Articles tagged with Stars
Researchers used ALMA to observe distant galaxies and discovered two new, dusty galaxies near original targets, challenging our understanding of early galaxy formation. The discovery suggests that a significant portion of early galaxies may be hidden from view due to cosmic dust.
Researchers have discovered six early massive galaxies that have run out of fuel, contradicting expectations of the early Universe. The galaxies' cessation of star formation was not caused by inefficiency, but rather depletion or removal of gas reservoirs.
Researchers used gravitational lensing to observe the same exploding star in three different locations and predict a fourth image will appear in the sky by 2037. This study provides an opportunity to explore the expansion of our universe and sheds light on cosmological riddles, including the expansion rate.
Physicist Eve Armstrong aims to understand the origins of elements heavier than iron using weather prediction technique data assimilation. With a two-year NSF EAGER grant, she and her team will predict whether supernova stardust gave rise to these heavy elements.
A supercomputer simulation reveals that interstellar frontal collisions lead to the maturation of young galaxies. The study shows how these chaotic galaxies eventually form stable spiral galaxies with similar populations of stars as the Milky Way.
Scientists at Carnegie Mellon and University of Washington are developing new software platforms to analyze the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) dataset. The open-source platforms will enable researchers to make sense of big data and address fundamental questions about the universe, such as dark matter and dark energy.
A team of astronomers has made detailed observations of a large tidal flow around the Sombrero galaxy, revealing its strange morphology and shedding light on its possible merger history. The study's findings suggest that the galaxy's unusual shape may be due to cannibalism by a satellite dwarf galaxy.
Astronomers find that massive black holes play a key role in halting star formation in galaxies, contradicting previous assumptions. Using simulations and machine learning, the team confirmed that supermassive black hole mass is the most important factor in suppressing stellar activity.
The Kepler Space Telescope has discovered four new planets that are consistent with Earth-sized masses and may be free-floating in space. These findings suggest the existence of a population of free-floating planets, which could have been ejected from host stars by gravitational forces.
Using numerical simulations, researchers showed that satellite galaxies can retain gas and experience new episodes of star formation after passing close to their parent galaxy. This process is driven by the satellite's reserve of cold gas and minimum distance from its parent galaxy.
Astronomer Wendy Freedman's review paper suggests that recent observations are closing the gap between different measurement methods for the Hubble constant. The latest data from red giant stars and cosmic microwave background experiments agree within 1% of each other, indicating no need for fundamental new physics.
A new study suggests that cosmic dawn, when stars formed for the first time, occurred between 250 and 350 million years after the beginning of the universe. The study used data from the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes to estimate the age of distant galaxies.
Researchers used data from SOFIA to create a 3D view of an expanding stellar-wind bubble surrounding Westerlund 2, disproving earlier studies suggesting two bubbles. The team identified the source of the bubble and energy driving its expansion.
A study proposes three resolutions to explain the red sky paradox, where FGK dwarfs are not apparent in the sky despite being five times more common than Sun-like stars. Red dwarfs have a lower probability of emerging intelligent life, a shorter available time window for complex life evolution, and a lower occurrence of habitable worlds.
Scientists confirm NGC 1052-DF2 has only a few percent of expected dark matter content. The discovery using Hubble Space Telescope observations suggests that the galaxy formed in an environment with unusual properties, leading to its isolation.
The Milky Way's galactic bar has slowed down its spin by at least 24% since its formation, according to a study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Dark matter acts as a counterweight slowing the spin.
Researchers have calculated that exomoons orbiting free-floating planets could harbor sufficient water to make life possible and sustain it. The study found that the presence of cosmic radiation and tidal forces could keep water in a liquid state, making these systems promising for the detection of life beyond Earth.
A team of astronomers mapped molecular clouds in the nearby Universe, discovering diversity in stellar nurseries across 90 galaxies. The study found that location and environment play a critical role in star formation, with clouds in dense central regions being more massive and turbulent.
Researchers from NCRA-TIFR and RRI used the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope to measure the atomic hydrogen gas content of galaxies 9 billion years ago. They found that galaxies at this time were rich in gas, with nearly three times as much mass in atomic gas as in stars.
A new study by Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers has revealed diverse magnetic field morphologies in Solar-type star-forming cores in the Taurus B213 region. The findings contradict expectations based on theory that magnetic fields regulate star formation.
The discovery of UGC 10738 reveals that galaxies with similar structures and properties are likely common. The galaxy's thick disc consists mainly of ancient stars, while its thin disc stars are more recent and contain more metal.
A team of scientists discovered that three dozen dwarf galaxies simultaneously accelerated their star birth rates, defying expectations. The galaxies, separated by up to 13 million light-years, had a synchronized decrease in stellar birth rate 6 billion years ago and an increase 3 billion years ago.
Using new methods in astronomy, researchers have identified the most precise ages of red giant stars in the galaxy, shedding light on the timing of the early Milky Way's formation. The study suggests that the merger with the satellite galaxy Gaia-Enceladus occurred around 10 billion years ago.
Researchers investigating the 'radius gap' in exoplanet sizes found that younger mini-Neptunes shrink drastically over billions of years, leaving behind solid cores and becoming super-Earths. As planets age, their gas is stripped away, shifting the radius gap between rocky super-Earths and larger, gas-shrouded planets.
A team of astronomers has measured internal mixing within an ensemble of massive stars using observations of stellar oscillations. The results show that the mixing is diverse, unrelated to star mass or age, and influenced by internal rotation. This study provides new insights into the evolution and structure of massive stars.
High-resolution VLA radio images of W49A show changes in ionized gas regions, including new activity and supersonic gas motions. Astronomers plan to continue observing this region to track changes and reveal details about star formation processes.
KAUST researchers create a new approach to capture evolving periodicity in variable star brightness, expanding cyclostationary theory. This allows for modeling of phenomena like solar irradiance and climate change.
Astronomers capture breathtaking images of AG Carinae, a luminous blue variable star surrounded by a glowing halo of gas and dust. The star is in a constant battle to maintain stability due to its massive form and super-hot temperatures.
Astronomers have released a new all-sky map of the Milky Way's outer halo, revealing a massive reservoir of dark matter. The map also shows a wake of stars stirred up by the Large Magellanic Cloud, set to collide with the Milky Way in about 2 billion years.
A survey of star formation in the Orion Nebula Cluster found similar mass distributions for newborn stars and dense gas cores, suggesting that gas accretion rate determines final star mass. The results contradict the core-collapse model, supporting the competitive accretion model instead.
Researchers used SOFIA to study the effects of stellar winds on RCW 120, finding it expands rapidly at 33,000 mph, indicating a young age limit of less than 150,000 years. This discovery suggests that positive feedback processes trigger high star formation rates during the early universe.
A study of 50 protoplanetary-disk forming regions found differences in the abundance of complex organic molecules, with some regions having higher concentrations of methanol and acetonitrile. The findings suggest a possible common production mechanism for these molecules, shedding light on their formation in space.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.