Articles tagged with Stars
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.
The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) will generate never-before-seen big pictures of the universe, enabling astronomers to explore mysteries like dark energy and galaxy evolution. The mission will also discover thousands of exoplanets, including rocky planets in the habitable zone.
Researchers at UNIGE detected an exoplanet with a highly inclined orbit around a red dwarf star, evading circular motion and instead following a polar path. This unusual behavior is attributed to the presence of an unknown companion planet that disturbs its path.
A new study reveals that younger readers are spending nearly twice as much time reading print newspapers as they do online. Despite the rise of digital distribution, the young are actually spending less time with newspaper brands overall, with a 40% drop in attention from younger and middle-aged readers since the turn of the millennium.
Researchers found a strong inverse relation between magnetic field strength and star formation rate in molecular cloud complexes. This suggests that magnetic fields slow down or stop the collapse of gas clouds to form stars, leading to fewer massive stars in galaxy centers.
Astronomers used Hubble and Gaia data to directly measure the 3D motions of stars in the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy, achieving accuracy better than previous measurements. The results provide insights into dark matter distribution and test the cosmological model.
Astronomers study distant galaxy's gravitational lensing, revealing smaller-than-thought giant clumps. Groundbreaking observations and simulations confirm turbulent nature of distant galaxies.
Researchers have observed the formation of aluminum oxide dust around an AGB star, providing insight into wind acceleration. The team discovered that AlO was distributed within three stellar radii, while SiO remained gaseous beyond five stellar radii.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and University of Rochester use quantum mechanics to measure frequency with unprecedented accuracy, reducing uncertainty by a factor of 100. This breakthrough has potential applications in various fields, including MRI medical imaging, navigation, and astronomy.
Galaxies moving through 'cosmic web' filaments may have altered star formation rates due to compressed gas. The team will use multiple telescopes to observe neutral hydrogen and molecular gas in galaxies as they travel along filaments, aiming to determine if the amount of fuel for star formation is less abundant.
Astronomers have discovered a new insight into how planets form, using high-powered telescopes to target the star V1247 Orionis. The team found a dust-trapping vortex that could protect sites of planet formation, allowing dust particles to clump together and grow.
Researchers found that atomic hydrogen makes up a majority of gas in younger galaxies, contradicting expectations. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the early Universe and the role of cold gas in star formation.
Astronomers have detected Freon-40, an organohalogen compound, around an infant star and a comet using ALMA and Rosetta. This finding suggests that organohalogens may be significant components of planetary formation materials, rather than indicators of life.
Researchers have discovered Freon-40, an organohalogen, around two celestial objects: an infant star and a comet. The finding suggests that these molecules may form readily in stellar nurseries, providing insights into the chemical evolution of planetary systems.
Researchers used super-computer simulations to recreate the formation of a massive black hole from supersonic gas streams left over from the Big Bang. The study suggests these black holes could be the source of the largest and oldest super-massive black holes in the Universe, posing a challenge to existing theories.
KFU astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a red giant star HD208897, located 210 light years away from Earth. The planet has a mass of 1.4 Jupiter masses and an orbital period of 353 days, marking the first time in Russian astronomy such a discovery was made using spectroscopic methods.
A team of astronomers observed distant galaxies 11 billion light-years away and found that active star formation can upswell galaxies, changing their shape. This suggests that galaxies can form new shapes without colliding with other galaxies.
The ALMA study reveals dense shock waves and vast turbulent reservoirs of cool, low-density gas surrounding starburst galaxies. These reservoirs are thought to be driven by galactic winds, extending the starburst phase instead of quenching it.
Researchers demonstrated a region of very deep contrast between a simulated star and its planet, achieving an 18% bandpass. This milestone is crucial for future missions like WFIRST to detect and analyze the atmospheres of giant planets.
Researchers have developed a new algorithm to enhance observations from the Kepler Space Telescope and perform detailed studies of stellar variability. The technique, called halo photometry, reveals pulsations in B-type stars with day-long periods, offering insights into poorly understood processes in their cores.
The Kepler Space Telescope's K2 Mission has observed detailed variations in the brightness of stars in the Seven Sisters star cluster. The team developed a new algorithm to measure relative changes in brightness, overcoming instrumental effects and revealing slow-pulsating B stars.