Articles tagged with Stars
New research reveals Pleiades star cluster as core of larger structure spanning 1,950 light-years, with similar ages and chemical compositions among its members. The study uses rotation-based approach to identify stars sharing origin story.
Astronomers have confirmed the first sighting of a giant explosion on a nearby star using XMM-Newton and LOFAR telescopes. The coronal mass ejection (CME) was detected in a star with a magnetic field 300 times more powerful than our Sun, capable of stripping away the atmospheres of planets in its path.
The discovery reveals that the Pleiades is part of a sprawling stellar family, known as the Greater Pleiades Complex, with thousands of hidden siblings across the sky. By combining data from NASA's TESS and ESA's Gaia space telescope, researchers identified young stars spinning quickly, tracing the origins of the Pleiades.
Astronomers detect a distant galaxy with temperatures of 90 Kelvin, indicating an extreme star factory that could have produced stars at a rate 180 times faster than the Milky Way. This discovery provides insight into how galaxies formed quickly in the early universe.
Astrophysicists used simulations to uncover the missing piece that previous studies had overlooked: magnetic fields. They found that strong magnetic fields can slow down a black hole and carry away some of its stellar mass, creating lighter and more slowly spinning black holes.
The Euclid space telescope has begun observing the cosmic dawn in the dusty veil of a nearby dark cloud. Scientists are using this unique opportunity to study the formation and evolution of galaxies.
A stunning image of a 'cosmic bat' has been captured by the VLT Survey Telescope, featuring large clouds of gas and dust. Located 10,000 light-years away, this stellar nursery is a vast cloud of cosmic material from which stars are born.
A team from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research has assembled a record-breaking radio colour image of the Milky Way. The unprecedented level of detail offers new insights into the galaxy's radio emission and structure.
Researchers from Kyoto University have found multi-temperature coronal mass ejections from a young solar analogue, suggesting frequent strong CMEs could have driven life emergence on early planets. The study used simultaneous space- and ground-based observations to capture hot and cool plasma components.
Researchers have created a new model that shows how planet formation timing influences planetary composition and density. The study suggests that older, rocky planets are less dense than younger ones due to the varying lifetimes of stars.
A Northwestern University-led team of astronomers used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to capture the most detailed glimpse yet of a doomed star before it exploded. The study reveals that massive red supergiants rarely explode due to thick clouds of dust, but JWST's new capabilities can pierce through the dust to spot these phenomena.
Astronomers detected phosphine in the atmosphere of a cool, ancient brown dwarf named Wolf 1130C using the James Webb Space Telescope. The discovery challenges previous theories and suggests that phosphorus chemistry might be more complex than initially thought.
Astronomers searching for evidence of early cosmic light found that the universe was in a warm state before it became visible. The discovery suggests that the universe's brightness increased significantly, marking a pivotal moment in its evolution.
The Gaia space telescope has discovered a giant wave in the Milky Way galaxy, causing stars to wobble over vast distances. The wave stretches across a huge portion of the galactic disc, affecting stars up to 65 thousand light-years away from the centre.
A team of scientists from Princeton University and PPPL successfully recreated the star formation mechanism in a laboratory setting, validating astrophysical theory. The achievement marks over two decades of persistent effort and combines experimental ingenuity, theoretical insight, and advanced computational modeling.
Researchers found that neutrino flavor transformations alter the composition and signals of what's left after a neutron star collision, impacting the creation of heavy metals and rare earth elements. The simulations also influenced the matter ejected from the merger and electromagnetic emissions detectable from Earth.
Researchers have uncovered the step-by-step process of gas transport to form accretion disks in massive star-forming regions. The study reveals a striking layered system of gas flows, including spiral-like streams and a bar-like structure that funnels gas toward the center.
Astronomers used Gaia's data to create the most accurate 3D map of star-forming regions in our galaxy, revealing the location and ionization of hot young stars. The map extends to 4000 light-years from us and includes detailed views of notable nebulae.
Recent JWST observations revealed a new population of astronomical objects, known as black hole stars, which are emitting light predominantly at longer wavelengths. These objects, located extremely far away, have raised questions about galaxy evolution and the formation of stars on a massive scale.
Astronomers have finally solved the mystery of globular clusters using detailed simulations, uncovering a new class of object that could be in our own galaxy. The study found multiple pathways for their creation and a new class of star system, “globular cluster-like dwarfs”, which sits between globular clusters and dwarf galaxies.
Two ISTA Assistant Professors, Amelia Douglass and Ylva Götberg, have won 1.5 million euro ERC Starting Grants to explore how animals react to stress and the science behind binary-star stripping. Their research could lead to a better understanding of brain pathways disrupted in humans suffering from anxiety and stress.
Researchers have discovered warm space dust in a reservoir of hot gas surrounding the Makani galaxy, located 100 million years away. The study, led by University of Maryland astronomer Sylvain Veilleux, provides evidence that ejected dust particles can survive long journeys and may be an important ingredient in planet and star formation.
Astronomers have detected a growing planet outside our solar system in a cleared gap of a multi-ringed disk of dust and gas. The discovery provides the first direct evidence that protoplanets can create these gaps, resolving a long-standing debate in the scientific community.
Astronomers have devised a method to map the spottiness of distant stars using observations from NASA missions, improving understanding of planetary atmospheres and potential habitability. The new model, called StarryStarryProcess, can help discover more about exoplanet properties.
Researchers at Ohio State University suggest a large cloud of dust and gas occluded Earth's view of the star ASASSN-24fw, causing its brightness to dim by 97% before brightening again. The team proposes that this disk is likely made up of carbon or water ice close in size to a large grain of dust.
Researchers pinpointed the location of the brightest fast radio burst (FRB) ever recorded, RBFLOAT, to a single spiral arm of a galaxy 130 million light-years away. The precision was achieved using the CHIME/Outrigger array, allowing scientists to explore the environment and potentially shed light on the nature and origins of these mys...
Astronomers discover stripped-down supernova with unusual chemical signature, providing evidence for the layered structure of stellar giants and unprecedented glimpse into a massive star's interior. The study reveals that stars can lose extensive material before exploding, challenging current theories on stellar evolution.
Researchers at Kyoto University discovered that streamers of gas can feed young stars, potentially leading to the rapid formation of high-mass stars. The team used ALMA to observe a system with two streamers, which carried enough matter to quench feedback effects from the central star.
Astronomers have identified an extremely rare hierarchical quadruple star system consisting of a pair of cold brown dwarfs orbiting two young red dwarf stars. The discovery provides a unique cosmic laboratory for studying these mysterious objects, which are too big to be considered planets but also lack the mass to be full-fledged stars.
A team of astrophysicists from the University of Bonn and Iran has reclassified Ursa Major III as a compact star cluster containing a black hole core. Simulations suggest that the object's high mass-to-light ratio can be explained by the presence of dark stars rather than dark matter.
A team of astronomers has combined cluster and variable star data from the Gaia mission to create a new map of stellar life cycles. The study shows that at least one in five stars in clusters changes brightness over time, with young clusters hosting more variety of variable stars.
Researchers have discovered a potentially massive black hole, 36 billion solar masses, in the Cosmic Horseshoe galaxy. The discovery was made using a combination of gravitational lensing and stellar kinematics, allowing for more certainty about the mass of this black hole than previous measurements.
Researchers have discovered star-shredding black holes in dusty galaxies, confirming that these events are powered by dormant black hole accretion. The study uses the James Webb Space Telescope to detect clear fingerprints of black hole activity in four galaxies, revealing key differences between active and dormant black holes.
The Gemini North telescope has detected the long-predicted companion star of Betelgeuse for the first time. The companion star is six magnitudes fainter than Betelgeuse and has an estimated mass of around 1.5 times that of the Sun, confirming the presence of a stellar companion orbiting the red supergiant.
Researchers identified early moment of planet formation around star beyond Sun, marking window to past of our Solar System. The discovery provides a unique analogue for studying early planet formation processes.
New research predicts the existence of 80-100 additional satellite galaxies surrounding the Milky Way, orbiting at close distances. These 'orphan' galaxies are lost in most simulations but should have survived in the real Universe.
Researchers propose 'dark dwarfs' could be key to understanding dark matter, with lithium-7 serving as a unique marker. A discovery of a dark dwarf would provide compelling evidence for WIMPs as a possible dark matter component.
Astronomers detect first-ever evidence of a 'planet with a death wish' as HIP 67522 b orbits extremely close to its host star, triggering flares that erode the planet's atmosphere. The radiation is so intense it causes the planet to shrink and lose mass at an alarming rate.
Kilonova Seekers, a public participation project, has announced its first major discovery - a bright exploding star named GOTO0650. The team collected highly complete dataset on the star through fast response from volunteers, suggesting it's a period bouncer and rare object to find in wide-field imaging surveys.
A recent study led by Heidelberg University astronomers has found that Earth-like planets are more common than previously thought around low-mass stars. The research team identified four new exoplanets, with the largest one having a mass 14 times greater than Earth and orbiting its host star in approximately 3.3 years.
Researchers surveyed luminous infrared galaxies to gain insight into galaxy formation in the early universe and possibly the Milky Way. They discovered massive clumps of newborn stars, unlike anything seen in the Milky Way.
Researchers found that the Galactic Center's star-forming regions struggle to form high-mass stars, unlike typical star-forming regions, due to extreme conditions caused by the black hole. The study suggests these regions effectively produce just one generation of stars and lack sufficient material for continued formation.
Astronomers have discovered the most energetic cosmic explosions yet discovered, named 'extreme nuclear transients' (ENTs), which occur when massive stars are torn apart after wandering too close to a supermassive black hole. ENTs release vast amounts of energy visible across enormous distances and remain luminous for years.
A team of astronomers from ICRAR discovered a new type of cosmic phenomenon called ASKAP J1832-0911, which emits pulses of radio waves and X-rays for two minutes every 44 minutes. This is the first time such an object has been detected in X-rays.
A team of astronomers observed a rare cosmic collision where one galaxy is pierced by intense radiation from a quasar, leading to the disruption of stellar nurseries. The study used ALMA and ESO's VLT telescopes to reveal the effects of this radiation on the internal structure of the gas in the regular galaxy.
Astronomers have found nearly 100 examples of massive black holes devouring stars in galaxy cores. A new study reveals a stealth black hole tearing apart a star 2,600 light years away from the galaxy's central massive black hole.
Researchers at Nagoya University discovered that Cepheid variable stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud are moving in opposing directions along two distinct axes, indicating the galaxy is being stretched by multiple external gravitational forces. The findings challenge previous theories of the galaxy's structure and dynamics.
A new computer model simulates magnetism and turbulence in the interstellar medium, providing unprecedented detail on the Milky Way Galaxy's overall magnetic field. The model also helps understand star formation and the propagation of cosmic rays, offering insights into astrophysical phenomenon.
The researchers calculated that the universe will decay via Hawking-like radiation in approximately 10^78 years. This time frame applies to white dwarf stars and neutron stellar black holes, both of which take the same amount of time to evaporate. The findings contradict previous estimates and shed new light on the theory of relativity.
A new study reveals that magnetar flares could be a potential source of heavy elements in the universe. By analyzing archival data and observations of magnetar flare events, researchers estimate that up to 10% of heavy elements like gold, uranium, and platinum may come from these cosmic explosions.
Researchers discovered that magnetar flares can produce the universe's heaviest elements, including gold and platinum. The discovery resolves a decades-long mystery concerning a bright flash of light and particles spotted by a space telescope in 2004.
Researchers develop a new coronagraph that can detect exoplanets obscured by light from their parent stars, providing insights into the possibility of life beyond Earth. The device uses spatial mode sorters to isolate and eliminate starlight, capturing images of exoplanets with unprecedented sensitivity.
Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, have identified unusual phosphorus molecules in space. These molecules, including phosphabutadiyne and vinylphosphaethyne, were studied using cryogenic techniques and infrared spectroscopy, providing new insights into their formation and properties.
Research suggests that massive stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud are being pulled apart by the Large Magellanic Cloud. The discovery reveals a new pattern in stellar motion, which could transform our understanding of galaxy evolution and interactions.
A new study proposes a third category of galaxies: red star-forming. These galaxies produce low-mass stars and may have played a significant role in the universe's history. The findings could change our understanding of galaxy evolution, star formation, and the life cycle of galaxies.
Researchers have calculated that star formation can occur in halos down to 10 million solar masses through molecular hydrogen cooling. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of galaxy formation and the nature of dark matter.
Astronomers have discovered that stars in a specific region of our galaxy exhibit fluctuations in brightness, caused by 'starquakes'. These fluctuations can be translated into frequencies, providing clues about a star's age and properties. The study, led by Dr Claudia Reyes, offers new insights into how our galaxy formed.
Scientists studied Sagittarius C using the James Webb Space Telescope to understand why fewer new stars are born in the region. They discovered powerful magnetic field lines that form long, bright filaments of hot hydrogen gas, slowing down star formation.
The Flatiron Institute's Center for Computational Astrophysics is now supporting MESA's ongoing maintenance and development after its creator Bill Paxton steps down. The center has hired Philip Mocz as a full-time software engineer to ensure MESA's continued growth and impact in stellar physics.
Researchers developed an AI model that classifies variable stars from light curves with high accuracy, outperforming traditional approaches. The StarWhisper LightCurve series achieves near 90% accuracy with minimal manual intervention, paving the way for parallel data analysis and multi-modal AI applications in astronomy.