supermassive black holes deepens

Researchers from RIKEN and JAXA use ALMA radio observatory to measure magnetic field strengths near two supermassive black holes. The findings reveal that the magnetic fields are insufficient to heat coronae to one billion degrees Celsius, contradicting previous assumptions.

SourceRIKEN·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateDec 18, 2018
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

LIGO and Virgo announce four new gravitational-wave detections

The LIGO and Virgo collaborations have detected 10 stellar-mass binary black hole mergers and one neutron star merger, with six of the black hole events previously reported. The new detections include GW170729, GW170809, GW170818, and GW170823, which are included in a new catalog of gravitational-wave events.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateDec 3, 2018

Black hole 'donuts' are actually 'fountains'

A team of astronomers used ALMA to observe a supermassive black hole in the Circinus Galaxy, finding that gas expelled from the center interacts with infalling gas to create a turbulent three-dimensional structure. This 'donut' structure is not rigid, but rather a complex collection of highly dynamic gaseous components.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·DateNov 30, 2018
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Astronomers unveil growing black holes in colliding galaxies

Researchers have observed two galaxy nuclei in close proximity to each other, providing a rare glimpse of supermassive black hole pairs. The study offers insights into the final stages of galaxy mergers and their role in shaping the evolution of massive black holes.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature·DateNov 7, 2018

Astronomers get best view yet of supermassive black holes in colliding galaxies

A team of astronomers captured the best view yet of merging galaxies and their supermassive black holes, revealing that galaxy mergers are critical in fueling the growth of these massive black holes. The discovery uses high-resolution images and X-ray data to pinpoint the location of these hidden black hole mergers.

SourceW. M. Keck Observatory·JournalNature·DateNov 7, 2018
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.

Laboratory experiments probe the formation of stars and planets

Researchers used a rotating water-filled device to simulate the magnetorotational instability, which helps explain how matter falls inward to form planets in a reasonable time. The experiment confirmed the strong impact of magnetic forces on metal behavior, paving the way for a clearer understanding of accretion disk dynamics.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 5, 2018

Artificial intelligence bot trained to recognize galaxies

Researchers have developed an AI bot named ClaRAN to identify galaxies emitting powerful radio jets from supermassive black holes. The system uses machine learning to spot complex galaxy structures, reducing manual classification by human astronomers.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 31, 2018

Astronomers spot signs of supermassive black hole mergers

Researchers have found evidence for a large number of double supermassive black holes, precursors to massive galaxy mergers. The discovery was made by studying radio maps of powerful jet sources, which showed signs of periodic changes in jet direction, indicative of binary black hole mergers.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 23, 2018