Articles tagged with Stars
A team of astrophysicists propose a new model for the formation of globular clusters and supermassive stars. They suggest that a runaway collision process between densely packed stars in globular clusters could form a supermassive star, explaining the unusual chemical elements found in these clusters.
Researchers capture strong evidence for intermediate-mass black holes using satellite imaging and multiwavelength radiation flares. The discovery provides insight into the nature of these elusive objects and their potential prevalence in galaxy peripheries.
A team of scientists tracked a stellar death caused by a supermassive black hole ripping apart a star in the Arp 299 galaxy. The researchers directly imaged the formation and expansion of a fast-moving jet of material ejected when the black hole destroyed the star.
Researchers found relics of merger events in the Milky Way halo using Gaia Data Release 2. Five small clusters and a large 'blob' of stars indicate massive and smaller merger events shaped the galaxy. This study provides insights into the Milky Way's evolution, with further analysis to reveal more about its formation.
A new technomarker, the Clarke exobelt, could be used to detect intelligent civilizations. The optimal conditions for observing these artificial belts are found for planets in orbit around red dwarf stars.
Researchers have found a rare galaxy, NGC 1277, that has remained unchanged since its formation in the early universe. The discovery provides valuable information about galaxy evolution, as it has preserved its original composition and structure over billions of years.
Researchers observed radio waves to measure carbon monoxide gas in distant galaxies, revealing that stars born during intense starbursts are massive. The findings challenge classical ideas about star formation and galaxy evolution over cosmic time.
Scientists Ewine van Dishoeck, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Jennifer A. Doudna, Virginijus Šikšnys, A. James Hudspeth, Robert Fettiplace, and Christine Petit receive the Kavli Prizes for their pioneering work on star formation, DNA editing, and hearing mechanisms. The breakthroughs have transformed our understanding of existence, advancing ...
A team of astronomers has identified at least six strong candidates for dark galaxies by leveraging the ultraviolet light from quasars to 'illuminate' gas in the intergalactic medium. The discovery could help fill a gap in our understanding of galaxy evolution, as it provides direct evidence for the existence of dark galaxies.
A new map for a birthplace of stars provides unprecedented detail of the structure of the Orion A molecular cloud. The maps will help researchers calibrate star formation models for extragalactic studies and better understand how fast and efficiently stars form in the region.
Astronomers discover faint signal of oxygen in galaxy MACS1149-JD1, which is 13.28 billion light-years away and contains chemical maturity that suggests stars were forming as early as 250 million years after the Big Bang. This detection pushes back our understanding of cosmic dawn and the earliest phases of star formation.
Astronomers detected a faint signal of oxygen 13.28 billion light-years away using ALMA, indicating mature star formation in a young galaxy. The observation suggests stars formed 250 million years after the Big Bang.
An international team of astronomers used ALMA to observe a distant galaxy called MACS1149-JD1, detecting ionised oxygen emitted 13.3 billion years ago. This signal indicates that even earlier generations of stars existed in the galaxy, pushing back the frontiers of the observable Universe.
A team of international astronomers has detected oxygen in a galaxy 13.28 billion light-years away, revealing that stars formed at an unexpectedly early stage in the universe's history. The discovery provides insight into the formation of galaxies and sheds light on the 'cosmic dawn' era.
New research suggests that life could be common throughout the multiverse due to dark energy's impact on star and planet formation. The findings contradict the long-held notion that a specific amount of dark energy is necessary for life to emerge, raising questions about the multiverse theory's ability to explain cosmic origins.
Reconstructing the 3D structure of an interstellar cloud is critical for understanding the processes occurring within it. The authors successfully modelled the cloud's density using fast magnetosonic waves, showing that Musca is a vast sheet-like structure, not a long filament.
A team of researchers detected two distinct sequences of blue straggler stars in a young globular cluster, NGC 2173, using the Hubble Space Telescope. This finding challenges the generality of explanations for similar blue straggler sequences and presents unexpected observational results.
Researchers challenged the existing understanding of star formation by observing a distant molecular cloud, W43-MM1, with ALMA. Contrary to previous findings, they discovered an overabundance of massive cores and underrepresentation of less massive cores.
A Northwestern University study found that online ratings for cosmetic breast augmentation surgeries are highly polarized, with some reviews written by non-patients. The importance of interactions with the doctor's support staff is highlighted as a key factor in patient satisfaction.
Astronomers have observed a colossal cluster of galaxies for the first time, containing at least 14 galaxies packed into an area four times the diameter of the Milky Way's galactic disk. The cluster is churning out stars at an incredible pace, with rates ranging from 50 to 1,000 times higher than expected for solitary galaxies.
NASA is studying four potential flagship missions to explore the universe, including direct imaging of Earth-like planets and investigation of first black holes. The agency will use advanced tools to overcome technical challenges and achieve unprecedented picometer-level stability.
A new international study has found that galaxies grow bigger and more ordered with age, with stars moving in all directions. The research team measured the movement of stars in 843 galaxies using an instrument called SAMI on the Anglo-Australian Telescope.
A team of scientists, led by Nobel laureate Eric Betzig, have developed a new microscope that captures real-time, incredibly detailed images and 3D videos of biology. The microscope uses adaptive optics and lattice light-sheet to study cellular and sub-cellular life on whole living organisms.
A team of UCSB physicists has created a device named DARKNESS, the first 10,000-pixel integral field spectrograph designed to overcome the limitations of traditional semiconductor detectors. This instrument enables direct imaging of planets around nearby stars and can detect fainter planets with higher contrast ratios.
Researchers from the University of Surrey have developed a new method to measure dark matter at the centre of tiny galaxies. The study used dense star clusters orbiting close to the centre of dwarf galaxies to calculate the inner dark matter density, finding less dark matter in some cases than predicted by models.
Researchers have discovered the farthest individual star ever seen, Icarus, 9 billion light years away, by magnifying its brightness with the gravity of a larger object. This breakthrough study uses gravitational lensing to exclude the possibility that dark matter is made up mostly of large black holes.
A team of astronomers has found that galaxies like the Milky Way are slowly increasing in size due to star formation on their outskirts. The study, led by Cristina Martínez-Lombilla, reveals a growth rate of around 500 meters per second, which is fast enough to cover the distance from Liverpool to London in about twelve minutes.
A new age-map of the Milky Way's center shows that a period of star formation lasting around 4 billion years created the complex structure. The map, produced by an international team, combines data from millions of stars and spectroscopic surveys, revealing that the bar-shaped structure was formed about 7 billion years ago.
Researchers discovered a unique galaxy, NGC 1052-DF2, lacking most of its dark matter. The galaxy is as large as the Milky Way but contains only 1/200th the number of stars, leading to its classification as an ultra-diffuse galaxy.
Researchers using Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a galaxy with minimal to no dark matter, contradicting long-held assumptions about its presence in galaxies. The ultra-diffuse galaxy NGC 1052-DF2 contains at least 400 times less dark matter than predicted for a galaxy of its mass.
Scientists have found a unique galaxy that contains almost no dark matter, a finding that challenges the standard ideas of how galaxies work. The galaxy, called NGC1052-DF2, has a mass similar to that of the Milky Way but only a fraction of the expected dark matter.
Researchers used a high-resolution 3D calculation program to study the interaction between a shock wave and molecular clouds in interstellar space. The results show that filament formation and density irregularities depend on cloud compression under the impact of the shock wave, with three phases of collision identified.
Researchers from multiple institutions developed the largest-ever hydrological simulation of galaxy formation, expanding on their 2015 'Illustris' simulation. The new model includes a more precise accounting for magnetic fields and improves understanding of black hole physics, shedding light on star formation limits.
The James Webb Space Telescope will study the chemical complexity of molecular clouds to understand the origin and evolution of water and other key molecules. By observing icy layers, protoplanetary disks, and individual stars, scientists aim to determine whether life-building blocks exist in every star system.
Researchers from MIT and Arizona State University have detected faint signals of hydrogen gas from the primordial universe, tracing them back to just 180 million years after the Big Bang. The discovery indicates that the first stars may have started turning on around this time, causing hydrogen atoms to absorb background radiation.
Researchers using a unique radio antenna detected a clear signal from the earliest stars in the universe, revealing the formation of these massive, blue, and short-lived stars within 180 million years of the Big Bang. The discovery provides new insights into the early universe's mysteries and potential connections to dark matter.
A team of astronomers discovered that some stars in the Galactic halo are former residents of the Galactic disk, kicked out by invading dwarf galaxies. This finding confirms a new understanding of the Milky Way's history and future, revealing a complex interplay between galaxy interactions.
Astronomers discover halo structures in Milky Way, finding chemical compositions matching those of the Galactic disk. Theories suggest oscillations of the disk as a whole may have relocated these stars to extreme positions.
Researchers found that the chemical compositions of halo stars match those of outer disk stars, suggesting they originated from the galaxy's own disk. This discovery reveals a more complex dynamics of the Milky Way, indicating that groups of stars in the disk can be relocated to distant realms within the galaxy.
Researchers observed CO gas associated with the galactic disk, but found it unaffected by the strong ionized gas outflow from the galactic center. This challenges the widely accepted idea that radiation from galactic centers influences molecular gas and star formation activities.
Computer simulations led by the University of Leeds uncover that the Rosetta Nebula's central cavity is smaller than expected due to a thin disc-like structure of the cloud, focusing stellar winds away from its center. The findings provide new understanding of individual stars' roles in the nebula.
The discovery reveals that chemical desorption is more efficient than previously believed, releasing particles and advancing our understanding of star formation in molecular clouds. This finding has significant implications for the study of interstellar chemistry.
Researchers at CU Boulder discovered a mechanism explaining the persistence of asymmetrical stellar clusters surrounding supermassive black holes. This rate suggests that in post-galactic merger periods, orbiting stars could be flung into the black hole and destroyed at a rate of one per year.
An international team of researchers has confirmed that supermassive black holes in the centers of massive galaxies play a key role in regulating star formation. The study found that galaxies with more massive black holes form stars at a faster rate initially, but then experience slower star formation rates over time.
Research published by the American Psychological Association found that people view immoral individuals as less able to do their jobs or complete tasks effectively. Immoral behavior reduces judgments of people's competence.
A team of astrophysicists has created a map with 300 galaxies close to the Milky Way, classified based on stellar motion rather than morphological characteristics. The study reveals that circular orbits are common in lower mass galaxies, while 'hot orbits' are more frequent in higher mass galaxies.
The IllustrisTNG project simulates the universe's large-scale structure, gaining insights into how supermassive black holes shape galaxies. The simulations predict a key transformation in galaxy life cycles, with black holes extinguishing star formation.
A new universe simulation model, IllustrisTNG, provides fresh insights into how black holes influence dark matter distribution, heavy element production, and magnetic field origins. The simulation reveals a high degree of realism in predicting galaxy clustering patterns and the influence of supermassive black holes on the cosmos.
Astronomers detected methanol, dimethyl ether, and methyl formate in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a chemically primitive galaxy. The findings suggest that complex organic molecules can form in early galaxies, potentially leading to life.
A new theory from Northwestern University predicts that molecules are not survivors but brand-new molecules formed in the winds with unique properties. These new molecules can thrive in the hostile environment of black hole winds.
A team of astronomers found fullerenes in the interstellar medium using data from the VLT telescope. The discovery could lead to breakthroughs in producing these carbon nanostructures, which are currently expensive and produced in limited quantities.
A team of scientists has solved a puzzle in astrochemistry by developing a way to measure magnetic fields in space using methanol. The new method, published in Nature Astronomy, gives astronomers a new tool to investigate how massive stars form.
Astronomers discovered a 'hot Jupiter' with westward winds, defying theory. The planet's atmosphere may interact with its magnetic field or be affected by clouds, raising new questions about the phenomenon.
Astronomers have identified benzonitrile, a specific aromatic molecule, in a cold molecular cloud of the Taurus region using radio spectroscopy. This finding provides insights into the composition of interstellar material and its potential incorporation into new stars and planets.
The James Webb Space Telescope underwent critical cryogenic testing inside Chamber A at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, ensuring it will safely reach its orbit and perform its science mission. The telescope was subjected to a range of tests, including alignment checks and simulations of starlight detection.
The discovery of eleven new stellar streams in the Milky Way confirms its role as a cosmic melting pot, with stars originating from other galaxies. The Dark Energy Survey data, made publicly available, enabled the detection of these streams, which provide evidence for the galaxy's history of migration events.
The Dark Energy Survey has publicly released its first three years of data, containing information on 400 million astronomical objects, including distant galaxies and stars in the Milky Way. The dataset also reveals 11 new stellar streams, remnants of smaller galaxies torn apart by the Milky Way.
A recent study published in The Astronomical Journal found that exoplanets orbiting the same star are often similar in size and have regular orbital spacing. This pattern could suggest that most planetary systems have a different formation history than our solar system.
Researchers found supermassive black holes prevent star formation in smaller galaxies by driving powerful winds that heat gas, quenching the process. This discovery sheds light on how dwarf galaxies, composed of up to 100 million stars, evolve and affects our understanding of galaxy evolution.
A new study published in Nature shows that the mass of a galaxy's central black hole determines when its star formation history stops. The study found a continuous interplay between black hole activity and star formation throughout a galaxy's life, with bigger black holes quenching star formation faster.