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New evidence for dark matter makes it even more exotic

Recent study finds that galaxy clusters' density is smaller than predicted, and brightest cluster galaxies wobble, indicating a shallower central density. This suggests the existence of exotic forms of dark matter.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 25, 2017

A better understanding of space -- via helicopter

Yale researchers Darryl Seligman and Greg Laughlin have created a new model for understanding how black holes, planets, and galaxies emerge from the vortex-rich environments of space. They found that vortices may shed Rossby waves as they spin and that the number of orbits between two vortices is different in their model.

SourceYale University·DateOct 12, 2017

NASA's Webb Telescope to witness galactic infancy

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.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 4, 2017

New supernova analysis reframes dark energy debate

A new study finds a model universe with no dark energy provides a slightly better fit to Type Ia supernovae data than the standard dark energy model. The 'timescape cosmology' challenges current understanding of the Universe's expansion, highlighting the need for more data and better supernova precision.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 13, 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 propose how the universe became filled with light

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

Why massive galaxies don't dance in crowds

A study of over 300 galaxies found that heavier galaxies spin more slowly due to their mass, contradicting earlier theories. The research used the Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral field spectrograph to measure galaxy rotation rates.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateAug 9, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Cosmologists produce new maps of dark matter dynamics

Researchers have produced new maps of dark matter dynamics in the Universe, revealing detailed information about matter streams and velocities. This study uses legacy survey data to build on previous research and provides insights into the nature of dark matter.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalAstroparticle Physics·DateJul 25, 2017
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.

Shocking case of indigestion in supermassive black hole

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

Galaxy alignments traced back 10 billion years

A new study reveals that the largest galaxies in the universe have been aligned with their surroundings for at least ten billion years. The discovery suggests that these galaxies are especially sensitive to their environment and were influenced by their surroundings from a young age.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJun 13, 2017

The big star that couldn't become a supernova

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
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.

Hubble's bright shining lizard star

Astronomers have discovered a unique star in the constellation of Lacerta, which is millions of times closer to Earth than the galaxy NGC 7250, allowing it to overpower its light

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateApr 28, 2017

Seeing quadruple: Four images of the same supernova, a rare find

Astronomers detected four images of the same supernova, a rare find, due to precise alignment with a foreground galaxy. This extreme case of gravitational lensing offers opportunities to study Type Ia supernovae and their role in cosmology.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 20, 2017

Rare supernova discovery ushers in new era for cosmology

Astronomers have captured images of a Type Ia supernova appearing in four different locations on the sky due to gravitational lensing. This rare event has opened up new possibilities for measuring the rate of the Universe's expansion with unprecedented accuracy and understanding the distribution of matter.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateApr 20, 2017

Long ago and far away, an average galaxy

Astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy, MACS1423-z7p64, which is about 13.1 billion years old and falls within the 'Epoch of Reionization.' The team used a giant lens in the sky to magnify its brightness and analyze its spectrum.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature Astronomy·DateApr 10, 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.

Cosmic environments and their influence in star formation

A study of galaxy properties in the cosmic web reveals that central galaxies form stars for a longer period than satellite galaxies. Satellite galaxies experience a steep decline in star formation activity due to 'ram-pressure stripping' as they fall into dense cluster environments.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateMar 6, 2017

Yale-led team puts dark matter on the map

A Yale-led team has created one of the highest-resolution maps of dark matter ever produced, providing a detailed case for its existence. The map, derived from Hubble Space Telescope Frontier Fields data, closely matches theoretical predictions and offers insights into the universe's structure and galaxy formation.

SourceYale University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 1, 2017

Neural networks promise sharpest ever images

Swiss researchers use neural networks to challenge the resolution limit of telescopes, recovering features that were previously invisible. The technique, inspired by a generative adversarial network, achieves better results than previous methods, such as deconvolution, and has vast potential for future astronomical observations.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 22, 2017
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

New Caltech instrument poised to image the cosmic web

The Caltech instrument, KCWI, will map gas flowing into and out of forming galaxies, revealing dominant modes of galaxy formation. KCWI is a versatile general-purpose instrument that can study cosmic objects in ways not possible before.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·DateJan 12, 2017

Deepest X-ray image ever reveals black hole treasure trove

A team of astronomers led by Penn State's Niel Brandt has captured the deepest X-ray image ever obtained, revealing a treasure trove of supermassive black holes. The image, taken with Chandra observing time of about 11 weeks, shows that these massive objects grow in bursts rather than slowly accumulating matter.

SourcePenn State·DateJan 5, 2017
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Mystery of super flash solved

Astronomers discovered a rare event where a star was destroyed by a massive black hole's gravitational tides, producing an unusually bright flash of light. The event occurred in a distant 'red' galaxy with older stars, defying typical supernova models.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Astronomy·DateDec 15, 2016

Dark matter may be smoother than expected

A team of astronomers from institutions around the world has processed images from the Kilo Degree Survey to make one of the most precise measurements ever made of cosmic shear, a subtle variant of weak gravitational lensing. The results suggest that dark matter in the cosmic web is less clumpy than previously believed.

SourceESO·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 7, 2016
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Physicists make it possible to 3-D print your own baby universe

Researchers have created a 3D printed map of the cosmic microwave background, providing a new way to visualize the oldest light in the universe. This innovation uses 3D printing technology to represent temperature differences as bumps and dips on a spherical surface, allowing anyone to appreciate the structure of the early universe.

SourceImperial College London·JournalEuropean Journal of Physics·DateOct 28, 2016

Ancient eye in the sky

Astronomers have discovered a rare gravitational lensing system dubbed the Eye of Horus, which offers a unique opportunity to probe the fundamental physics of galaxies. The system, consisting of two distinct background galaxies behind a foreground galaxy, provides valuable insights into galaxy interactions and cosmology.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJul 25, 2016

NASA's Hubble looks to the final frontier

The Hubble Space Telescope has explored the farthest objects in the universe, unveiling a warping-of-space phenomenon predicted by Einstein. The telescope has magnified images of galaxies much farther away, allowing astronomers to study the early universe and understand dark matter.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 21, 2016

Dark energy measured with record-breaking map of 1.2 million galaxies

A team of physicists and astronomers has created the largest-ever three-dimensional map of distant galaxies to measure dark energy's effects on the universe's expansion. The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) program reveals the structure of the universe over 650 cubic billion light years.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 14, 2016
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Accelerating research into dark energy

Researchers at UCL have created a new approach to simulate virtual universes, allowing for accelerated research into the effects of dark energy and dark matter. By comparing results from large studies to computational models, scientists can gain more accurate predictions and explore alternative versions of these mysterious substances.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 6, 2016

A new look at the galaxy-shaping power of black holes

Data from Japan's Hitomi X-ray satellite shows that supermassive black holes play a crucial role in the evolution of galaxies, regulating their growth by releasing energy that keeps plasma hot. This heat prevents galaxies from forming new stars and becoming even larger.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalNature·DateJul 6, 2016
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.

It's not easy being green -- what colors tell us about galaxy evolution

Researchers used computer modeling to investigate galaxy colors and their relation to evolution. They found that rare green galaxies are likely at a critical stage of transformation from blue to red as they age. The study suggests that these galaxies' unique colors can provide insights into the processes driving their evolution.

SourceDurham University·DateJun 29, 2016

Scientists detect most distant signs of oxygen in the universe

Researchers detected gas containing oxygen in a galaxy 13.1 billion light years away, providing insight into ancient times. The discovery helps scientists understand the universe's reionization and the nature of its first stars.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalScience·DateJun 16, 2016

NASA's Hubble finds universe is expanding faster than expected

Astronomers refine universe's expansion rate with unprecedented accuracy, reducing uncertainty to 2.4 percent. The new value of 73.2 kilometers per second per megaparsec indicates the distance between cosmic objects will double in 9.8 billion years.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateJun 2, 2016

Supermassive black hole wind can stop new stars from forming

A team of researchers has discovered a new class of galaxies where supermassive black holes trigger powerful winds that prevent future star formation. These 'red geysers' lack young stars despite having abundant gas, and their outflowing winds heat surrounding gas through shocks, ultimately suppressing stellar birth.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalNature·DateMay 26, 2016
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.

Astronomers confirm faintest early-universe galaxy ever seen

Researchers confirm detection of faintest early-universe galaxy using gravitational lensing, shedding light on the cosmic dark ages. The discovery could help explain how these mysterious periods ended and has implications for our understanding of the universe's evolution.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 23, 2016

New test by deepest galaxy map finds Einstein's theory stands true

A team of researchers has created a 3D map of 3000 galaxies 13 billion light years away, finding that Einstein's general theory of relativity is still accurate. The study suggests the expansion of the universe could be explained by a cosmological constant.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·DateMay 11, 2016

Dark matter does not contain certain axion-like particles

A research team at Stockholm University used NASA's Fermi satellite to study light from the Perseus galaxy cluster, finding no traces of axion-like particles. The observations excluded certain types of ALPs that could explain a small amount of dark matter, advancing sensitivity for future experiments.

SourceStockholm University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 22, 2016
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.

Mysterious infrared light from space resolved perfectly

A research team using ALMA detected the faintest millimeter-wave source ever observed and found that they are responsible for 100% of the enigmatic infrared background light. 60% of these objects are faint galaxies, while the rest remain unknown.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateMar 10, 2016

In galaxy clustering, mass may not be the only thing that matters

A study published in Physical Review Letters shows that a galaxy cluster's formation history plays a role in its interaction with the surrounding dark matter halo. The researchers found that clusters formed from more dispersed galaxies were clumpier and interacted differently with their environment.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 25, 2016

Galaxy cluster environment not dictated by its mass alone

Researchers found that galaxy clusters' surroundings are shaped by their formation history, not just their mass. The study used gravitational lensing to confirm the connection between cluster mass and dark matter environment.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 25, 2016
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.

Newly discovered supernova outshines all others

Researchers discovered the most luminous supernova yet observed in an unusual host galaxy, providing insights into super-luminous supernovae. The record-breaking ASASSN-15lh was found to mimic hydrogen-poor SLSNe's behavior but with greater extremes, sparking speculation about its extraordinary emission.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJan 14, 2016

NASA's Spitzer, Hubble find 'twins' of superstar Eta Carinae in other galaxies

Astronomers have found five objects with similar properties to the massive stellar system Eta Carinae, including a class of less massive stars. These discoveries were made using archival data from Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes, which identified key characteristics such as dust formation and infrared emission.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJan 6, 2016
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.

'Fast radio burst' sheds new light on origin of these extreme events

A team of astronomers discovered the most detailed record ever of a Fast Radio Burst (FRB), indicating that it originated in a highly magnetized region of space. The research suggests a link to recent supernovae or active star-forming nebulae, significantly narrowing down the source's environment and type of event.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalNature·DateDec 2, 2015

What is the universe made of?

Researchers discovered the majority of missing ordinary matter in the universe, found in hot gas associated with intergalactic filaments. The study validates models of galaxy formation and could lead to a better understanding of heavy elements formed by stars since the beginning of the universe.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·DateDec 2, 2015