Articles tagged with Galaxies
Researchers have uncovered the step-by-step process of gas transport to form accretion disks in massive star-forming regions. The study reveals a striking layered system of gas flows, including spiral-like streams and a bar-like structure that funnels gas toward the center.
Recent JWST observations revealed a new population of astronomical objects, known as black hole stars, which are emitting light predominantly at longer wavelengths. These objects, located extremely far away, have raised questions about galaxy evolution and the formation of stars on a massive scale.
Astronomers discovered a greedy white dwarf star consuming its closest celestial companion at an unprecedented rate. The study found that the super-dense white dwarf is burning brightly due to the mass transfer between the two stars, potentially leading to a massive explosion visible from Earth.
Researchers have discovered warm space dust in a reservoir of hot gas surrounding the Makani galaxy, located 100 million years away. The study, led by University of Maryland astronomer Sylvain Veilleux, provides evidence that ejected dust particles can survive long journeys and may be an important ingredient in planet and star formation.
Researchers have discovered a potentially massive black hole, 36 billion solar masses, in the Cosmic Horseshoe galaxy. The discovery was made using a combination of gravitational lensing and stellar kinematics, allowing for more certainty about the mass of this black hole than previous measurements.
Researchers used the Dark Energy Camera to image a 'bridge' of diffuse light spanning roughly a million light years between two galaxies in Abell 3667. The findings suggest that the brightest galaxies in the cluster are actively merging, with one larger galaxy stealing stars from a smaller one.
A new study by Dartmouth astronomers has mapped 355 candidate satellite galaxies around dwarf galaxies, tripling the number previously surveyed. The researchers aim to understand how external conditions influence satellite formation and uncover insights into dark matter's nature.
Using a combination of telescopes, an international team studied the closest FXT associated with a supernova, tracing it to a 'trapped' jet that produced high-energy particles. The findings explain the historically elusive phenomena and mark a significant step in understanding cosmic explosions.
Researchers at Yale University have discovered a supermassive black hole in the recently-collided galaxies known as the 'Infinity' galaxy. This finding is significant as it suggests a novel way for black holes to form and provides a possible explanation for the existence of incredibly massive black holes in the early universe.
Researchers surveyed luminous infrared galaxies to gain insight into galaxy formation in the early universe and possibly the Milky Way. They discovered massive clumps of newborn stars, unlike anything seen in the Milky Way.
Researchers found that the Galactic Center's star-forming regions struggle to form high-mass stars, unlike typical star-forming regions, due to extreme conditions caused by the black hole. The study suggests these regions effectively produce just one generation of stars and lack sufficient material for continued formation.
A global team tracked an unusual object emitting pulses of radio waves and X-rays lasting two minutes in the Milky Way galaxy. The object, ASKAP J1832-0911, is a long-period transient (LPT) located 15,000 light-years from Earth.
A team from Norwegian University of Science and Technology proposes that supermassive black hole winds accelerate particles to create the mysterious high-energy radiation. The winds, which can reach speeds of up to half the speed of light, may be responsible for the creation of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays.
A team of astronomers observed a rare cosmic collision where one galaxy is pierced by intense radiation from a quasar, leading to the disruption of stellar nurseries. The study used ALMA and ESO's VLT telescopes to reveal the effects of this radiation on the internal structure of the gas in the regular galaxy.
Astronomers have found nearly 100 examples of massive black holes devouring stars in galaxy cores. A new study reveals a stealth black hole tearing apart a star 2,600 light years away from the galaxy's central massive black hole.
Researchers at Nagoya University discovered that Cepheid variable stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud are moving in opposing directions along two distinct axes, indicating the galaxy is being stretched by multiple external gravitational forces. The findings challenge previous theories of the galaxy's structure and dynamics.
Astrophysicist Jeremy Darling is pursuing a new method to measure the universe's gravitational wave background by analyzing the motion of quasars. His research could unravel the physics of gravity and help scientists understand galaxy evolution and fundamental assumptions about gravity.
A new study reveals that magnetar flares could be a potential source of heavy elements in the universe. By analyzing archival data and observations of magnetar flare events, researchers estimate that up to 10% of heavy elements like gold, uranium, and platinum may come from these cosmic explosions.
A team of researchers at Nagoya University has discovered a fast-moving, high-temperature gas flow in the center of the Centaurus cluster of galaxies. This finding may solve the 'cooling flow problem', which explains why galaxy clusters appear to be warm despite emitting X-rays.
The study provides a new look at the galactic region surrounding our solar system, revealing a roughly uniform background Lyman alpha sky brightness. The findings suggest hot interstellar gas bubbles may be regions of enhanced hydrogen gas emissions at a wavelength called Lyman alpha.
Researchers at King's College London and Harvard University develop a detector that can identify axions, leading potential candidates for dark matter. The Axion Quasiparticle (AQ) technology has the potential to discover dark matter in five years with further development.
Researchers have found evidence of a new population of faint galaxies hidden in the far-infrared sky, which could break current models of galaxy numbers and evolution. The discovery was made using data from the Herschel Space Observatory, which revealed a deeper image of the universe than ever before.
A new study proposes a third category of galaxies: red star-forming. These galaxies produce low-mass stars and may have played a significant role in the universe's history. The findings could change our understanding of galaxy evolution, star formation, and the life cycle of galaxies.
Researchers have discovered key conditions needed for a stellar black hole to create plasma jets, including the rapid shrinkage of superheated gas material towards the black hole. This study reveals that jets form under dynamic conditions, providing insights into galaxy evolution and the properties of black holes.
The Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) has arrived at its final home in Chile's Parque Astronómico Atacama after a six-week ocean voyage and trekking through the mountains. The telescope will study cosmic dawn, star and galaxy formation, and gravitational waves from the Big Bang.
Astronomers have discovered a clear sign of reionization beginning significantly earlier than thought in one of the most distant galaxies detected by James Webb. The galaxy's Lyman alpha light suggests an ionized bubble, a telltale signature of the Universe becoming transparent.
Researchers found that AGN radiation can have a paradoxically nurturing effect on life, especially when oxygen levels are present, allowing the planet's protective ozone layer to grow and shield it from radiation. This process can help ensure life's success, but its effects depend on how close the planet is to the source of radiation.
Astronomers have discovered oxygen in JADES-GS-z14-0, the most distant known galaxy, revealing a galaxy that is much more chemically mature than expected. The detection suggests galaxies formed rapidly and are maturing rapidly, contradicting previous theories about early universe formation.
Astronomers observed a bright and chemically complex galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0, when the universe was just 2% of its current age. The discovery reveals significant amounts of oxygen, suggesting the galaxy had formed stars for potentially 100 million years before observation.
Researchers have set new limits on the lifetime of dark matter particles using a combination of models and state-of-the-art observations. The findings highlight the utility of their technology, setting an upper bound of ten to a hundred million times the age of the universe for the frequency of dark matter decay events.
A team of researchers from Kyushu University discovered that about 60% of molecular clouds in the Small Magellanic Cloud had a filamentary structure, while 40% were 'fluffy' with higher temperatures. This finding provides new insights into star formation in early-universe-like environments.
The release of a unique Type Ia Supernovae dataset has significant implications for cosmologists measuring the universe's expansion history. The dataset, comprising 3628 supernovae, provides unprecedented precision and accuracy in exploring the properties of these events.
The Euclid space telescope has discovered a stunning Einstein ring in the galaxy NGC 6505, showcasing rare gravitational lensing effects. This remarkable finding demonstrates the power of Euclid's high-resolution instruments and provides new insights into the expansion of the Universe.
Two new celestial objects have been confirmed using Gaia data, including a Super-Jupiter exoplanet and a brown dwarf. The discovery challenges current theories of planet formation and provides valuable data for understanding these intriguing objects. Gaia's ongoing mission will uncover hundreds of planets and brown dwarfs around nearby...
Astronomers have observed a phenomenon where a supermassive black hole forms plasma jets in real-time, marking the first-ever observation of this process. The discovery provides new insights into how black holes interact with their host galaxies and could help scientists understand the evolution of the universe.
A team of astronomers has obtained detailed images of a small galaxy and its surroundings, revealing features typically associated with larger galaxies. The study found that the mechanisms fueling galaxy growth may be more universal than previously thought, suggesting that even dwarf galaxies can build stellar halos through accretion.
Researchers have discovered three tiny ultra-faint dwarf galaxies, dubbed 'stellar-ghost-town' galaxies, with minimal gas and old stars. This suggests that their star formation was cut off early in the universe's history due to insufficient gravity or events like reionization or supernovae explosions.
Researchers observed a galaxy nearly 6.5 billion light-years away, revealing a large number of individual stars made visible through gravitational lensing. The discovery provides new insights into the universe's greatest mysteries, including dark matter and stellar populations.
A team of scientists found that carbon and other star-formed atoms don't just drift through space, but are pushed out by giant currents into intergalactic space. These atoms can eventually be pulled back in to form new stars, planets, and moons.
Astronomers at MIT used a novel technique to determine the precise location of a fast radio burst, finding it likely originated from the magnetosphere around a rotating neutron star. The study provides conclusive evidence that fast radio bursts can emerge from this highly magnetic environment.
The Event Horizon Telescope has taken detailed measurements of a galaxy's supermassive black hole and its powerful jets. The research reveals strong magnetic fields close to the event horizon and estimates their strength, consistent with previous estimates.
Five Texas researchers have been honored with the 2025 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Awards for their innovative breakthroughs in small cell lung cancer, lithium-ion battery technology, and galaxy discovery. Lauren Averett Byers is being recognized for her work on novel therapeutic strategies for SCLC, while Caitlin M. Casey is exploring p...
The new Webb Space Telescope study confirms Hubble's expansion rate measurements, offering a crucial cross-check to address the mismatch in measurements. The discrepancy remains unexplained even by the best cosmology models, suggesting that our understanding of the universe may be incomplete.
The VST-SMASH survey captures new images of five galaxies showcasing their unique structures and assembly histories. The Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) at ESO Paranal observatory used the VST telescope to produce these glorious galaxy portraits.
Researchers discovered a class of unusually large and red galaxies, called Ultra-red Flattened Objects (UFOs), near the limit of Hubble's observable range. The James Webb Space Telescope's infrared capabilities allowed them to spot these 'dustier cousins' of the Milky Way.
Researchers observe oscillating pattern in light from binary supermassive black hole system AT 2021hdr, shedding light on tidal disruption of gas cloud. The system, located 1 billion light-years away, contains 40 million times the Sun's mass and will collide in approximately 70,000 years.
Astronomers at Case Western Reserve University have questioned the long-held standard model for galaxy formation, instead suggesting that modified gravity theories may be responsible. The James Webb Space Telescope's data suggests large and bright galaxies formed rapidly, contradicting predictions of dark matter's role.
A groundbreaking study has provided a 3D view of the formation and evolution of globular clusters, revealing key differences in kinematic properties between multiple stellar populations. The research highlights that these ancient structures formed through multiple star formation events and provide constraints on their dynamical path.
Researchers have derived a new formula to estimate the maximum occurrence rate of Earth-like habitats (EHs) in the galaxy, concluding that these habitats are relatively rare. The investigation suggests that the probability of extraterrestrial intelligence is significantly rarer still.
A Virginia Tech-led team is searching for signs of dark matter in billion-year-old rocks. By analyzing crystal lattice structures, they aim to uncover miniature trails of destruction left by long-ago dark matter interactions.
Researchers found evidence that black holes contain dark energy, which could explain its mysterious nature. The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument provided data showing a correlation between the growth of black holes and the increase in dark energy density over time.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota developed a new technique to visualize 2D radio images in 3D, revealing distinct shapes and structures of galaxies and massive black holes. The technique uses Faraday rotation to estimate distances and analyze material interactions, potentially altering previous models.
Astronomers have detected the most distant Milky-Way-like galaxy, REBELS-25, with a rotation and structure similar to our own galaxy. The galaxy is estimated to be 700 million years old, challenging current understanding of galaxy formation.
Two UMD Astronomy space probes, AXIS and PRIMA, have advanced to the next round of consideration for a $1 billion NASA mission. AXIS will study X-rays from stars and black holes, while PRIMA will explore far-infrared radiation to understand galaxy formation.
Astronomers have discovered a galaxy with an unusual light signature, suggesting it may be a missing link between the universe's first stars and familiar galaxies. The galaxy's gas is outshining its stars, indicating extreme conditions that could provide insights into early galaxy evolution.
Ferah Munshi is studying the formation of Low Surface Brightness galaxies, which make up nearly 50% of the universe. Her research aims to understand why these galaxies are dim and large, including their dark matter content and distribution.
Astronomers have discovered a 'weird' and unprecedented galaxy in the early Universe, with its gas outshining its stars. This phenomenon could provide clues about how galaxies evolved between the Big Bang and familiar galaxies.
A new study using the Dark Energy Camera has found that early-universe quasars have surrounding companion galaxies within a distance of 15 million light-years, which is consistent with expectations. However, the team also discovered that there are no companion galaxies within 60 million light-years of the quasar.
A newly discovered cluster-scale strong gravitational lens, the Carousel Lens, enables researchers to study cosmology and the properties of dark matter and dark energy. The unique alignment of seven background galaxies forms concentric circular patterns around a foreground galaxy cluster.
Researchers suggest that if most dark matter is composed of microscopic primordial black holes, they should pass through the solar system at least once per decade, introducing a wobble into Mars' orbit. This detection could lend support to the idea that primordial black holes are a primary source of dark matter.