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The universe does think small

Elliptical galaxies are found to contain five to ten times as many red dwarfs as thought, with implications for galaxy formation and evolution. The discovery could lead to a reevaluation of dark matter in these galaxies.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalNature·DateDec 1, 2010

The enigma of the missing stars in space may be solved

Astronomers from Bonn and St. Andrews discover that the discrepancy between calculated and observed star numbers may be due to an overestimation of stellar crowding, a phenomenon where young stars are born in groups, leading to more massive stars being overlooked.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 18, 2010

How to weigh a star using a moon

New work by astrophysicist David Kipping reveals that astronomers can calculate a star's mass using its orbiting planet and moon. By measuring the size of the planet and moon relative to the star and their orbital periods, scientists can use Kepler's Laws of Motion to determine the density of the star.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 15, 2010
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.

Growing galaxies gently

A team of astronomers has discovered that young galaxies can grow by sucking in cool streams of hydrogen and helium gas, forming new stars. This process, known as accretion, provides a gentler alternative to galaxy mergers, which are thought to be the primary mechanism for galaxy growth.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateOct 13, 2010

Wild 'teenage' galaxies booming with star births

Distant galaxies in the early Universe are creating 1,000 new stars per year, exceeding our galaxy's star formation rate. These galaxies contain enormous amounts of raw material for new stars, suggesting a higher gas content than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 11, 2010

Extreme X-ray source supports new class of black hole

A team of astronomers has confirmed the presence of an extreme ultra-luminous X-ray source in a nearby galaxy, which may indicate the presence of an intermediate mass black hole. The object, HLX-1, is located ~300 million light years from Earth and emits radiation 100 times brighter than most other objects in its class.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·DateSep 8, 2010
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.

Astronomers find 2 large planets, plus possible super-Earth-size one

A team of astronomers from the University of Florida has discovered two Saturn-sized planets and a possible third planet with an Earth-like size orbiting a distant star. The discovery was made using a new method of confirming planets called transit timing variation, which allows for more efficient confirmation of planetary systems.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalScience·DateAug 26, 2010

Texas A&M team determines ancient galaxy cluster still producing stars

Astronomers at Texas A&M University have discovered that a significant fraction of ancient galaxies in the CLG J02182-05102 cluster are still actively forming stars. The team found that star-forming galaxies are more common in this cluster than in nearby galaxy clusters.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 18, 2010

Taking the twinkle out of the night sky

A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona developed a technique called laser adaptive optics, allowing for sharper images and faster data collection. This technology will enable scientists to study ancient galaxies and star clusters more efficiently.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature·DateAug 4, 2010
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Detector technology could help NASA find Earth-like exoplanets

Rochester Institute of Technology scientist Don Figer is developing a new detector technology that can directly image and characterize exoplanets, potentially finding smaller, rocky planets like Earth. This technology could reduce detection time by one-third and overcome current limitations.

SourceRochester Institute of Technology·DateJul 22, 2010

'Benford beacons' mark new approach for finding frugal aliens

Astronomers propose a new method for detecting extraterrestrial life by analyzing signals from advanced civilizations. The Benford beacons concept suggests that alien signals would not be continuously broadcast but rather pulsed and narrowly directed, potentially making them more detectable.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalAstrobiology·DateJul 20, 2010

'Galactic archaeologists' find origin of Milky Way's ancient stars

Researchers at Durham University use huge computer simulations to recreate the beginnings of the Milky Way, finding that many ancient stars originated from smaller galaxies torn apart by galaxy collisions. The simulations provide a blueprint for galaxy formation and reveal clues to the early history of the Milky Way.

SourceDurham University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 29, 2010
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Scientists see billions of miles away

A team of scientists led by Jay Pasachoff observed the shiniest object in the solar system, 2002 TX300, a fragment of Haumea, using a network of telescopes. The measurements reveal its icy surface and size, confirming it as a small, reflective body with an age estimated to be around a billion years.

SourceWilliams College·JournalNature·DateJun 18, 2010

Pinning down a proton

Researchers have developed a new method for describing proton and neutron binding in nuclei, enabling more accurate predictions of astrophysical reactions. This breakthrough may improve our understanding of star life cycles.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 14, 2010
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.

First of missing primitive stars discovered

Scientists have discovered a relic star from the early universe, which has a remarkably similar chemical composition to the Milky Way's oldest stars. The discovery supports the theory that our galaxy underwent a 'cannibal' phase by swallowing smaller galaxies and other galactic building blocks.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalNature·DateMar 3, 2010
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

New 'alien' invaders found in the Milky Way: Queen's University astronomer

A study led by Queen's University astronomer Terry Bridges reveals that up to a quarter of the Milky Way's star clusters are foreign, originating from other galaxies. The research suggests six additional dwarf galaxies may exist within the galaxy beyond the two previously confirmed.

SourceQueen's University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 26, 2010

Why today's galaxies don't make as many stars as they used to

Astronomers have found that typical galaxies still hold sufficient quantities of gas and dust for star formation, but their efficiency has slowed down over cosmic time. This means that present-day galaxies form fewer stars due to a decrease in gas and dust supplies rather than a change in their ability to make stars.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature·DateFeb 15, 2010

How galaxies came to be: Astronomers explain Hubble sequence

Dr Andrew Benson and Dr Nick Devereux's research reveals the evolutionary history of the universe, explaining galaxy shapes and numbers. Their 'Lambda Cold Dark Matter' model suggests that dark matter haloes drive galaxy evolution, with elliptical galaxies resulting from multiple mergers.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 12, 2010
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.

Cosmic 'dig' reveals vestiges of the Milky Way's building blocks

Astronomers have unveiled an extraordinary cosmic relic, Terzan 5, which formed in at least two different epochs, providing insights into the origin of the galactic bulge. The discovery suggests that Terzan 5 might be the surviving remnant of a disrupted dwarf galaxy contributing to the Milky Way's formation.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateNov 25, 2009

Rapid star formation spotted in 'stellar nurseries' of infant galaxies

Scientists at Durham University discovered rapid star formation in 'stellar nurseries' of infant galaxies, creating new stars at a rate 100 times faster than expected. This finding provides insight into the birth of our own galaxy and how it formed its first stars.

SourceDurham University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 10, 2009

Going with the flow: Using star power to better understand fusion

Researchers will study turbulent transport and organization in fusion and astrophysical plasmas to design better, smaller and cheaper fusion systems. Understanding the link between flow self-organization and large-scale flow dissipation may also improve ITER's fusion power production.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·DateSep 14, 2009
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.

Queen's University physicist unlocking the mysteries of neighboring galaxies

Astronomers, including Queen's University physicist Larry Widrow, have discovered a nearby cosmic encounter between the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies, which collided about two to three billion years ago. The collision caused millions of stars to be ripped from the Triangulum disk, forming a faint stream visible in the PAndAS data.

SourceQueen's University·JournalNature·DateSep 4, 2009

Star-birth myth 'busted'

A team of international researchers has challenged the long-held idea that the ratio of massive stars to lighter ones in star-forming regions remains consistent. They found that this ratio, known as the initial mass function, varies significantly between different galaxies, with some forming more low-mass stars than expected.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalAstrophysics·DateAug 26, 2009

First black holes born starving

Recent simulations by astrophysicists reveal that the first black holes in the universe grew slowly and were deprived of gas, contradicting popular theories. The simulations suggest that these early black holes may have played a more complex role in the formation of supermassive black holes observed today.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 10, 2009

Cosmic dance helps galaxies lose weight

Astronomers have discovered a mechanism for the formation of dwarf spheroidal galaxies, which are thought to be composed mostly of dark matter. The 'cosmic dance' of gravitational interactions between galaxies may trigger the removal of stars from smaller dwarf galaxies, transforming them into the observed dwarfs.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalNature·DateJul 29, 2009
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Turbulence responsible for black holes' balancing act

Researchers found that turbulence created by material ejected from supermassive black holes' disks prevents cooling gas from forming stars. The discovery explains a long-standing mystery in galaxy cluster physics.

SourceArizona State University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 14, 2009

Simulations illuminate universe's first twin stars

Researchers created a detailed computer simulation of early star formation, revealing the existence of twin stars. The simulations showed that these stars provide seeds for next-generation star formation, helping scientists understand how galaxies formed.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·DateJul 9, 2009

Intense heat killed the universe's would-be galaxies, researchers say

The study found that intense heat from early stars and black holes evaporated gas from small clumps of dark matter, rendering them barren. This natural explanation for galaxy formation supports the view that cold dark matter is the best candidate for the mysterious material believed to make up most of the universe.

SourceDurham University·DateJun 30, 2009
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Creating the astro-comb to locate Earth-like planets

Researchers at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have created an 'astro-comb' to help detect lighter planets around distant stars. The technique sharpens spectroscopy, enabling more accurate pinpointing of planet locations and opening possibilities for detecting more Earth-like planets.

SourceOptica·DateMay 7, 2009

First results from Penn's balloon-borne telescope BLAST

The study confirms individual galaxies are source of Far Infrared Background, a decade-old question answered. BLAST's submillimeter survey uncovers dust-enshrouded galaxies with properties deciphered through multi-wavelength data.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature·DateApr 9, 2009

UBC, U of T team helps solve mystery of starlight's origins

Scientists reveal that half of the Universe's starlight originates from young, star-forming galaxies billions of light-years away. The discovery was made using a two-tonne telescope carried by a balloon, and analyzes data from the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Sub-millimeter Telescope (BLAST) project.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalNature·DateApr 8, 2009
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

NRL astronomers selected for NASA's Lunar Science Institute

NRL researchers join a team to develop a telescope on the Moon for studying an era of the young Universe, during the first 500 million years after the Big Bang. The project aims to detect signals from hydrogen atoms in the Dark Ages, providing insights into the formation and evolution of the modern Universe.

SourceNaval Research Laboratory·DateMar 4, 2009

Cosmologists 'see' the cosmic dawn

Researchers at Durham University's Institute for Computational Cosmology created simulations to predict galaxy formation and dark matter effects. The work aims to improve understanding of dark matter, a mysterious substance making up 80% of the Universe's mass.

SourceDurham University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 10, 2009

New book from AIAA explores space drives, warp drives

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has published a new book on emerging science of novel propulsion concepts like space drives and warp drives. Researchers Marc Millis and Eric Davis cover NASA's Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project, enabling human voyages to other star systems.

SourceAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics·DateFeb 2, 2009
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Verdict: Supermassive black holes not guilty of shutting down star formation

A team of Yale University astronomers discovered that galaxies stop forming stars before their central supermassive black holes reach their most powerful stage. The study found no bright AGN at the centers of star-forming galaxies, suggesting that the shutting-down process occurs earlier in the AGN's lifetime.

SourceYale University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJan 21, 2009

Astronomers find dust around a primitive star

Researchers found evidence of cosmic dust forming around a dying star in a nearby galaxy, similar to those that formed soon after the Big Bang. This discovery provides insight into the early stages of the Universe and challenges the long-held theory that supernovae explosions are the primary source of dust.

SourceScience and Technology Facilities Council·JournalScience·DateJan 16, 2009

Exoplanet atmospheres detected from earth

Two independent groups successfully detected the thermal emissions of exoplanets OGLE-TR-56b and TrES-3b using ground-based telescopes. The detections are significant because they will continue to study hot Jupiters beyond the capabilities of the soon-to-be-retired Spitzer telescope.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·DateJan 14, 2009
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Astronomers use gamma-ray burst to probe star formation in the early universe

Researchers analyzed the spectrum of a gamma-ray burst afterglow to probe the star-forming environment of a distant galaxy. They detected molecular gas and metals comparable to those of the Sun, providing insights into active stellar nurseries in galaxies 10 billion years old.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJan 6, 2009

Stars forming just beyond black hole's grasp at galactic center

Researchers identified two protostars located just a few light-years from the Milky Way's central black hole, defying expectations that gravitational tides would prevent star formation. The discovery suggests molecular gas at the galactic center is denser than previously thought, allowing it to form new stars.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·DateJan 5, 2009

Hubble telescope to get last tuneup during International Year of Astronomy

The Hubble Space Telescope is set to undergo its fifth and final service mission, which will provide the telescope with a future as bright as its past despite being nearly 18 years into troubled beginnings. The repairs will upgrade instruments, replace gyroscopes and heat shields, and add new capabilities for deeper observations.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalNature·DateDec 31, 2008

New visualization techniques yield star formation insights

Astrophysicists used new computer visualization technology to understand that gravity plays a more significant role than previously thought in deep space's star-forming molecular clouds. The research, led by Alyssa Goodman, reveals hierarchical structure and density variations within these clouds.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalNature·DateDec 31, 2008
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Hubble finds carbon dioxide on an extrasolar planet

Astronomers have discovered carbon dioxide on a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting another star, HD 189733b. The detection is significant as it could be a sign of biological activity, and further studies will focus on characterizing the planet's atmosphere to determine its habitability.

SourceScience and Technology Facilities Council·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateDec 10, 2008

Largest virtual telescope for short wavelengths opened

The Extended Submillimeter Array (eSMA) enables the study of the formation of new stars and planets using submillimetre light. Post-doc Sandrine Bottinelli used the telescope to determine the ratio of atomic to molecular carbon in an extremely distant galaxy.

SourceNetherlands Organization for Scientific Research·DateNov 25, 2008

Cosmic lens reveals distant galactic violence

A team of scientists used a natural cosmic lens to capture an image of a distant galaxy in the early Universe. The image shows a massive reservoir of gas and a supermassive black hole feeding a burst of star formation, indicating that the galaxy has collided with another.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·DateOct 20, 2008

Colossal black holes common in early universe

Researchers have discovered two distant galaxies with massive black holes at their centers, challenging previous assumptions about the formation of these cosmic objects. The study reveals that these colossal black holes were present even 12 billion years ago, when the universe was just 1.7 billion years old.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 16, 2008
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.