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Most massive stellar black hole in our galaxy found

Astronomers have identified a massive stellar black hole with a mass of 33 solar masses, making it the most massive found in the Milky Way. The black hole is located at 2000 light-years away and was discovered using data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission.

Stellar collisions produce strange, zombie-like survivors

Astrophysicists simulated 1,000 stars orbiting the galaxy's central supermassive black hole and found that collision survivors can lose mass to become stripped down low-mass stars or merge with other stars. The likelihood of collision increases for stars closer to the supermassive black hole.

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.

Neutron stars are key to understanding elusive dark matter

Physicists calculated that neutron stars can heat up quickly due to energy transfer from dark matter particles, providing a potential way to detect dark matter. This process could reveal the nature of dark matter and its interactions with regular matter.

Milky Way black hole’s magnetic field mapped for first time

Researchers used a powerful framework called THEMIS to generate clear images of the Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) black hole, revealing its plasma ring and magnetic field lines. The study provides strong evidence for the need of strong magnetic fields in the accretion disk to push accreting plasma around.

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.

Sleeping supermassive black holes awakened briefly by shredded stars

Researchers analyzed over 3,000 CSO candidates and found that these galaxies host supermassive black holes with compact jets that extend up to 1,500 light-years. The team concludes that CSOs have relatively short lifetimes of 5,000 years or less, fueled by tidal disruption events (TDEs) triggered by massive star consumption.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Researchers prove validity of black hole jet formation model

The study confirms the BZ-jet model accurately predicts the morphology of observed jets, including elongated structure and limb-brightening characteristics. The disk-jet model failed to explain these observations. The research bridges the gap between dynamic models and jet properties.

Quantum tornado provides gateway to understanding black holes

Researchers have created a giant quantum vortex in superfluid helium, mimicking the gravitational conditions near rotating black holes. The study provides new avenues for simulations of finite-temperature quantum field theories within curved spacetimes.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Baby quasars: Growing supermassive black holes

Astronomers discover tiny, red versions of massive black holes that could change our understanding of their origins. The 'baby quasars' are small-scale black holes with masses between ten and a hundred million solar masses, observed using the James Webb Space Telescope.

Astronomers measure heaviest black hole pair ever found

The study uses data from Gemini North to analyze a supermassive black hole binary located in the elliptical galaxy B2 0402+379. The team estimates the binary's mass to be 28 billion times that of the Sun, qualifying it as the heaviest binary black hole ever measured.

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.

Brightest and fastest-growing: astronomers identify record-breaking quasar

The discovery of J0529-4351 reveals the most luminous object in the known Universe, with a mass of 17 billion Suns and an accretion disc seven light-years in diameter. The quasar's brightness surpasses that of 500 trillion Suns, providing valuable insights into supermassive black holes and their role in shaping the early Universe.

Which came first: Black holes or galaxies?

A new study found that black holes existed at the dawn of time and played a crucial role in galaxy formation. The research, using James Webb Space Telescope data, challenges classical understanding of black hole formation and suggests they may have dramatically accelerated star birth in the first 50 million years of the universe.

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 spot 18 black holes gobbling up nearby stars

A team of MIT scientists has detected 18 new tidal disruption events (TDEs) using infrared observations, more than doubling the catalog of known TDEs. The discoveries reveal that these star-shredding black holes occur in a range of galaxies across the entire sky, not just dusty galaxies.

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.

Astronomers detect oldest black hole ever observed

Researchers discovered a massive black hole at the center of galaxy GN-z11, which dates back 13 billion years and challenges traditional theories on black hole formation. The ancient black hole is 'eating' its host galaxy, suggesting alternative formation mechanisms.

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.

NASA scientists discover a novel galactic ‘fossil’

Researchers have discovered a novel galactic 'fossil' in the spiral galaxy NGC 4945, which sheds light on the evolution of galaxies. The X-rays outline giant clouds of cold gas that were blasted through the galaxy after its central supermassive black hole erupted 5 million years ago.

Cosmic lights in the forest

The PRIYA simulation suite provides a new model for simulating large-scale structure in the universe, constraining cosmological parameters and dark matter. The study confirms the σ8 tension between CMB measurements and weak lensing, with implications for understanding the universe's evolution billions of years after the Big Bang.

Unexpected chemistry reveals cosmic star factories´ secrets

Astronomers studying two distant galaxies in the early universe reveal unprecedented molecular diversity, shedding light on the lives of prodigious star factories. By analyzing light from over 13 molecules, researchers gain insights into the physical and chemical conditions in these galaxies.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

New red galaxies turn out to be already known blue galaxies

Researchers discover extremely red objects (EROs) in James Webb Space Telescope data that resemble blue-excess dust obscured galaxies (BluDOGs) found in Subaru Telescope data. The similarity suggests EROs and BluDOGs may be at similar stages of evolution, with a larger sample needed to confirm the relationship.

Astronomers discover first population of binary stripped stars

Researchers have identified a population of massive stars stripped of their hydrogen envelopes by their companions in binary systems. These hot helium stars are believed to be the origins of hydrogen-poor core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers, shedding new light on a long-theorized phenomenon.

New theory unites Einstein’s gravity with quantum mechanics

A new theory unifies gravity and quantum mechanics by preserving Einstein's classical concept of spacetime, proposing random fluctuations in spacetime that can be verified experimentally. The theory challenges the pursuit of a quantum theory of gravity, offering an alternative approach to reconcile the two fundamental theories.

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.

10 billion year, 50,000 light-year journey to black hole

Astronomers discover star S0-6 with chemical composition similar to small galaxies outside Milky Way, suggesting extragalactic origin. The star, 10 billion years old, has traveled over 50,000 light-years from its birthplace to reach vicinity of Sagittarius A*, raising questions about its past and possible companions.

Astronomers discover signs of life in a star’s explosive death

Scientists have observed bright, brief flashes months after a stellar explosion, confirming that the engine of the LFBOT is a black hole or neutron star. This unprecedented behavior shows that the object emitted multiple supernova-strength optical flares on timescales of less than a minute.

With unprecedented flares, stellar corpse shows signs of life

Astronomers confirm that a stellar corpse is the source of repeated energetic flares observed after a distant star's explosive death. The team detected at least 14 irregular light pulses over a 120-day period, likely driven by processes such as rapid rotation or strong magnetic fields.

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.

Black holes are messy eaters

Research reveals that supermassive black holes consume about 3% of the gas flowing towards them, while the remaining 97% is ejected and recycled back into the host galaxy. Gravitational instability drives the inflow, and most expelled outflows are not fast enough to escape the galaxy.

New research sheds light on early galaxy formation

A new computer simulation of the early universe aligns with JWST observations, showing no discrepancy with theoretical expectations. The 'Renaissance simulations' track dark matter clumps and galaxy formation, consistent with models that dictate cosmic physics.

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.

LIGO surpasses the quantum limit

Researchers at LIGO have developed a significant advance in quantum squeezing technology, allowing them to measure undulations in space-time across the entire range of gravitational frequencies detected by LIGO. This breakthrough boosts the observatory's ability to study exotic events and detect about 60 percent more mergers than before.

New proof for black hole spin

A team of international researchers has provided direct evidence that the supermassive black hole at the heart of galaxy M87 is spinning. The findings are based on 20 years of observational data, which show that gravitational interactions between the accretion disk and the black hole's spin cause the jet to wobble or precess.

Monitoring of radio galaxy M87 confirms black hole spin

A team of researchers confirmed the spin of a black hole in galaxy M87 by analyzing data from 2000-2022, showing an 11-year cycle in its jet's precessional motion. The findings provide evidence that the black hole spins, enhancing our understanding of supermassive black holes.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Black holes eat faster than previously expected

A Northwestern University study reveals that black holes devour gas at a much faster rate than previously believed. The simulations indicate that the inner regions of the accretion disk are destroyed and replenished, explaining the drastic variation in quasars' brightness and fading patterns.

Dark matter halos measured around ancient quasars

A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo has measured dark matter halo masses around ancient quasars, finding a consistent mass of about 10 trillion times the mass of our sun. This discovery suggests a characteristic DMH mass that activates quasars regardless of time period.

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.

NASA’s Swift learns a new trick, spots a snacking black hole

Astronomers using NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory discovered a black hole repeatedly nibbling on a Sun-like star in a distant galaxy. The object was detected using a new method for analyzing data from the satellite's X-ray Telescope, enabling it to adapt to new areas of astrophysics.

Unprecedented gamma-ray burst explained by long-lived jet

A team of astrophysicists at Northwestern University has successfully simulated the process of a black hole-neutron star merger, which is believed to have produced the unprecedented gamma-ray burst GRB211211A. The simulation reveals that the post-merger black hole launches jets of material from the swallowed neutron star.

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.