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Explosion or collapse?

A team of scientists has successfully measured the electron capture rate in intermediate-mass stars, revealing that they are more likely to undergo a thermonuclear explosion than collapse. This finding has significant implications for galactic chemical evolution and the discovery of iron-60 in deep-sea sediments.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 10, 2020

Fusion science and astronomy collaboration enables investigation of the origin of heavy elements

A research team has successfully computed millions of highly accurate atomic data for neodymium ions, enabling studies of the origin of precious metals like gold and platinum. The findings show that the light of a kilonova, emitted by neutron star mergers, contains abundant heavy elements.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateMar 11, 2019

A trap for positrons

Researchers at TUM and Max Planck Institute have developed a magnetic field trap to confine positrons for over a second, a breakthrough in studying electron-positron pair plasmas. This achievement has significant implications for plasma physics and astrophysics, including the study of neutron stars and black holes.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 28, 2019

Merging neutron stars

Research groups calculate the signature of a phase transition in gravitational waves emitted by merging neutron stars, which could reveal the presence of quark matter. A phase transition may occur when densities exceed atomic nuclei and temperatures reach 10,000 times those in the Sun's core.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 14, 2019

Stellar winds, the source material for the universe, are clumpy

Researchers led by Penn State astronomer Pragati Pradhan found that stellar winds, composed of protons, electrons, and metal atoms, contain dense clumps. The Chandra data revealed a 'Compton shoulder' indicating back scattering by surrounding matter, providing new insights into star environments.

SourcePenn State·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 24, 2019

'Dancing' hyperon in pear-shaped hypernuclei

The study of 'dancing' hyperons in pear-shaped hypernuclei reveals unique behaviors and new insights into fundamental interactions. Researchers found that the hyperon's spatial distribution has a spherical symmetry when occupying the lowest-energy state, shrinking nuclear size and decreasing quadrupole deformation.

Dying star emits a whisper

A Caltech-led team observed a faint and rapidly fading supernova, suggesting the presence of an unseen companion gravitationally siphoning away the star's mass. The explosion resulted in a dead neutron star orbiting its dense companion, marking the first time scientists have witnessed the birth of a compact neutron star binary system.

A new kind of star

Researchers have developed a novel mathematical model combining general relativity with quantum vacuum polarization, enabling the existence of ultracompact stars and new stellar configurations. The study suggests that these stars could be detectable in future gravitational wave observatories.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 8, 2018

Neutron-star merger yields new puzzle for astrophysicists

Astronomers studying the aftermath of a distant neutron-star merger are puzzled by the continued brightening of its afterglow, which defies initial expectations. New X-ray observations suggest a more complex emission process, potentially involving a hot 'cocoon' around a jet that shock-heated surrounding debris.

SourceMcGill University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJan 18, 2018

Science's 2017 Breakthrough of the Year: The observation of two neutron stars merging

The observation of two neutron stars merging generated tiny ripples in spacetime called gravitational waves, detected by LIGO detectors on Earth. This event also triggered an explosion studied by hundreds of astronomers worldwide, marking a major breakthrough in astrophysics and offering new tools for observing the universe.

Aus gravitational waves world-first finding

A team of Australian researchers has confirmed the detection of radio waves from a gravitational wave event, providing new insights into massive bodies like black holes. The discovery was made using the CSIRO's Australia Telescope Compact Array and marks a significant contribution to the global discovery of gravitational waves.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalScience·DateOct 16, 2017