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Big surprises can come in small packages

Astronomers using Hubble have found the smallest known galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its center. The galaxy, M60-UCD1, has a diameter of just 300 light-years and contains 140 million stars, yet it harbors a massive black hole weighing five times that of the Milky Way's central black hole.

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Reinterpreting dark matter

A team of researchers, led by Tom Broadhurst, has reinterpreted cold dark matter as a Bose-Einstein condensate, proposing that it governs the formation of the universe's structure. The theory predicts galaxies formed relatively late and could explain puzzling cores in dwarf galaxies.

Mysterious dance of dwarfs may force a cosmic rethink

Astronomers discover that small galaxies orbit in orderly disc-shaped orbits, contradicting computer models. The phenomenon is observed in about 50% of galaxies, sparking a reevaluation of dark matter's nature and the laws of physics.

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.

Astronomers find 7 dwarf galaxies with new telescope

Astronomers at Yale University have discovered seven previously unseen dwarf galaxies using a novel telescope that can detect low-surface-brightness objects. The finding suggests the possibility of a new class of galaxies in space, with potential implications for dark matter and galaxy evolution.

Reinterpreting dark matter

New research opens up possibility that dark matter governs structure across whole universe, resolving puzzles in galaxy cores and formation timing. The theory suggests large stationary waves of dark matter called solitons could explain observed phenomena.

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.

Nearby satellite galaxies don't fit standard model

Recent study finds satellite dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way and Andromeda do not behave as predicted by the standard model of galaxy formation. The galaxies are instead found in huge disks, moving in the same direction, like planets in our solar system. This mismatch raises concerns about the accuracy of the standard model of cosmology.

Fermi data tantalize with new clues to dark matter

Researchers use Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope data to identify excess gamma-ray emission at high energies, consistent with dark matter annihilation. The signal is difficult to reconcile with other explanations and provides a strong case for the existence of dark matter.

Astrophysicists launch ambitious assessment of galaxy formation simulations

The AGORA project aims to resolve issues in galaxy formation simulations by systematically comparing high-resolution codes using a common set of initial conditions and astrophysical assumptions. The comparisons will help researchers determine which simulation results are due to the code platform or underlying theoretical assumptions.

NASA's Hubble and Chandra find evidence for densest nearby galaxy

Astronomers have found the most crowded galaxy in our part of the universe, M60-UCD1, packed with an extraordinary number of stars. The ultra-compact dwarf galaxy is estimated to be about 10 billion years old and has a density of stars about 15,000 times greater than Earth's neighborhood.

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

UCI scientists size up universe's most lightweight dwarf galaxy

Researchers have discovered a tiny dwarf galaxy, Segue 2, with only 1,000 stars, offering insights into the formation of iron and other elements crucial for human life. The galaxy's size and weight are its most striking features, challenging astronomers' understanding of structure formation in the universe.

MOND used to predict key property in Andromeda's satellites

Researchers used Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) to predict velocity dispersion in faint dwarf galaxies of Andromeda. In 16 out of 17 cases, their predictions matched the measured velocity dispersions, suggesting that MOND may be a viable alternative to dark matter.

Nearby dwarf galaxy and possible protogalaxy discovered

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have discovered a faint dwarf galaxy and another possible young dwarf galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. They also found evidence pointing to two already known dwarf galaxies as probable forces that pulled the pinwheel-shaped disk galaxy, M101, out of shape.

NASA's GALEX reveals the largest-known spiral galaxy

The team used archival data from NASA's GALEX mission to study the galaxy's size and structure. They discovered a tidal dwarf candidate in the northeastern arm, which is bright in ultraviolet light and contains hot young stars less than 200 million years old.

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Galaxy halos are produced by orphan stars, findings indicate

Researchers from UC Irvine and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have discovered that galaxy halos are likely caused by orphan stars ejected from galaxies during violent mergers. The team used data from the Spitzer Space Telescope to study the patterns of diffuse light, finding that it is too strong to be explained by earlier theories.

Hubble unmasks ghost galaxies

Astronomers discover that small dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way contain only a few stars and share the same birth date, indicating they were shut down by reionization. The relic galaxies provide evidence for a transitional phase in the early universe.

Belching black hole proves a biggie

Astronomers have confirmed the first known 'middleweight' black hole, HLX-1, using observations with CSIRO's Australia Telescope Compact Array. The black hole is estimated to be around 20,000 to 90,000 times the mass of the Sun and lies in a galaxy called ESO 243-49.

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Star cluster surrounds wayward black hole in cannibal galaxy

Astronomers have discovered a young cluster of blue stars surrounding an intermediate-mass black hole in a cannibal galaxy. The star cluster is thought to be less than 200 million years old and may be the remnant of a dwarf galaxy that was swallowed by the larger galaxy.

Black hole came from a shredded galaxy

Researchers found a cluster of young, blue stars encircling the first intermediate-mass black hole ever discovered in a dwarf galaxy. The presence of this star cluster suggests that the black hole was once at the core of the now-disintegrated dwarf galaxy.

Physicists set strongest limit on mass of dark matter

Researchers from Brown University report that dark matter must have a mass greater than 40 GeV to explain the universe's accelerated expansion. This limits potential weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) candidates, which were previously suggested by other experiments.

NASA's Hubble observes young dwarf galaxies bursting with stars

Astronomers have uncovered an extraordinary population of young dwarf galaxies brimming with star formation, forcing a re-evaluation of their understanding of galaxy evolution. These galaxies are estimated to be 9 billion years old and produce stars at rates 100 times faster than the Milky Way.

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Astronomers pin down galaxy collision rate with Hubble data

A new analysis of Hubble surveys and simulations reveals that galaxies gained mass through collisions with other galaxies. Large galaxies merged on average once over the past 9 billion years, while small galaxies coalesced with large ones more frequently.

How the Milky Way got its spiral

A supercomputer simulation by University of Pittsburgh researcher Christopher W. Purcell suggests that the Milky Way's spiral arms were triggered by a collision with the Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy. The impact stripped off 80-90% of the dark matter halo, producing instabilities that eventually formed the spiral arms and ring structures.

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New discovery sheds light on the ecosystem of young galaxies

A team of scientists has discovered a distant galaxy that helps elucidate two fundamental questions of galaxy formation. The galaxy's extended patch of light suggests that roughly half of the radiation is escaping and exciting hydrogen atoms outside its halo.

New insights into the 'hidden' galaxies of the universe

Researchers found a nearly 20-year-old observation of the faint galaxy ESO 546-G34, which offers insights into the earliest galaxies in the universe. The discovery suggests that small low surface brightness galaxies may have more in common with the first galaxies formed after the Big Bang.

Expanded VLA flexing new scientific muscle

The Expanded VLA is providing new insights into the formation of sun-like stars, with observations revealing previously unseen detail of molecular gas near a very young star. The telescope's improved quality is also helping researchers study large ejections of matter from massive young stars and their role in galaxy evolution.

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Surprise: Dwarf galaxy harbors supermassive black hole

Astronomers have discovered a supermassive black hole in a nearby dwarf galaxy, Henize 2-10, which is thought to be one of the first galaxies to form in the early Universe. The finding suggests that supermassive black holes formed before their surrounding galaxies, challenging current understanding of galaxy evolution.

Old star is 'missing link' in galactic evolution

A newly discovered star in the Sculptor dwarf galaxy has a chemical makeup similar to the Milky Way's oldest stars, lending support to the 'bottom-up model' of galaxy formation. The star's unusually low metal abundance resembles those of old Milky Way stars, further validating the theory.

First of missing primitive stars discovered

Scientists have discovered a relic star from the early universe, which has a remarkably similar chemical composition to the Milky Way's oldest stars. The discovery supports the theory that our galaxy underwent a 'cannibal' phase by swallowing smaller galaxies and other galactic building blocks.

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New research resolves conflict in theory of how galaxies form

A team of researchers has resolved a long-standing conflict in the theory of galaxy formation, using millions of hours of supercomputer simulations. The study reveals that cosmic explosions, such as supernovas, play a key role in preventing the formation of stars and dark matter at the centers of dwarf galaxies.

Star-birth myth 'busted'

A team of international researchers has challenged the long-held idea that the ratio of massive stars to lighter ones in star-forming regions remains consistent. They found that this ratio, known as the initial mass function, varies significantly between different galaxies, with some forming more low-mass stars than expected.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

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Stellar explosion displays massive carbon footprint

Astronomers at the University of Warwick have discovered that the 2006 stellar explosion SCP 06F6 bears remarkable resemblance to extremely carbon-rich stars. The object's unusual characteristics suggest it may be a new type of supernova, with properties distinct from normal Type II supernovae.

Rogue black holes may roam the Milky Way

New calculations suggest hundreds of massive rogue black holes are left over from the early universe, potentially wandering the Milky Way's outer reaches. These relics could provide clues about galaxy formation history and the formation of black holes in the early universe.

New stars from old gas surprise astronomers

Astronomers have discovered star birth within a cloud of primordial gas, known as the Leo Ring, which lacks dark matter and heavy elements. This finding suggests that new galaxies may have formed through a distinct process, potentially providing insight into the early Universe.

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UCI scientists discover minimum mass for galaxies

Researchers analyzed light from small galaxies to determine their masses, finding all dwarf galaxies had the same mass - 10 million times the mass of the sun. This discovery reveals a fundamental property of dark matter, a key component of the universe.

Scientists solve cosmological puzzle

Researchers solved a longstanding problem of the Cold Dark Matter cosmology model by exposing a critical relationship between interstellar gas and dark matter in galaxy birth. The study showed that dense gas clouds in galaxies form massive stars, which drive 'sloshing' effects that kick dark matter out of the galaxy's center.

Why is the Hercules Dwarf Galaxy so flat?

The Hercules Dwarf Galaxy, a tiny companion to the Milky Way, has been found to have an exceptional flat shape, unlike any other known galaxy. The galaxy's shape is likely due to its close proximity to the Milky Way and the gravitational forces that disrupt it.

Astronomers detect black hole in tiny 'dwarf' galaxy

Scientists have discovered a supermassive black hole at the heart of a dwarf elliptical galaxy, VCC128, located 54 million light years away. The finding is significant as it shows that even small galaxies can host massive black holes, challenging previous assumptions.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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Fossil galaxy reveals clues to early universe

Astronomers have detected ionizing radiation leaking from a dwarf galaxy undergoing star formation, providing insights into the early universe's evolution. The study suggests that hot stars in Haro 11 allowed for some ionization to escape into intergalactic space.

No stars in the clouds

Researchers searched for dwarf galaxies in nearby galaxy cloud using Two Micron All Sky Survey and Very Large Telescope. However, no stars were detected, suggesting alternative explanations for the missing galaxies.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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Dwarf galaxy has giant surprise

Astronomers have discovered a dwarf galaxy surrounded by a gigantic, pristine hydrogen gas disk. The large reservoir of unprocessed matter may hold clues to the early universe's formation.

Key theory of galaxy formation no longer conflicts with observations

Astrophysicists have found a solution to the long-standing problem of dwarf galaxies in supercomputer simulations, validating the cold dark matter theory. The new simulations suggest that small dwarf galaxies could have been more massive in the past and formed stars before being consumed by larger galaxies.

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Tiny galaxies once roared in the universe, say scientists

Scientists discovered a tiny dwarf galaxy in intergalactic space that was previously overlooked. The galaxy is believed to have formed elements through supernova explosions, enriching the gas cloud. This finding suggests that tiny galaxies may have played a significant role in the chemical evolution of the universe.

Digital sky survey shedding light on faint Milky Way stars

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has identified dozens of dim binary star systems throughout the Milky Way, which are older and cooler than previously thought. The study finds that these close-binary systems have a low rate of mass transfer from the red dwarf to the white dwarf, making them less likely targets for many telescopes.

Distant ring of stars found around the Milky Way

A previously unseen band of stars beyond the edge of the Milky Way galaxy has been discovered, approximately 120,000 light years in diameter. The discovery supports the theory that at least part of our galaxy was formed by many smaller or dwarf galaxies mixing together.