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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

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

How the brightest lights in the universe 'flicker'

Astronomers discover active galactic nuclei (AGN) exhibit flickering behavior, switching on and off every 200,000 years. This phenomenon affects star formation in host galaxies, with radiation from AGN potentially delaying or preventing the collapse of gas clouds.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 24, 2015

Monitoring magnetospheres

A Queen's University PhD student is conducting the first systematic population study of magnetosphere-host stars, finding that plasma density within all such magnetospheres is far lower than predicted. This suggests that plasma might be escaping gradually, maintaining magnetospheres in an essentially steady state.

Giant galaxies die from the inside out

Astronomers observed 22 massive elliptical galaxies using the VLT and Hubble Space Telescope, revealing that star formation in their centers stopped around three billion years ago. The newly discovered inside-out nature of this shutdown may be due to a galaxy's central supermassive black hole or lack of fresh gas.

SourceESO·JournalScience·DateApr 16, 2015

Galactic 'rain' could be key to star formation

A team of astronomers has found that galactic 'rain' may be the key to understanding why some galaxies are more productive at creating stars than others. The researchers analyzed X-rays from over 200 galaxy clusters using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and discovered that massive black holes can slow down gas that helps form stars.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature·DateMar 4, 2015

An old-looking galaxy in a young universe

A team of astronomers discovered a young and remote galaxy with dust levels similar to mature galaxies like the Milky Way, defying expectations. The galaxy, A1689-zD1, was observed using ALMA and VLT instruments and found to be emitting radiation in the far infrared, indicating significant star formation.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateMar 2, 2015

VISTA stares right through the Milky Way

The VISTA telescope has mapped the central regions of the Milky Way in infrared light, revealing a pair of newly discovered classical Cepheid variables beyond the galactic bulge. The stars were detected at a distance of about 37,000 light-years and have a period of eleven days.

SourceESO·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateFeb 4, 2015

Stargazers begin hunt for planets

The University of Warwick's Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) aims to detect small planets from Neptune size down to twice the size of Earth. Researchers hope to study the atmospheres and composition of these super-Earths, which are thought to be common around other stars.

Space: The final frontier in silicon chemistry

Scientists from the University of Tokyo have detected silicon and nitrogen-terminated carbon chain molecules in interstellar space using laboratory experiments. The discovery provides valuable information on the formation mechanisms of these molecules and their potential impact on understanding the chemical composition of the universe.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateNov 11, 2014

Big black holes can block new stars

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that massive black holes can block the formation of new stars in mature galaxies. The study suggests that these jets of radio-frequency feedback streaming from central black holes prevent hot gas from cooling and collapsing into baby stars.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 21, 2014