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Herschel finds less dark matter but more stars

Astronomers find that galaxies in this 'sweet spot' mass range can form stars at high rates and grow rapidly. This discovery challenges current models of galaxy formation, suggesting a reduced need for dark matter to trigger starbursts. The research uses infrared images from Herschel's SPIRE instrument.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalNature·DateFeb 16, 2011

Cosmic rays hunted down

Washington University physicists are tracking down the source of cosmic rays using imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. The correlation between high cosmic-ray density and supernova rate in a starburst galaxy provides powerful evidence for supernova acceleration, long suspected to be the origin of these particles.

Starbursts triggered by violent collisions lit up young galaxies in the early universe, according to new study of galaxy evolution

Researchers used supercomputer simulations to test two competing scenarios explaining high-redshift galaxies. The collisional starburst scenario, which suggests small galaxies trigger intense bursts of star formation, received strong support from the simulation results.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateSep 14, 1999