Articles tagged with Stars
Astronomers discovered over 800 dense gas and dust cores near the Galactic Center, which may be 'stellar eggs' hatching into baby stars despite harsh conditions. The findings suggest that star formation is more resilient than thought, with ALMA observations detecting small outflows indicative of star birth.
A newly discovered 'Goldilocks' black hole, approximately 55,000 times the sun's mass, provides insight into how supermassive black holes form and grow. The finding may indicate that these behemoths have ancient relics as seeds, potentially leading to a greater understanding of the universe.
Researchers studied 304 developing stars and found that gas-clearing by a star's outflow may not be as important in determining its final mass. The team's results indicate cavities in the surrounding gas cloud do not grow regularly, suggesting another process gets rid of excess gas.
Researchers detect over a dozen unexpected molecules in Taurus Molecular Cloud, revealing complex chemistry in interstellar space. The discovery sheds light on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their potential impact on asteroid composition and planet formation.
A team of researchers has identified two complex PAHs in the Taurus Molecular Cloud, a patch of space where stars are not yet forming. This discovery suggests that these molecules can form at much lower temperatures than expected, potentially leading to new insights into planet formation.
The LAMOST survey has identified 1534 low-α metal-rich member stars of the Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus galaxy, challenging previous understanding of the merging process. The newly discovered component extends from a previously detected metal-poor region and suggests that these stars were formed during subsequent evolution.
Researchers have made groundbreaking discoveries about the formation of galaxies and stars using data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. By analyzing microwave observations, they found that only a small percentage of gas in galaxies (about 10%) is turned into stars, shedding light on why galaxy formation remains inefficient.
The Northern California kelp forest ecosystem has collapsed due to an abrupt loss of a key predator, the sunflower sea star, which was wiped out by sea star wasting disease. The area covered by kelp forests has dropped by over 95%, with only isolated patches remaining.
A new study led by IAC researchers using the OSIRIS instrument on GRANTECAN has discovered the most densely populated galaxy cluster in formation in the primitive universe. The cluster, located 12.5 billion light years from us, is made up of galaxies with normal star formation rates and is predicted to evolve into a Virgo-like cluster.
Researchers detected radio flares months and years after a star was torn apart by a black hole, contradicting previous expectations. The team observed two delayed flares in a distant galaxy, suggesting that new models may be needed to explain this phenomenon.
Research reveals large galaxies steal molecular gas from smaller satellite galaxies, impacting star formation rates. The study provides new systematic evidence of gas loss through ram pressure stripping, leading to galaxy stagnation without gas acquisition.
Researchers have discovered a potential Earth-like planet in the Alpha Centauri star system using unprecedented sensitivity data collection methods. The team's findings suggest that this exoplanet may be located in a habitable zone where liquid water could form.
A team of scientists has discovered a planetary system with a backward-rotating star, K2-290, which exhibits stellar-planetary misalignment. The star's rotation is opposite to the planets' orbits, with a tilt of approximately 124° relative to their orbits.
New study by McGill University researchers reveals that super-Earths can form independently, without gas shells like mini-Neptunes. This contradicts previous theories and sheds new light on the mysterious origins of these exoplanets.
Annette S. Lee receives the AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement in Science for her culturally relevant and community-focused projects grounded in indigenous knowledge of the stars. Her initiatives, such as Native Skywatchers, improve education inequalities faced by native youth and promote cultural pride.
The SAMI survey has revealed the internal structures of galaxies, showing how they interact and grow over time. The study provides insights into the forces that shape galaxy evolution, including the role of supermassive black holes.
Astrophysicists at MIT have discovered an extended dark matter halo around Tucana II, a primitive ultrafaint dwarf galaxy. The halo is estimated to be three to five times more massive than previously thought, implying that the first galaxies in the universe were likely larger and more massive.
A new study measured the densities of seven exoplanets in the TRAPPIST-1 system with extreme precision, finding remarkably similar compositions among all planets. The researchers propose three hypotheses to explain this similarity, including lower iron content, oxygen-enriched compositions, and water enrichment.
Physicists at MIT searched for axions in Betelgeuse, a nearby star expected to burn out soon, but found no signs of the hypothetical dark matter particles. The null result sets new constraints on axion properties, making it harder to detect them through X-ray signals.
Scientists have discovered a rare cosmic phenomenon - an 'Old Faithful'-like eruption of light flashing about once every 114 days on a nearly predictable schedule. The flare is caused by a black hole ripping at a star, creating a regular series of tidal disruption events.
A new study by Durham University and colleagues suggests that galaxy mergers could shut down star formation in the early universe, affecting galaxy growth. The researchers observed a massive galaxy, ID2299, which ejected half of its gas into the intergalactic medium due to the merger.
The Roman Space Telescope will enable new science in astrophysics by imaging an area 100 times larger than Hubble with the same crisp sharpness. It could reveal new insights into star formation during the universe's youth and galaxy clustering, as well as study the early universe and cosmic dawn.
Researchers simulate turbulence on both sides of sonic scale using LRZ HPC resources, capturing large-scale phenomena and advancing star formation models. The team's largest-ever simulation resolves the sonic scale for the first time, improving predictions of star formation rates and molecular cloud behavior.
Astronomers using ALMA have observed a distant galaxy losing its ability to form stars after ejecting nearly half of its star-forming gas. The galaxy's gas ejection is happening at an alarming rate, equivalent to 10,000 Suns-worth per year.
Researchers found a fossil fragment of one of the giant stellar clumps that formed the central region of the Milky Way approximately 12 billion years ago. Liller 1 is composed of two stellar populations with dramatically different ages, one as old as the Milky Way and the other much younger.
A graduate student developed an open-source code called BADASS, which provides a way to fit stellar motions simultaneously with other components in astronomical spectra. The code is versatile enough to fit not just active galactic nuclei but also normal galaxies, and can be used for any kind of spectroscopy.
A new 3D survey of the Milky Way has revealed a wide range of structures within the galaxy, from individual star-forming clumps to giant molecular clouds. The study provides unprecedented detail on the inner structure and dynamics of the galaxy, shedding light on its star formation processes.
Researchers at University of Kansas discover a galaxy 5.25 billion light years away undergoing a rare stage in its life cycle, where an X-ray luminous AGN coexists with high star formation rates. The team found that the galaxy is still generating new stars despite the presence of the active galactic nucleus.
A team of astrophysicists has created a complete family tree of the Milky Way, revealing a previously unknown galaxy collision that permanently altered its appearance. The researchers used advanced computer simulations and artificial intelligence to study the merger history of the galaxy.
The ULLYSES program aims to create a comprehensive dataset for understanding star formation and its impact on planet habitability. The Hubble Space Telescope will observe over 300 stars across eight regions, capturing their spectral templates to inform research on stellar evolution and planetary chemistry.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Georgia Tech used supercomputers to model the formation of the first stars, known as Population III or Pop III stars. Their simulations showed that these ancient stars forged heavier elements, such as carbon, which seeded the next generation of stars.
The Milky Way's circumgalactic medium (CGM) has a disk-like geometry, with denser areas where stars are forming and material is being traded between the galaxy and the CGM. The discovery provides insight into the galaxy's formation and evolution, as well as its interaction with the surrounding universe.
A team of astronomers has used the upgraded GMRT to measure atomic hydrogen content in galaxies as they were 8 billion years ago. The study reveals that the exhaustion of atomic hydrogen gas explains the decline in star formation activity over time.
Researchers have found a globular star cluster with 800 times less iron than the Sun and is three times more iron-poor than the previous record-holder. The study contradicts the standard picture of how these old star clusters formed in the early universe.
Astronomers find galaxy Dragonfly 44 has normal amount of dark matter, contrary to earlier claims. The team discovered only 20 globular clusters, reducing the amount of dark matter, and confirming that the galaxy is not unique or anomalous.
A team of scientists from Northern Arizona University reviewed the Spitzer Space Telescope's legacy in Nature Astronomy, documenting its groundbreaking discoveries about comets, stars, exoplanets, and distant galaxies. The papers also suggest targets for the next-generation James Webb Space Telescope.
Researchers have successfully connected two optical atomic clocks in Italy and Japan, separated by 8700 km, using radio telescopes observing distant stars. This achievement could provide a global infrastructure for high-precision timekeeping and unlock new possibilities for studying fundamental physics and general relativity.
Researchers reconstruct when most stars formed in the Universe, agreeing with telescope observations for the first time. They use a new algorithm to model energy and wavelengths of light coming from 7000 nearby galaxies.
A recent study from an international team led by Prof. ZHAO Gang, Prof. SHI Jianrong, and Dr. YAN Hongliang found that most lithium-rich stars are 'red clumps' rather than 'red giants'. The research provides new insights into the origin of the ancient element lithium.
Researchers have advanced studies on galaxy formation, revealing the role of massive clumps in scattering stars and creating smooth galaxy disks. The models show that this process is robust and universal, applying to many types of galaxies.
A research team from Friedrich Schiller University Jena has proven that dust particles and ice are mixed in the interstellar medium. This finding suggests complex organic molecules may be present on dust particles, which can contribute to planetary formation. The study also reveals a hidden reservoir of oxygen in solid-state water.
Astronomers have detected a Jupiter-sized planet, TOI-1899 b, orbiting a low-mass star, providing insights into the formation of giant planets. The discovery was made possible by the Habitable-zone Planet Finder spectrograph and offers a unique opportunity to study the properties of warm Jupiters.
Quntao Zhuang, a University of Arizona electrical and computer engineer, has received the DARPA Young Faculty Award to improve the precision of quantum sensor networks. His research focuses on enhancing the ability of these sensors to perform in noisy environments.
Astronomers have provided clear evidence for the formation of an accretion disk around a supermassive black hole during a tidal disruption event. The new findings support theoretical predictions and provide unprecedented insights into these unusual events.
A new study resolves the Galactic bar paradox by proposing that the central region of the Milky Way is connected to the spiral arm in a 'cosmic dance', causing contradictory estimates of motion. The bar's size and rotational speed fluctuate rapidly, making it appear larger and slower at certain times.
Researchers have discovered a dense, cold gas ejected from the centre of the Milky Way, which could impact star formation and galaxy stability. The finding raises new questions about what's happening in the galactic centre, particularly with regards to the massive black hole at its heart.
A study published in Nature Communications has discovered phosphorus-rich stars with unusual abundances, defying current theories of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis. The findings suggest a new type of object that could provide insights into the origin of life's essential element.
Scientists have identified Dome A in Antarctica as the best place on Earth to view distant stars, thanks to its extremely stable atmosphere. The location offers a unique opportunity to observe the universe with greatly reduced interference from atmospheric turbulence.
Researchers at MIT watched as a supermassive black hole's corona was abruptly destroyed, causing its brightness to drop by a factor of 10,000 in under a year. The corona eventually rebuilt itself, sparking hopes for understanding how black holes' coronas are heated and powered.
Researchers propose a simple model explaining galaxy quenching, attributing it to central black hole 'feedback' that disrupts gas supply. The model reveals that larger galaxies evolve further before their black holes can grow large enough to quench star formation.
A Princeton astrophysicist has developed an AI model, SPOCK, to predict the stability of planetary systems. By combining simplified models with machine learning methods, researchers can quickly eliminate unstable configurations, reducing computational time by factors of 100,000.
Researchers measured gas motions throughout the Milky Way and a nearby galaxy, finding that cold molecular gas motions appear to fluctuate in velocity, reminiscent of ocean waves. The team discovered that equidistantly spaced structure shows distinctive pattern, with periodic spacing likely resulting from gravitational instability.
A team of researchers has discovered a 'scientific red flag' in the center of the Milky Way, revealing new clues about the fundamental source of its power. The study uses optical light to analyze ionized gas, finding that at least 48% of hydrogen gas is ionized by an unknown source.
Astronomers at the University of Warwick have discovered a Neptune-sized gas giant with an exposed core, allowing for the first time to peer inside a planet. The core is believed to be 'failed' or stripped of its gaseous atmosphere, offering insights into planet formation and composition.
Researchers estimate that there may be as many as one Earth-like planet for every five Sun-like stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. This number could lead to new insights into planet formation and evolution theories, optimizing future exoplanet missions.
A new computer simulation theory suggests that supermassive black holes form from gas clouds enriched with heavy elements, explaining the large number observed in galaxies today. The simulations showed that a massive star can form 10,000 times more massive than the Sun, which will continue to grow and evolve into a giant black hole.
A new study reveals that supermassive black holes experience a surge in activity as galaxies within galaxy clusters stop forming stars. The intense pressure allows for a final feast of gas clouds and stars before shutting off normal feeding, suggesting an intricate interplay between black hole behavior and star formation.
Astronomers used ALMA to discover a massive rotating disk galaxy, DLA0817g, which challenges traditional models of galaxy formation. The galaxy formed primarily through the steady accretion of cold gas, indicating alternative growth processes dominated over violent mergers.
Researchers at Special Astrophysical Observatory and Kazan Federal University studied the globular cluster NGC 6652 and found its age to be approximately 13.6 billion years. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that younger galaxies are more metal-rich, revealing a complex history for this ancient object.
Scientists have found that the unique characteristics of interstellar object 'Oumuamua can be explained by tidal forces felt during close encounters with stars. The study suggests that rocky objects like 'Oumuamua could originate from planetary systems, providing a new perspective on their formation and evolution.