Researchers found supermassive black holes prevent star formation in smaller galaxies by driving powerful winds that heat gas, quenching the process. This discovery sheds light on how dwarf galaxies, composed of up to 100 million stars, evolve and affects our understanding of galaxy evolution.
An international team has discovered an 'astonishing' overabundance of massive stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy. The study used detailed analyses of nearly 1,000 massive stars to determine their distribution, revealing that massive stars are much more abundant than previously thought.
SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience·DateJan 4, 2018
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.
A new study published in Nature shows that the mass of a galaxy's central black hole determines when its star formation history stops. The study found a continuous interplay between black hole activity and star formation throughout a galaxy's life, with bigger black holes quenching star formation faster.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature·DateJan 1, 2018
A team of researchers has discovered a Z-shaped structure in a microquasar, which challenges current theories on gravitational wave emission from distant radio galaxies. The study suggests that these structures may form through hydrodynamic interactions rather than black hole fusion.
SourceUniversity of Jaén·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 18, 2017
Researchers at Kyoto University have proposed a new theory on the formation of binary black holes within collapsing stars. Their study suggests that these black holes could form through dynamical fragmentation of the star's inner core, leading to two fragments becoming black holes and orbiting each other.
SourceKyoto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 18, 2017
Researchers at Kazan Federal University studied blazar CTA 102 and found a twisted inhomogeneous jet changing its orientation and rotation. This discovery helps explain long-term trends in spectral variability and brightness.
SourceKazan Federal University·JournalNature·DateDec 17, 2017
Extragalactic jets from supermassive black holes can disintegrate due to a previously unknown centrifugal instability. This study reveals that an instability similar to water flowing in curved pipes creates a weak point in the jet's flow.
SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Astronomy·DateDec 11, 2017
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.
Scientists have discovered black holes have significantly weaker magnetic fields than previously thought, with measurements about 400 times lower than estimated. This finding deepens our knowledge of how matter behaves under extreme conditions and could impact nuclear fusion power and GPS systems.
SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalScience·DateDec 7, 2017
Astronomers measured the magnetic field of a black hole in a binary system using data from a sudden flare. The field was found to be substantially weaker than expected, providing new insights into how black holes consume material.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateDec 7, 2017
A team of astronomers discovered the most-distant supermassive black hole ever observed, located in a luminous quasar and emitting light from 5% of its current age. The black hole has a mass 800 million times that of our Sun, posing a challenge to theories of supermassive black hole growth.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature·DateDec 6, 2017
A team of astronomers has detected the most distant supermassive black hole ever observed, measuring around 800 million times the mass of our sun. The black hole's extreme size is puzzling, as the universe was not old enough to create such a massive object just 690 million years after the Big Bang.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateDec 6, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Astronomers have discovered a quasar harboring an 800 million solar mass black hole, located in a primarily neutral Universe at a redshift of 7.54. The finding challenges our understanding of the early growth of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.
SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalNature·DateDec 6, 2017
Astronomers have detected an extremely distant supermassive black hole with a mass 800 million times that of our Sun, pushing the boundaries of understanding the early cosmos. The discovery, based on data from Gemini Observatory, reveals the universe was only 5% of its current age at this distance.
SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalNature·DateDec 6, 2017
Recent observations of four colliding galaxies in the Abell 3827 cluster suggest that SIMPs, strongly interacting massive particles, may be a new candidate for the universe's elusive dark matter. SIMPs would interact strongly with themselves via gravity but weakly with normal matter, overcoming a major failing of WIMP theory.
SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·DateDec 4, 2017
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.
Researchers propose using gravitational wave experiments to detect merger events at redshifts greater than 40, which could indicate the presence of primordial black holes or non-Gaussianity in the early universe. A detection would bolster theories about dark matter, while a non-detection would cast doubt.
SourceBrown University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 30, 2017
Scientists measured a time delay of 100 milli-seconds between X-rays and optical flashes from the jet emitted by V404 Cygni's black hole. This delay indicates the inner acceleration zone in the jet is approximately 30,000 kilometers away from the event horizon.
SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 28, 2017
Astronomers have discovered eleven low-mass protostars forming close to the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, defying predictions of hostile environment. These newly formed stars are about 6,000 years old and represent the earliest phase of star formation in this highly turbulent region.
SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 28, 2017
Brazilian researcher Juliano Cesar Silva Neves challenges the standard cosmological model by proposing the elimination of the spacetime singularity and the possibility of a prior contraction phase. The current expansion may be preceded by contraction, with potential vestiges still present in the universe.
SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalGeneral Relativity and Gravitation·DateNov 27, 2017
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.
Astronomers predict that gravitational waves generated by the merger of two supermassive black holes will be detected within 10 years using pulsar timing array data. The study estimates a 100% chance of detecting something in 10 years, with bigger galaxies offering longer detection windows.
SourceSimons Foundation·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 13, 2017
The Cosmos code, developed by the University of Texas at Austin, has been optimized for the Stampede2 supercomputer using XSEDE ECSS resources. This allows for accurate simulations of black hole jets and other astrophysical phenomena, providing new insights into the mysteries of space.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·DateNov 7, 2017
A team of scientists has captured the time delay between X-ray flares and optical light flashes in a stellar-mass black hole, resolving controversy over jet plasma activation. This study uses precise multi-wavelength observations to demonstrate that relativistic jets are formed by gravity and magnetic fields.
SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalNature Astronomy·DateOct 30, 2017
Researchers at RIT suggest that outer gas disks of big spiral galaxies are suitable for hosting orbiting black holes and merging massive black holes. This discovery could help explain how black-hole pairs form and provide a new way to study the universe using gravitational waves and traditional light measurements.
SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 30, 2017
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.
Researchers at Ural Federal University found that a popular theory of gravity is flawed when applied to real-world astrophysical conditions. They propose new Horndeski models to stabilize black holes, addressing modern physics prerequisites and inconsistencies. The study aims to develop a new theory of gravity meeting all requirements.
SourceUral Federal University·JournalClassical and Quantum Gravity·DateOct 26, 2017
The LIGO detector has confirmed a 1989 prediction made by Prof. Tsvi Piran that neutron star mergers produce gamma-ray bursts and synthesize heavy elements like gold and uranium. This confirmation solves several puzzles in astronomy and opens new ways to understand the universe.
SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature·DateOct 16, 2017
Scientists will use NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study the creation of the universe's first galaxies and stars. With its powerful spectrographic instruments, Webb will see much more detail than imaging alone can provide, allowing scientists to study how gases transformed into stars in the first galaxies.
The LIGO and Virgo Scientific Collaborations have detected a fourth gravitational wave signal, confirming Einstein's theory of general relativity. The detection was made using advanced optical interferometers and marks the first time three observatories have witnessed a merger at once.
Researchers used super-computer simulations to recreate the formation of a massive black hole from supersonic gas streams left over from the Big Bang. The study suggests these black holes could be the source of the largest and oldest super-massive black holes in the Universe, posing a challenge to existing theories.
SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalScience·DateSep 28, 2017
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.
RIT researchers, in collaboration with LIGO and Virgo, successfully triangulated the position of a 1.8 billion-year-old black hole merger. With three advanced detectors observing together, scientists can now pinpoint locations with higher precision, enabling more accurate electromagnetic counterparts searches.
SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 27, 2017
Researchers found that Type I galaxies have more efficient supermassive black holes, emitting energy faster compared to Type II galaxies
Researchers studied nuclear obscuration in AGN using infrared and X-ray studies, revealing complex gas and dusty clouds orbiting the black hole. The material is connected to the galaxy via outflows and inflows of gas, regulating star formation.
SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 25, 2017
Astronomers have detected the closest ever binary supermassive black hole system in galaxy NGC 7674, featuring two massive black holes with a combined mass of 40 million solar masses. The discovery is significant as it confirms theoretical predictions and provides insight into gravitational wave sources.
SourceTata Institute of Fundamental Research·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 19, 2017
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
A study published in 'Nature Astronomy' confirms that supermassive black holes can form gravitationally bound pairs when galaxies merge. The binary system has a mass of approximately 40 million times the Sun's, and its orbital period is about 100,000 years.
SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 18, 2017
Researchers have gained a better understanding of the structure of hot jets and accretion disks surrounding black holes at the center of galaxies. They compared data from radio interferometry and Gaia space observatory, discovering discrepancies in object positions that revealed bright jets emitting visible light in many quasars.
SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 12, 2017
Researchers suggest primordial black holes formed shortly after the Big Bang might explain the origin of heavy elements like gold, platinum and uranium. They propose a theory where these black holes collide with neutron stars to produce heavier elements.
SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 1, 2017
A team of researchers at the University of Iowa suggests that black holes played a crucial role in making the universe visible. By ejecting matter violently, black holes may have pierced cloudy surroundings, enabling light from stars to escape. This theory is supported by observations of a nearby galaxy emitting ultraviolet light.
SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 30, 2017
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.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have challenged long-standing theories on black holes using hands-on experiments at the Z machine. The study found that certain ionization stages of iron are not present in a black hole's accretion disk, contradicting previous assumptions.
SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 28, 2017
Researchers suggest black holes seen via gravitational waves spin slowly or rapidly, with tumbling behavior in dense environments; these findings provide new target for understanding black hole formation.
SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature·DateAug 23, 2017
A team of astronomers used the MUSE instrument on the VLT to study how gas can be stripped from galaxies, focusing on extreme jellyfish galaxies. Six out of seven jellyfish galaxies were found to host a supermassive black hole feeding on surrounding gas.
Astronomers have discovered a unique lensing system that provides the best view yet of blobs of hot gas streaming from supermassive black holes. The discovery allows scientists to see these clumps closer to the central engine of the black hole and in greater detail than before.
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.
Researchers developed theories supported by 3D simulations to explain the formation and dissipation of galaxy jets. The simulations show that instabilities in space jets are triggered by the interaction with surrounding matter, known as the ambient medium.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 14, 2017
Researchers from University of California, Irvine estimate tens of millions of stellar-remnant black holes exist in the Milky Way galaxy. The number of black holes is expected to depend on the size of the galaxy.
SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 8, 2017
Tiny primordial black holes could have destroyed neutron stars from the inside out, leading to the ejection of dense neutron-rich material that formed heavy elements like gold and uranium. This process would also explain several long-standing mysteries in the universe, including Fast Radio Bursts and positron emissions.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 4, 2017
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.
Scientists develop detailed models to explore black hole-neutron star collisions, helping detectors identify gravitational-wave signals and telescopes search for gamma-ray bursts. These simulations shed light on the aftermath of catastrophic events in space.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalClassical and Quantum Gravity·DateAug 2, 2017
Researchers have discovered a way to estimate black hole masses by looking at spiral galaxy arms. The study found that galaxies with tightly wound spiral arms tend to have more massive black holes.
SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 20, 2017
Astronomers observe how massive forces create shock waves in interstellar medium, leading to X-ray and radio emissions. The study provides insight into galactic proportions, allowing researchers to see event across electromagnetic spectrum.
SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 4, 2017
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.
Researchers have detected orbital motion in a pair of supermassive black holes, marking the first-ever 'visual binary' of such systems. The two black holes are estimated to complete an orbit every 30,000 years and may merge millions of years later.
A team of scientists has detected the smallest ever recorded movement of an object across the sky, known as angular motion, in a giant galaxy with two supermassive black holes at its center. The movement is thought to be the result of one black hole orbiting around the other over a period of 30,000 years.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have successfully simulated black hole conditions using a specially designed water bath, demonstrating the phenomenon of superradiance. This achievement provides new insights into the physics of black holes and has implications for further research on astrophysical observations.
SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 14, 2017
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.
Researchers suggest that massive star explosions can expel newborn black holes with strong natal kicks, affecting their spin and alignment. This phenomenon could help explain years of tentative evidence suggesting black holes receive such kicks.
SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 5, 2017
Researchers suggest dense star clusters as source of gravitational waves, with black holes colliding to produce these waves. Computer simulations and observations point to globular clusters as ideal environments for black hole collisions.
SourceThe Kavli Foundation·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 2, 2017
Physicists at the University of Maryland contribute to the detection of a third gravitational wave event, GW170104, using data from Advanced LIGO detectors. The merger occurred approximately 3 billion years ago and produced a single, more massive black hole.
SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 1, 2017
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.
An international team of researchers detected gravitational waves from a binary black hole system, providing evidence that black holes in binary systems may not be aligned. The discovery highlights the need for further improvements in detector sensitivity to explore the universe.
SourceAustralian National University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 1, 2017
Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology contributed to the measurement of a newly discovered black hole's tilt and spin, which can reveal clues about how massive stars die. The findings support Einstein's general theory of relativity and rule out extreme predictions for black hole spins.
SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 1, 2017
LIGO has made its third detection of gravitational waves, revealing a new population of black holes with masses up to 49 times that of the sun. The detected black holes were formed by merging pairs and provide clues about their spin directions, which may be non-aligned compared to their orbital motion.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 1, 2017
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.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) has confirmed the third detection of gravitational waves, revealing a population of black holes that were previously unknown. The detected black holes have masses ranging from 21 to 49 times that of the sun, shedding light on the existence of heavy black hole pairs.
SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 1, 2017
Researchers at Kansas State University used ultra-intense X-rays to break up molecules, creating a molecular 'black hole' that pulls electrons away. This discovery may help scientists understand the damage caused by X-ray radiation in biological systems.
SourceKansas State University·JournalNature·DateMay 31, 2017
Researchers use ultra-bright X-ray light to ionize a molecule, creating a 'molecular black hole' that explodes within a trillionth of a second. The study provides crucial information for analyzing complex molecules with X-ray lasers.
SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalNature·DateMay 31, 2017
Scientists used the world's most powerful X-ray laser to create a 'molecular black hole' that pulled in surrounding electrons, stripping away more than 50 electrons from a single atom. The results provide fundamental insights into how to better plan and interpret experiments using intense X-rays.
SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalNature·DateMay 31, 2017
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.
Researchers used Pan-STARRS telescope data to search for stars crashing into hard surfaces around supermassive black holes. No such transients were detected, supporting the existence of event horizons. The team plans to improve the test with a larger telescope.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 30, 2017
Researchers found a dying star that fizzled out and left behind a black hole, shedding light on why massive stars rarely explode as supernovae. The discovery could help explain the origins of supermassive black holes.
SourceOhio State University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 25, 2017