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'Russian doll' galaxy reveals black holes' true power

Scientists have found a miniaturized galaxy with a single massive black hole, which produces radio jets that are much more efficient than previously thought. The discovery was made using CSIRO's Compact Array radio telescope and reveals that black holes can be both more powerful and more efficient.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 23, 2010

Black hole jerked around twice

Astronomers discovered a giant black hole with its spin axis pointing in a different direction after two collisions with smaller galaxies. The observations suggest that the black hole was jerked around twice, creating cavities and radio jets.

SourceChandra X-ray Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJul 21, 2010

CSIRO sets science path for new telescope

The CSIRO has chosen 10 major science projects for its Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope, which will tackle astrophysical issues and advance the field of astronomy. The projects include a deep survey for star-forming galaxies and a survey for galaxies containing neutral hydrogen gas.

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.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalAstrophysics·DateAug 26, 2009

Mystery of missing hydrogen

A team of Australian astronomers discovered a puzzling lack of hydrogen gas in distant galaxies, which contradicts expectations based on the Universe's life cycle. The observed absence may be due to the destruction of hydrogen by quasars' intense radiation, leaving behind only ionised particles.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 24, 2008

Gas 'finger' points to galaxies' future

Researchers have discovered a giant hydrogen gas finger in the Milky Way Galaxy, which may indicate that nearby galaxies, such as the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, will eventually merge with our Galaxy. The study provides valuable insight into the galaxies' fate using CSIRO radio telescopes.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateFeb 4, 2008

Very high frequency radiation makes dark matter visible

Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics have discovered a way to make a picture of everything that gravitates in the Universe using radio telescopes. By analyzing radio waves emitted from the early Universe, they can create high-resolution images of cosmic mass distribution, surpassing current galaxy distortions.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 14, 2006

Galaxies in motion

An international team of astronomers has measured the motion of an entire galaxy in the sky using radio telescopes. The measurements show that the galaxy moves at a speed of 190 km/s relative to our Milky Way towards the Andromeda galaxy, and provide insights into the history and future evolution of the Milky Way.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateMar 4, 2005

Hot spot cosmic accelerators

Researchers have obtained near-infrared images of the hot spots in radio galaxy 3C 445 using advanced instruments on the VLT ANTU telescope. The images show synchrotron emission associated with an intergalactic shock, providing evidence of cosmic accelerators far from the galaxy and its main jets.

SourceESO·JournalScience·DateNov 25, 2002

Australian-American duo shows black holes in collision

Researchers David Merritt and Ron Ekers developed a mathematical model suggesting that supermassive black holes merge when their host galaxies collide. The model demonstrates the realignment of larger black holes, resulting in sudden changes in jet direction, which can be observed as X-shaped patterns in galaxy images.

SourceRutgers University·JournalScience·DateAug 1, 2002