Articles tagged with Stars
A new study found that black holes existed at the dawn of time and played a crucial role in galaxy formation. The research, using James Webb Space Telescope data, challenges classical understanding of black hole formation and suggests they may have dramatically accelerated star birth in the first 50 million years of the universe.
A team of astrophysicists used simulations to track galaxy formation near the Big Bang, including interactions between gas and dark matter. The results show that tiny, bright galaxies were formed more quickly than expected, challenging current theories about dark matter.
A team of MIT scientists has detected 18 new tidal disruption events (TDEs) using infrared observations, more than doubling the catalog of known TDEs. The discoveries reveal that these star-shredding black holes occur in a range of galaxies across the entire sky, not just dusty galaxies.
A team of MIT physicists analyzed Gaia and APOGEE data to find stars farther out in the galactic disk are rotating more slowly than expected. This flat rotation curve indicates a lower mass galactic core, potentially containing less dark matter than previously estimated.
A team of international scientists has spotted a new type of elderly giant star, nicknamed 'old smokers,' which emits clouds of smoke over decades. These stars, hidden from view in visible light, were discovered using infrared light and have significant implications for the spread of heavy elements in space.
Researchers unveil previously unknown type of shockwave within TDEs, confirming that shock dissipation powers the brightest phases. The study paves the way for precise measurements of crucial black hole properties and testing Einstein's predictions in extreme environments.
A team of astronomers used JWST data to create detailed photos of nearby star-forming galaxies, revealing the intricate physics of cosmic dust. The study found consistent patterns in the distribution of diffuse gas across galaxies, suggesting universal principles in star and planet formation.
Researchers from Lehigh University have successfully mapped 15 orphaned stars to their birth clusters in the Milky Way using Gaia Mission data. The study provides new insights into the galaxy's history and star cluster dynamics.
Astronomers have found a direct link between massive star explosions and the formation of compact objects like black holes and neutron stars. The study used ESO's VLT and NTT to observe a supernova explosion in a nearby galaxy, revealing evidence for a compact remnant left behind.
Astronomers studying two distant galaxies in the early universe reveal unprecedented molecular diversity, shedding light on the lives of prodigious star factories. By analyzing light from over 13 molecules, researchers gain insights into the physical and chemical conditions in these galaxies.
The EXPLORE toolkit offers interactive visual analytics and machine learning to analyze galaxy data, identify unusual stars, and visualize the lunar surface. Users can create immersive experiences, including 3D models of the Moon and interactive sky maps.
New research from the Max Planck Institute challenges previous claims of giant exomoons around Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b. The study uses a computer algorithm to analyze observations, finding that 'planet-only' interpretations are more conclusive than initially thought.
Researchers use MUSE to study ancient galaxies and find that galactic winds, created by massive stars, limit their growth. The team's findings reveal a universal process affecting most galaxies.
A new theory, self-interacting dark matter (SIDM), proposes that dark matter particles interact through a dark force, explaining high-density halos and low-density halos of ultra-diffuse galaxies. SIDM simulates cosmic structure formation with strong dark matter self-interactions, diversifying halo density in central regions.
Researchers discover substantial presence of frozen carbon monoxide in 'The Brick', a mysterious dark region at the Milky Way's center. The findings indicate a critical need to re-evaluate established theories regarding star formation.
A team of researchers found that carbamic acid and ammonium carbamate can form in interstellar ices at low temperatures, potentially delivering these molecules to early Earth via comets or meteorites. This discovery could inform future studies using powerful telescopes to search for prebiotic molecules in distant star-forming regions.
A team of astronomers led by Durham University detected a rotating disc structure around a forming high-mass star in another galaxy, marking the first extragalactic detection. The disc is estimated to be around 15 times the mass of our Sun and provides insights into star formation across different galactic environments.
A new unified model confirms that some long-lasting gamma-ray bursts are created in the aftermath of cosmic mergers that spawn an infant black hole surrounded by a giant disk of natal material. The findings explain recently observed long GRBs that astronomers couldn't link to collapsing stars.
A team of astrophysicists discovered that two methods for determining the age of stars measure different things, with a 5.5 million-year difference in age determined by dynamic tracking versus isochronous measurement. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of star formation and stellar evolution.
Researchers analyzed the chemistry of distant teenage galaxies, finding they are unusually hot and contain unexpected elements like nickel. The study provides insight into galaxy formation and evolution, shedding light on why some galaxies appear 'red and dead' while others continue to form stars.
Researchers found a barred spiral galaxy similar to the Milky Way at a redshift of 3, challenging previous understanding of galaxy evolution. The discovery suggests that galaxies matured and became ordered much faster than thought, with implications for theories of galaxy formation and evolution.
An international team of astronomers has identified 106 galaxies with sizes between normal dwarfs and ultra-compact dwarfs in the Virgo Cluster. These 'fossils' provide insight into how extreme galaxies form, suggesting a common origin for ultra-diffuse galaxies and ultra-compact dwarf galaxies.
Researchers observe complete process of dwarf galaxy evolution into ultra-compact dwarf galaxies, shedding light on their mysterious origins. About 15% of UCDs are surrounded by faint star halos, and they're highly correlated with strongly nucleated dwarf galaxies.
Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf are studying near-Earth cosmic explosions to understand their potential impact on the Earth's biosphere. They found that ejected debris can reach our solar system, with some isotopes, such as iron-60 and plutonium-244, potentially coming from supernovae or other galactic events.
Astronomers at Harvard University have discovered a tilted dark matter halo, explaining the Milky Way's warp and flare. The team used models to calculate star orbits within a warped, oblong dark matter halo, matching existing observations of a distorted galaxy.
A young star cluster, IRS13, has been found to be significantly younger than expected, with stars only 100,000 years old, despite being near the supermassive black hole Sgr A*. The cluster's turbulent history suggests it was 'captured' by the black hole's gravity, leading to a bow shock and increased star formation.
A Northwestern University-led team of astrophysicists has discovered that young galaxies appear brighter than anticipated due to irregular bursts of star formation. This finding explains the puzzling appearance of massive galaxies too soon after the Big Bang, fitting within the standard model of cosmology.
Scientists have observed 16 newly formed galaxies that exhibit significantly less heavy elements than expected, indicating a lack of time for element creation. The findings suggest that these galaxies are still in the process of being created, contradicting the long-held equilibrium model of galaxy formation.
Astronomers have discovered a 'missing link' in the behavior of black holes and their impact on nearby stars. The discovery reveals that a low-mass black hole is consuming the equivalent mass of three Earths every time it passes close to a star, releasing massive amounts of X-rays.
Astronomers using NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory discovered a black hole repeatedly nibbling on a Sun-like star in a distant galaxy. The object was detected using a new method for analyzing data from the satellite's X-ray Telescope, enabling it to adapt to new areas of astrophysics.
Researchers have discovered an unusual Jupiter-sized exoplanet, TOI-4860 b, orbiting a low-mass star in the Corvus constellation. The planet is enriched with heavy elements and takes about 1.52 days to complete its orbit, making it a 'Warm Jupiter'.
A Northwestern University-led team developed the first 3D simulations of energy rippling from a massive star's core to its outer surface. The researchers determined how much stars should innately twinkle and converted these waves into sound waves, allowing listeners to hear both what the insides of stars and their twinkling sound like.
A new study has captured the early stages of planetary evolution, observing a young gas planet's violent and erratic atmospheric shedding. The research, led by Dartmouth researchers, provides insights into the most common experiences of planets beyond our solar system.
Astronomers have created the first computer simulations showing how convection in the cores of massive stars generates waves that result in flickering starlight. The effect is different from the visible twinkling of stars in the night sky and could be observed with improved telescopes.
A team of researchers, including RIT's Joel Kastner, have discovered new evidence of how planets as massive as Jupiter can form through gravitational instability around a young star. The discovery was made using images from the ESO's Very Large Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array.
A new study by NASA and Japan's Osaka University suggests that rogue planets, drifting through space without a star, may outnumber stars with orbiting worlds. The Roman Space Telescope could discover up to 400 Earth-mass rogue planets, according to the findings.
Researchers from Ohio State University found that some low-mass stars have unexpectedly strong surface magnetic fields, which could intensify their radiation for billions of years. This discovery challenges current models of stellar evolution and has important implications for the search for life on other planets.
Astrophysicists analyze James Webb Space Telescope images to find three bright objects that might be 'dark stars,' powering themselves with annihilating particles of dark matter. The discovery could reveal the nature of dark matter and solve the puzzle of galaxy formation.
Researchers with the NANOGrav collaboration have detected the gravitational wave background for the first time, revealing a perpetual chorus of ripples in space-time. The discovery is made possible by observing stars called pulsars that act as celestial metronomes.
Researchers from UNIGE have developed a new method to test the validity of Einstein and Euler's theories on the accelerating Universe expansion and dark matter. The study uses time distortion as a never-before-used measure, allowing for differentiation between the two equations.
Researchers mapped 39 interstellar clouds to understand high-mass star formation. They found over 800 stellar seeds that will evolve into stars, but only 1% have enough mass to become high-mass stars.
Astronomers have proposed a new method for measuring the distances of galaxies, utilizing double-period RR Lyrae (RR Lyr) stars. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, aims to improve the accuracy of distance measurements by leveraging the unique properties of these stars.
The latest DESI data release provides a precise 3D map of the universe with high certainty. The data also sheds new light on cosmic acceleration and the nature of gravity at large scales.
Researchers have discovered a large gas giant orbiting two stars using the radial velocities method for the first time. The newly found system, TOI-1338/BEBOP-1, is only the second binary star system known to host multiple planets ever confirmed.
Scientists observe a bright optical emission after the most powerful gamma-ray burst documented, providing detailed data on radiation across various wavebands. The study reveals that luminous phenomenon arises from high-energy charged particles in a rarefied medium with a powerful magnetic field.
A new study has identified a chemically peculiar star in the Galactic halo as clear evidence of the existence of pair-instability supernovae (PISNe) from very massive first stars. The star's low sodium and cobalt abundances are consistent with predictions for primordial PISN from first-generation stars with 260 solar masses.
Researchers found GRB 221009A's jet exhibited a narrow core with wide sloping wings, differing from standard jets. This unique structure may explain the event's extreme energy release and prolonged visibility.
Astrophysicists explain the Brightest of All Time (BOAT) cosmic explosion, revealing a narrow jet embedded within a wider gas outflow. The GRB's uniqueness was due to mixing between stellar material and the jet, masking characteristic signatures.
A team of astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope has detected complex organic molecules in a galaxy over 12 billion light-years away. The discovery suggests that the presence of these molecules does not necessarily indicate star formation, contradicting a long-held assumption.
Researchers confirm Stephen Hawking's theory that black holes will eventually evaporate through Hawking radiation. New findings suggest gravity and spacetime curvature cause this radiation, affecting all large objects in the universe.
Astronomers at MIT and University of Wisconsin have discovered two validated planets, K2-416 b and K2-417 b, in Kepler's last week of high-quality data. The third planet candidate, EPIC 246251988 b, orbits its star every 10 days and is slightly farther away from Earth than the other two.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-sized planet, LP 791-18d, with active volcanoes that could sustain an atmosphere, potentially allowing for liquid water and life. The planet's unique tidal locking creates a permanent day and night side, with the night side possibly experiencing condensation of water vapor.
A recent study published in Science found that tidal shocks can occur when a star collides with itself as it orbits a black hole. This discovery contradicts the current understanding of stellar matter evolution during Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs), which typically produce X-ray bright accretion disks.
A team of 995 undergraduate and graduate students analyzed 600 real solar flares, casting doubt on the theory that nanoflares heat up the sun's corona. The students' work provided a unique opportunity for early-career scientists to learn about collaborative research.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that the shells of galactic bubbles are more complex than previously thought, with unexpected temperature and chemical properties. The study suggests that these bubbles were formed by intense star-formation activity rather than supermassive black hole activity.
Scientists observe streams of intergalactic gas enriched with elements heavier than helium surrounding a massive galaxy. The findings suggest that the gas was recycled during earlier periods of star formation and is now fueling the galaxy's rapid growth.
A team of scientists at MIT and elsewhere have observed a star engulfing a nearby planet, a phenomenon that will also befall Earth in 5 billion years. The star's outburst was followed by a colder, longer-lasting signal, indicating the presence of gas from the star condensing into dust.
Scientists identify tidal disruption event at infrared wavelengths, revealing the closest example of a black hole devouring a star. The discovery suggests that conventional X-ray and optical surveys may have missed similar events in young, star-forming galaxies.
The SuperBIT telescope has begun capturing high-resolution images of the Universe on its first research flight. It is investigating the mystery of dark matter, which is thought to be made up of particles that can bounce off each other during galaxy collisions.
The James Webb Space Telescope has observed six galaxies that defy the standard model of cosmology, with masses billions of times that of our sun. These findings suggest alternative theories on galaxy formation and expansion rates shortly after the Big Bang.