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Back to the future: Space-age exploration for pre-historic bones

Researchers used high-tech laser scanning, photogrammetry, and 3D mapping to create a detailed digital representation of the Rising Star Cave System and Dinaledi Chamber. The precise reconstruction provides new insights into the chamber's structure and location, as well as the fossil site's formation processes.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalSouth African Journal of Science·DateMay 30, 2016

Supermassive black hole wind can stop new stars from forming

A team of researchers has discovered a new class of galaxies where supermassive black holes trigger powerful winds that prevent future star formation. These 'red geysers' lack young stars despite having abundant gas, and their outflowing winds heat surrounding gas through shocks, ultimately suppressing stellar birth.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalNature·DateMay 26, 2016
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Footprints of baby planets in a gas disk

Researchers found two gaps in the gas disk that overlap with dust gaps, suggesting infant planets carve out the gaps. The team estimates a planet mass 0.8 times Jupiter's at the inner gap, but the outer gap's origin remains unclear.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 24, 2016

The dark side of the fluffiest galaxies

A team of astronomers has measured the mass of an ultra-diffuse galaxy using the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS, revealing it is composed primarily of dark matter with very few stars. The findings suggest that such galaxies could exist due to a large amount of dark matter protecting them from destruction.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 23, 2016
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Allan Sandage's last paper unravels 100-year-old astronomical mystery

Allan Sandage's last paper reveals that physicist George Gamow and astronomer Walter Adams had previously discovered subgiants in the 1940s, which would have accelerated the development of stellar evolutionary theory. The study shows that these early findings were largely ignored due to biases in the time.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific·DateMay 17, 2016

Four synchronized planets reveal clues to how planets form

The Kepler-223 planetary system has unusually long-term stability due to gravitational interactions between its four planets, which return to the same positions relative to each other and their host star. Numerical simulations suggest that slow migration during formation could have placed these planets into their balanced configuration.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateMay 12, 2016

Bright dusty galaxies are hiding secret companions

Researchers found that hot dust in the distant universe is often caused by three or four galaxies instead of a single one. This study applied statistical methods to data from the Herschel Space Observatory and dropped the number of stars these galaxies have to be producing by a third.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 6, 2016
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Are we alone? Setting some limits to our uniqueness

A new paper uses exoplanet discoveries to estimate the probability of advanced life evolving on habitable planets. The authors find that unless the odds are extremely low, humanity is likely not the universe's first technological civilization. They calculate a 'pessimism line' below which human uniqueness would be impossible.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalAstrobiology·DateApr 28, 2016

'Smoothed' light will help search for Earth's twins

A new optical technology developed by Russian physicists can significantly improve the detection of exoplanets, allowing for direct observation of their images. The 'smoothed' light technique uses adaptive optics to remove atmospheric distortions, enabling telescopes to resolve the faint signals of Earth-type planets.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·DateMar 30, 2016

Researchers map climate patterns on 'super-Earth'

A new study has mapped the climate patterns on a super-Earth planet, revealing a significant temperature difference between its dayside and nightside. The research found that processes similar to those on Earth, such as high winds or lava flows, are at work on this distant world.

SourceSan Francisco State University·JournalNature·DateMar 30, 2016

NASA selects Penn State to lead next-generation planet finder

A Penn State-led research group has been selected by NASA to build a new instrument to detect planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. The NEID instrument will use the tiny gravitational tug of planets on their stars to discover and measure the orbits of rocky planets with liquid water.

SourcePenn State·DateMar 29, 2016

Tracing star formation rates in distant galaxies

A team of researchers, led by UC Riverside graduate student Irene Shivaei, used a combination of near-infrared spectrometer and infrared images to study 17 bright distant galaxies. They compared various observables, including ultraviolet light, infrared light, and nebular emission lines, to estimate the star-formation rate. The study i...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 23, 2016
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

New research shows quasars slowed star formation

A team of astronomers has found evidence that quasars' energy feedback may have slowed down star formation in the universe about 11 billion years ago. The study used data from multiple telescopes to detect the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect, a phenomenon caused by high-energy electrons disturbing the Cosmic Microwave Background.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 23, 2016

VLA shows earliest stages of planet formation

Astronomers have observed the inner portion of a protoplanetary disk surrounding HL Tau, with VLA images showing a distinct clump of dust containing roughly 3-8 times the mass of Earth. The region is thought to be where Earth-like planets would form.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 17, 2016

All we are is dust in the interstellar wind

Researchers have created a 3D map of interstellar dust reddening across three-quarters of the visible sky using data from almost one billion stars. This map reveals the structure and history of our galaxy, including the distribution of dust in the disk and the presence of ghostly trails indicating collisions with other galaxies.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·DateMar 9, 2016
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Imaging technique may help discover Earth-like planets

A new space imaging technique, using charge injection devices, may help scientists directly image exoplanets next to bright stars. This technology has been successfully tested, enabling the detection of objects 70 million times fainter than the host star's light.

SourceFlorida Institute of Technology·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific·DateFeb 23, 2016

Galaxy trailed by stunning plume of gas

Astronomers have found a massive tail of hydrogen gas extending from a nearby galaxy, measuring five times longer than the galaxy itself. The discovery suggests that this phenomenon is common in galaxy clusters, and could be indicative of many other galaxies having similar features.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateFeb 21, 2016
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

FAU researchers investigate how light behaves in curved space

Researchers used intensity interferometry to study light propagation in curved spaces, demonstrating the importance of surface curvature on geometry and physics. The findings have implications for astronomical observations and manufacturing techniques, potentially leading to new materials and optical systems.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalNature Photonics·DateJan 15, 2016
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Runaway stars leave infrared waves

Researchers identified massive stars moving at supersonic speeds, creating bow shocks that help locate them. The team used infrared data to find over 200 images of fuzzy red arcs, which turned out to be stars in various stages of evolution.

SourceUniversity of Wyoming·DateJan 12, 2016

Strong magnetic fields discovered in majority of stars

An international team of astronomers found strong magnetic fields are common in stars, contradicting previous assumptions. The study used data from NASA's Kepler mission to analyze over 700 red giant stars and discovered that many host internal magnetic fields up to 10 million times stronger than Earth's.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature·DateJan 4, 2016

Hubble sees the force awakening in a newborn star

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has photographed a newborn star with twin jets, reminiscent of a Star Wars lightsaber, in the Orion B molecular cloud complex. The protostar is feeding on surrounding material and shooting gas into space, creating shock fronts that heat up the surrounding gas.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 17, 2015

Quasar outburst revises understanding of universe, quasars

Astronomers measured the density of photon fog between Earth and quasar PKS 1441+25 using high-energy gamma rays. The data validated theoretical models for the number and brightness of stars and galaxies in the universe going back 7.6 billion years.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateDec 15, 2015

Scientists spot jets from supermassive black hole snacking on a star

A team of scientists has discovered a hungry black hole swallowing a star at the centre of a nearby galaxy. The discovery confirms their theories about the nature of black holes and reveals faint jets of material shooting out from the supermassive black hole.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalScience·DateNov 26, 2015
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Forming planet observed for first time

Researchers from the University of Sydney and other institutions have directly observed a planet in formation for the first time. The planet, located 450 light years away, is surrounded by a vast disc of dust and gas, and its presence has been confirmed through images and spectral fingerprint analysis.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature·DateNov 18, 2015
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

New exoplanet in our neighborhood

Scientists have discovered a new exoplanet, GJ 1132b, that is rocky and Earth-sized, orbiting a small star just 39 light-years from Earth. The planet's surface temperature is estimated to be around 500 degrees Fahrenheit, making it uninhabitable for life as we know it.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateNov 11, 2015

Oldest stars found near Milky Way center

Astronomers have found nine ancient stars near the Milky Way's center, forming before the galaxy existed, with surprising purity and a possible hypernova origin.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalNature·DateNov 11, 2015
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Close-up view of galaxies prompts re-think on star formation

Astronomers have identified a type of gas found in galaxy voids that appears to fuel star formation under certain conditions. Researchers used radio telescopes to measure atomic gas levels in galaxies with gamma-ray bursts, finding large amounts of the gas near these events.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·DateNov 10, 2015

Image release: Protostar growth spurts

Astronomers have discovered an adolescent protostar, CARMA-7, exhibiting rapid-fire growth spurts and intermittent jets streaming away from its poles. This finding provides insights into chaotic stellar formation in the densely packed Serpens South star cluster.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalNature·DateNov 4, 2015

Disk gaps don't always signal planets

A new study suggests that disk gaps may be a cosmic illusion and not necessarily caused by hidden planets. The researchers used models to show that growth, migration, and destruction of small particles can create apparent gaps in the disk.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 2, 2015

VISTA discovers new component of Milky Way

A team of astronomers has used data from the VVV survey to discover a previously unknown component of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. The new component is a thin disc of young stars across the galactic bulge, which was buried behind thick clouds of dust.

SourceESO·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 28, 2015
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Astronomers catch a black hole shredding a star to pieces

Researchers observe closest tidal disruption event in nearly a decade, gaining new understanding of black hole effects on nearby stars. The study reveals details about the formation of an accretion disk and the expulsion of gas from the black hole.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature·DateOct 21, 2015

ALMA telescope unveils rapid formation of new stars in distant galaxies

Researchers using ALMA telescope detected a burst of new stars in seven distant galaxies nine billion years ago. The galaxies' gas content was already depleted despite high rates of star formation, suggesting an increase in efficiency above the main sequence. This study pushes galaxies at z~1.6 well-above the star-forming main sequence.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 14, 2015

Mysterious ripples found racing through planet-forming disc

Astronomers have discovered fast-moving wave-like features in the debris disc of star AU Microscopii, which could be a sign of something unusual. The ripples are racing away from the star at speeds of up to 40,000 kilometers per hour, making them unlike anything ever observed before.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalNature·DateOct 7, 2015

'Fossils' of galaxies reveal the formation and evolution of massive galaxies

Researchers discovered massive dead galaxies with stellar content similar to local elliptical galaxies, revealing the formation and evolution of massive galaxies. The team found progenitors of these dead galaxies when they were forming stars at an earlier cosmic epoch, uncovering a consistent picture of galaxy history.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·DateSep 25, 2015
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Radio telescopes could spot stars hidden in the galactic center

Researchers propose a new technique to detect stars at galactic center by looking for radio waves from supersonic stars. Stars with high speeds can create shock waves, producing radio emission that can be detected.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 22, 2015

Astronomers discover how lowly dwarf galaxy becomes star-forming powerhouse

Researchers used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to locate compact regions within the nearby dwarf irregular galaxy Wolf--Lundmark--Melotte that can emulate larger galaxies' star-forming environments. These discoveries shed light on how dense star clusters can form in low-density, gas-poor galaxies.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalNature·DateSep 9, 2015
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Using stellar 'twins' to reach the outer limits of the galaxy

Astronomers have developed a new technique to measure distances between stars with far greater precision than existing methods. By analyzing the spectra of identical 'stellar twins', researchers can determine the distance between two stars without relying on models, which are often inaccurate.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 3, 2015

Astronomers unravel the history of galaxies for the first time

Researchers have observed a massive transformation in galaxy structure, with disc-shaped galaxies becoming oval-shaped galaxies. The study provides the first direct evidence of this 'metamorphosis' and sheds light on the processes that caused it.

SourceCardiff University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 27, 2015

Interstellar seeds could create oases of life

A new study proposes that if life can travel between stars through panspermia, it would spread in a characteristic pattern, creating clusters of life-forms. These clusters could resemble bubbles in a pot of boiling water, growing and overlapping with each other.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 27, 2015

Gemini-discovered world is most like Jupiter

Astronomers using Gemini Observatory's new Planet Imager have probed a newly discovered world in unprecedented detail. The planet, 51 Eridani b, is about two times the mass of Jupiter and features a Solar System-like atmosphere with methane detection.

SourceGemini Observatory·JournalScience·DateAug 13, 2015
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Sorting through thickets of stars in elliptical galaxies far, far away

Astronomers have detected a self-regulating cycle of star births within elliptical galaxies, with black holes controlling the rate of gas cooling and star formation. The unique capabilities of space telescopes like Hubble allowed researchers to directly observe 'showers' of star formation linked to galaxy jets.

SourceYale University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 6, 2015

The ghostly remnants of galaxy interactions uncovered in a nearby galaxy group

Astronomers using the Subaru Telescope's Hyper Suprime-Cam camera observed deep, super-wide-field images of the galaxies and their populations of young stars. The team discovered that the spatial distribution of young stars around these galaxies follows closely that of their distribution of neutral hydrogen.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 4, 2015

York scientists unlock secrets of stars through aluminium

Researchers at the University of York have revealed a new understanding of nucleosynthesis in stars, providing insight into massive star evolution and the origins of the Solar System. By studying radioactive aluminium production, scientists can now better understand gamma radiation maps of the galaxy and simulate star behavior.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 29, 2015
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

First detection of lithium from an exploding star

Researchers have detected lithium in material ejected by a nova, resolving a long-standing puzzle about its abundance in young stars. The finding sheds light on the chemical evolution of the Milky Way and could inform models of the Big Bang.

SourceESO·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJul 29, 2015

ALMA witnesses assembly of galaxies in the early universe for the first time

A team of astronomers using ALMA has detected the faint glow of ionised carbon in a galaxy just over 800 million years after the Big Bang. This finding reveals new details about the assembly of galaxies in the early universe and provides valuable information on the interstellar medium and star formation processes.

SourceESO·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 22, 2015

What happens when cosmic giants meet galactic dwarfs?

A study of over 20,000 merging galaxies found that when two galaxies collide, the larger one can stop the smaller one from forming new stars. However, when two galaxies of similar mass collide, they both increase their stellar birth rate.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 12, 2015