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Gravitational lensing provides a new measurement of the expansion of the universe

Scientists have developed a new technique for measuring the expansion of the universe using gravitational lensing, which yields a somewhat higher Hubble Constant value compared to standard measurements. The method provides a valuable alternative approach to addressing the long-standing discrepancy in the Hubble Constant's value

Finding a cosmic fog within shattered intergalactic pancakes

A Yale-led team of astronomers has simulated a large patch of the intergalactic medium (IGM), revealing how cold, dense gas clouds organize themselves within larger sheets or pancakes of matter. The findings suggest that these gas clouds can be pristine and metal-free, challenging previous assumptions about their formation and composit...

SourceYale University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 13, 2019

Galaxy clusters caught in a first kiss

Two giant galaxy clusters are caught in the act of colliding for the first time, providing valuable insights into the formation of large-scale structures. The clusters' merger shock wave is expected to have a significant impact on the evolution of galaxy clusters and cosmic structure.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJun 24, 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

Faint starlight in Hubble images reveals distribution of dark matter

Astronomers have developed a revolutionary method to detect dark matter using faint starlight in Hubble images. The technique accurately studies the distribution of dark matter and has been confirmed in galaxy clusters. Future studies will survey more clusters and analyze additional data with the James Webb Space Telescope.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 20, 2018

Supermassive black holes and supercomputers

Researchers used supercomputers to simulate early universe, revealing formation of first stars and galaxies. Metal-enriched gas enabled rapid star formation, leading to smaller, more numerous stars and galaxy evolution.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences·DateOct 17, 2018

Observations challenge cosmological theories

A study from the University of Bonn confirms that galaxy clusters formed too slowly than expected, potentially requiring a rework of current theories. The researchers will analyze their data in greater detail to confirm whether the standard model needs to be revised.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateOct 4, 2018

A universe aglow

Astronomers using MUSE instrument on ESO's VLT detected an unexpected abundance of Lyman-alpha emission in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field region, covering nearly the entire field of view. This discovery suggests that almost all of the sky is invisibly glowing with Lyman-alpha emission from the early Universe.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateOct 1, 2018

New galaxy found?

Chris Carr, an Ohio undergraduate, discovered a new galaxy 37 million lightyears away using deep sky images from the Burrell Schmidt telescope. The detection is part of the Leo I galaxy group and is considered the lowest surface brightness object ever detected via integrated light.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 22, 2018

The cosmic ray gun duel of Eta Carinae

Astronomers using NASA's NuSTAR satellite have revealed that binary star system Eta Carinae is capable of creating cosmic rays. The team observed the system and found evidence of a collision between the two stars' stellar winds, which forms shock waves and accelerates particles to nearly the speed of light.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJul 29, 2018

New training platform for big data analysis

A new online training platform is being developed to address the lack of bioinformatics and statistics knowledge among researchers in the life sciences. The Galaxy Europe project aims to provide interactive tutorials using real datasets, aiming to improve data science methods use.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalCell Systems·DateJul 19, 2018

The McMaster recipe for star clusters

Researchers Corey Howard, Ralph Pudritz and William Harris use supercomputer simulations to re-create star cluster formation. The study shows that massive star clusters are the natural outcome of large gas collections, and can be used to reverse-engineer galaxy conditions.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJun 25, 2018

Einstein proved right in another galaxy

An international team confirms Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity by making the most precise test of gravity outside our solar system. By combining data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, the researchers found that gravity behaves as predicted by GR on galactic s...

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalScience·DateJun 21, 2018

The search for dark matter widens

Astronomers have discovered a new material that could directly detect dark matter particles, expanding the search scope to unexplored mass ranges. The material detects electrons recoiling from collisions with dark matter particles and operates near absolute zero.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateMar 20, 2018