Articles tagged with Sun
Researchers argue that oxygen-rich atmospheres are essential for complex life to exist. However, since levels of oxygen won't have had time to develop sufficiently before a sun dies, life may not be able to evolve on planets orbiting short-lived suns.
A NCAR researcher used white-light images of the Sun's corona to study magnetic flux ropes, which store massive amounts of energy. The study found that these structures can form prior to a coronal mass ejection (CME), suggesting a new approach for understanding and forecasting CMEs.
Scientists confirm Voyager 1's crossing of the termination shock at 94 AU, marking a significant milestone on its journey to interstellar space. The spacecraft is expected to reach the heliopause in another 10 years or so, providing valuable insights into the solar system and beyond.
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has entered the solar system's final frontier, encountering the heliosheath region. The spacecraft's observation of a sudden increase in magnetic field strength and plasma wave noise indicates it has crossed the termination shock, marking a significant milestone in its journey to interstellar space.
A new study reveals that Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) can originate from tiny magnetic regions on the Sun, challenging current theories. The research used data from NASA/ESA's SOHO spacecraft and found that these mini-CMEs were energetic enough to reach Earth, causing aurora and disrupting satellite communications.
A significant gap exists in understanding Earth's energy balance, crucial for accurately determining climate change. Scientists call for improved research observations and models to describe the overall energy balance of Earth's system.
Astronomers using the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton telescope discovered that Jupiter's x-ray glow is due to x-rays from the Sun being reflected back off the planet's atmosphere. The discovery synchronises Jupiter's day-to-day disk x-rays with the Sun's emissions, providing new insights into solar activity.
Researchers are using two giant detectors in Minnesota and Illinois to explore the properties of neutrinos, particularly their ability to change flavors. The goal is to understand how particles acquire mass and its role in the formation of the universe and dark matter.
Research findings indicate that increased sun exposure is associated with improved melanoma survival, while decreased UV radiation exposure may lower non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk. These studies provide new evidence for the potential beneficial effects of sunlight on cancer incidence and outcome.
Dr. McDonald and his team solved the missing solar neutrinos puzzle, confirming that neutrinos change type on their journey to Earth from the sun. This discovery validates theories of energy generation in the sun and transforms our understanding of elementary particle physics.
Researchers found that strong stellar winds around young red dwarfs may be responsible for removing dust and debris disks. The discovery provides a potential explanation for the rare occurrence of debris disks among red dwarfs, but further observations are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Researchers have discovered two candidate planets orbiting white dwarfs, which are the remnants of dead stars. The team used a combination of telescopes to detect these planets, which could provide clues about the solar system's formation and the presence of life in the galaxy.
Astronomers have discovered a massive debris disc surrounding the star Vega, indicating a chaotic process in planetary system evolution. The debris is thought to be the result of embryonic planets colliding and crashing into each other, creating ever-finer dust particles.
Researchers at University of Toronto developed a sprayable infrared detector that can harness the sun's invisible rays. The discovery may improve renewable energy sources by increasing efficiency and flexibility in solar cells.
Astronomers used computer simulations to predict that a close encounter between our Sun and another star in the Milky Way galaxy could have given us our solar system's edge and put small, alien worlds into distant orbits. The study found potential locations where captured objects from other solar systems might be found.
The Lennart Nilsson Award honors Göran Scharmer for his groundbreaking solar research, including the development of the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope. The award is presented annually by Karolinska Institutet and includes a prize of SEK 100,000.
Researchers use meteorite composition to test theories on solar system formation, shedding light on the sun's oxygen makeup. The Genesis spacecraft collected particles blown out from the sun, providing new insights into local variations in oxygen isotopes.
Researchers use joint ESA/NASA satellite data to form two rival theories on 'coronal heating'. The strong magnetic field is believed to be the culprit behind this phenomenon. Sophisticated computer simulations and observations from SOHO provide crucial evidence for these explanations.
Astronomers have discovered a new FU-Orionis-type star, which is an extremely young star about the same mass as the sun. The discovery provides insights into the formation of our solar system and allows for the study of X-ray emissions in these stars.
Astronomers have directly measured the mass of a single star, the first time this feat has been accomplished for any star other than our own sun. The star, nearly 2,000 light-years away, was found to have one-tenth the mass of the Sun using a combination of old and new astronomical techniques.
The discovery of a disk of dust and comets around Tau Ceti suggests that this star is likely to experience constant bombardment from asteroids, making it difficult for life to evolve. Scientists will have to rethink where they look for civilisations outside our Solar System.
A new theory suggests that the Sun and Solar System formed in a turbulent environment, with massive stars influencing the development of planets. This vision could have profound implications for understanding planetary formation and life's origins.
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is now accepting nominations for the 2005 Journalism Awards. The awards recognize work that enhances public understanding of the sciences, including the study of the Earth and its environments. Nominations are due by November 15, 2004, and winners will be announced on May 19, 2005.
Astronomers at Yale University have discovered the most distant object in our solar system, Sedna, which is approximately 10 billion miles away from the sun. Sedna's orbit ranges from seven to 100 billion miles from the sun and its characteristics are consistent with it residing in the Oort cloud.
The EarthDial Project features a global network of sundials, including ones in the US, Spain, Malaysia, Honduras, and Antarctica. The web site provides a palpable sense of time on the globe, with shadow angles changing like clock hands in different time zones.
Astronomers have discovered the nearest and youngest star with a visible disk of dust that may be a nursery for planets. The dim red dwarf star AU Mic is about half the mass of the sun but only 12 million years old, and its dusty debris disk stretches around 210 astronomical units from the central star.
Researchers have taken advantage of a newly mounted laser guide star system at UC's Lick Observatory to obtain sharp, twinkle-free images of the faint dusty disks of distant massive stars. The images show that these stars form in the same way as solar-type stars inside a swirling spherical cloud.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory used a specialized instrument to analyze stardust from a meteorite, confirming the theory that stars form atoms through nucleosynthesis. The discovery provides precise confirmation of how atoms are made inside stars.
The team discovered LBV 1806-20, a massive star at least 150 times larger than the sun, with estimated age of less than 2 million years. The star's enormous size is attributed to shock-induced star formation, while its location in a rare cluster of stars raises further questions about its origins.
Researchers have captured images of coronal mass ejections, revealing high-altitude auroras extending over 500 miles above Earth's surface. The Solar Mass Ejection Imager has improved predictions of geomagnetic storms by mapping electron cloud trajectories.
A new study published in Icarus reveals that planet formation simulations indicate a high probability of finding Earthlike planets near other stars. The research suggests that the presence and orbits of giant planets like Jupiter can greatly impact the amount of water on terrestrial planets.
A geologist has used historical data from Lewis and Clark to calculate the magnetic declination in the North American interior. The analysis reveals changes in the magnetic pole over time, with some maps corrected to be remarkably accurate.
A new study finds that NASA's Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) can detect habitable planets near significantly more massive stars than the sun. The satellite will use interferometry to measure the position of stars and detect tiny wobbles caused by orbiting planets.
RHESSI observations show that microflares, tiny explosive events on the sun, provide a significant portion of heat in the corona. The satellite's findings suggest that microflares could be key to understanding solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which affect Earth's space weather.
Research by Debra Fischer and Jeff Valenti found a correlation between star metal abundance and planet formation, with metal-rich stars having a 20% chance of harboring planets. The data suggest that a threshold metallicity exists, favoring the formation of planetary systems in stars with higher initial metal content.
A team led by Dr. Loretta Dunne has discovered a thousand times more cosmic dust than previously detected in the remnant of a supernova explosion in our own Galaxy. This finding solves the riddle of how large quantities of dust were formed in the early universe and provides evidence for supernovae as efficient dust factories.
A new 3D map of local space reveals the Sun at the center of an irregular cavity, surrounded by a dense wall of gas. The map suggests that interlocking cavities and tunnels were created by supernovas or strong stellar winds.
Researchers discovered that giant solar loops can erupt explosively, releasing massive amounts of plasma and heat. The longer the loop, the more likely it is to erupt, posing a threat to satellites and space weather.
A team of Colorado researchers has discovered a large population of 'proplyd' objects in the Carina Nebula, located 7,300 light-years from Earth. The newly found proplyds are roughly 100 times the diameter of our solar system and are puzzling for several reasons.
New research reveals that red giants still exhibit coronal activity, but it is submerged in the chromosphere, a region around 10,000 F. The team used NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory and ultraviolet instruments to detect hot coronal gas through UV emissions.
The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer satellite will study the bubble of hot gas between nearby stars, helping scientists understand local galaxy regions and supernova origins. With its high resolution, CHIPSat will measure individual lines to determine physical conditions in the hot gas.
Researchers at Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment (SSX) make 1st 3D measurements of magnetic reconnection, revealing a swept and sheared magnetic structure. This breakthrough helps understand plasma physics processes on the sun and new structures in fusion energy machines.
A team of international astronomers has identified an ancient star in the Milky Way Galaxy, dated to 14-15 billion years ago. The discovery provides direct knowledge of the elemental composition of the universe shortly after the Big Bang, offering insights into the formation of stars and the chemical recipe of the early universe.
The Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy has determined the sizes of four of the largest and most distant minor planets in our solar system. The diameters range between 700 and 1200 km, providing new insights into the Kuiper belt's structure and potential origin of planetary systems.
Researchers present findings on Antarctic lake temperature changes, krill distribution under ice, and potential impacts on marine ecosystems. Climate-related changes in krill populations could trigger major ecosystem collapses.
Researchers discover helicity, a twisted structure within the Sun's magnetic field, causing coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that can affect modern technology and the northern lights. Understanding CMEs is crucial for predicting space weather.
Researchers discovered that fluctuations in solar wind magnetic energy density are more likely to occur in extreme events, similar to stock market indices. The solar wind's self-similar pattern at various time scales allows for the application of knowledge from one field to understand the other.
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is now accepting nominations for the 2003 Sullivan and Perlman Awards, honoring work that enhances public understanding of Earth sciences. Eligible entries must have been published between December 16, 2001, and December 15, 2002.
Astronomers at Penn State have discovered three faint dwarf stars orbiting nearby bright stars, marking a new era in imaging faint objects. The discovery uses an infrared camera with a specially shaped pupil mask, allowing for improved contrast and revealing the dim companions.
A 100,000-year climate cycle linked to the sun's magnetic activity has been discovered. The study found that periods of high solar magnetic activity correlate with warmer climates and vice versa.
Researchers analyzed NOAA data on solar radio bursts to determine their impact on cellular communications. They found that bursts of 1,000 SFU occur on 10-20 days per year, causing disruptions every 40-80 days or several times a year.
A team of UW researchers has determined a more precise solar neutrino production figure, finding that the fusion rate is 17% greater than previously estimated. This new finding means the sun must be producing 17% more energetic neutrinos, with an accuracy of 3-4 percentage points.
Researchers used a powerful computing cluster to simulate moon motions over 1 billion years, discovering that the sun's gravity pulls smaller moons from their orbits. The study reveals how giant planets capture and shape the orbits of tiny moons, shedding light on Jupiter's unusual satellite system.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have made a precise measurement of solar neutrinos, resolving a long-standing puzzle. By studying the proton transfer reaction, they found that the number of solar neutrinos is lower than expected by around 20 percent compared to previous calculations.
Researchers found evidence that materials produced in the sun's atmosphere are ejected directly outward, forming the solar wind. This discovery contradicts a theory suggesting these materials circulate in the sun's interior before being ejected.
Researchers found that young stars in Orion exhibit high levels of X-ray flaring, sufficient to explain the production of unusual isotopes locked away in ancient meteorites. This discovery suggests that our Sun may have also formed these isotopes during its baby years.
A study by Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study suggests that Earth's varying reflections can provide clues about distant, potentially habitable planets. By analyzing changes in light over time, scientists may gain insights into a planet's weather, oceans, or even plant life.
A team of astronomers has discovered a Jupiter-size planet in a nearly circular orbit around the nearby star 47 Ursae Majoris, located about 51 light years from Earth. The new planet is at least three-fourths the mass of Jupiter and orbits the star at a distance that would place it beyond Mars but within the orbit of Jupiter.
Hyperion successfully navigated through rough terrain, including scree slopes and mud flats, covering a distance of 9.1 kilometers in an extended experiment. The technology has proven fundamental ideas for robotic explorers to operate at the poles of the moon or in polar regions of Mars.
Scientists have successfully observed an optical coronal line from iron ions in a star called CN Leonis, located 8 light-years away. This achievement marks the first time such a detection has been made outside of our solar system and opens up new avenues for studying stellar cycles.