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Sloan Digital Sky Survey launches data release 20

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has released its 20th data set, featuring over three million spectra of stars and galaxies, as well as 18 new value-added catalogs. This release marks a significant expansion of the survey's efforts, integrating full all-sky panoptic spectroscopy across both hemispheres.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·DateJul 31, 2026

Universe expansion still accelerating say astronomers

New study by University of Southampton confirms the universe's expansion is still accelerating as previously found, debunking 2025 claims that the cosmos was slowing. The team re-evaluated data using Type Ia supernovae to calculate vast cosmic distances and found no error in their methods.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 10, 2026

Astronomers produce most detailed map of the cosmic web

A team of astronomers has produced the most detailed map of the cosmic web, tracing its network of galaxies back to one billion years old. The COSMOS-Web survey, conducted with the largest JWST survey, reveals a more informative large-scale structure than earlier maps.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 11, 2026

Astronomers reveal new details about dark matter’s influence on Universe

Researchers created the highest resolution map of dark matter, showing its interaction with normal matter through gravity. The new data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope confirms previous research and provides new details about dark matter's influence on the Universe.

SourceDurham University·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2026
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Development history of the universe is being rewritten based on a bachelor’s project from NBI

A team of researchers has observed a massive galaxy cluster that challenges existing models of the universe's evolution. The cluster's unusual structure and high density of cold, neutral hydrogen gas suggest a different history than previously thought. This discovery raises questions about the fate of large structures in the universe.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 9, 2026

Mapping the Universe, faster and with the same accuracy

Researchers have developed an emulator called Effort.jl that mimics the behavior of large-scale structure models, allowing for fast analysis on standard laptops. The new model delivers similar accuracy as the original, enabling scientists to analyze upcoming data releases from experiments like DESI and Euclid.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 16, 2025
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

“The models were right”: Astronomers find ‘missing’ matter

Researchers found a huge filament of hot gas in the Shapley Supercluster, containing some of the Universe's 'missing' matter. The discovery was made using XMM-Newton and Suzaku space telescopes, revealing a thread of gas stretching over 23 million light-years.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeObservational study·DateJun 19, 2025

Dark matter formed when fast particles slowed down and got heavy, new theory says

Researchers at Dartmouth College propose a new theory on the origin of dark matter, suggesting it could have formed from high-energy massless particles that rapidly condensed into cold, heavy particles. The theory can be tested using existing observational data, including the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 14, 2025

NASA's Roman mission shares detailed plans to scour skies

Roman's surveys will investigate dark energy and dark matter governing cosmic evolution, and study the demographics of worlds beyond our solar system. The missions include High-Latitude Wide-Area Survey, High-Latitude Time-Domain Survey, and Galactic Bulge Time-Domain Survey.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateApr 24, 2025

Euclid opens data treasure trove, offers glimpse of deep fields

The Euclid data release unlocks a treasure trove of information for scientists to study the universe's cosmic history and invisible forces. With its exceptional field of view, Euclid captures an area 240 times larger than the Hubble Telescope, delivering outstanding image quality in both visible and infrared light spectrum.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Astronomy·TypeSurvey·DateMar 19, 2025
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Gargantuan black hole jets are biggest seen yet

Astronomers have discovered the largest pair of black hole jets yet, stretching 23 million light-years and equivalent to 140 Milky Way galaxies. This finding suggests that these massive jet systems may have played a significant role in shaping galaxies in the early universe.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateSep 18, 2024

Biggest ever supercomputer simulation to investigate Universe’s evolution

Researchers have carried out the largest ever computer simulations to investigate the Universe's evolution, taking into account ordinary matter and dark energy. The FLAMINGO simulations provide a detailed picture of virtual galaxies and galaxy clusters, allowing for comparisons with observations from new high-powered telescopes.

SourceDurham University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 24, 2023
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

NASA’s Webb identifies the earliest strands of the cosmic web

Astronomers have discovered the earliest strands of the cosmic web, comprising 10 galaxies that existed just 830 million years after the big bang. The 3 million light-year-long structure is anchored by a luminous quasar, with team members believing it will eventually evolve into a massive cluster.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateJun 29, 2023

Pinpoint simulations provide perspective on universe structure

A series of simulations have enabled researchers to probe the heterogeneous structure of the universe by treating galaxy distribution as a collection of points. The study reveals that on large scales, the universe approaches hyperuniformity, while on smaller scales it becomes almost antihyperuniform and strongly inhomogeneous.

SourceInstitute for Advanced Study·JournalPhysical Review X·DateMar 14, 2023

Polarized shockwaves shake the universe’s cosmic web

Scientists at ICRAR have identified tantalizing evidence of magnetic fields in the universe's largest cosmic structures. This breakthrough suggests that magnetic forces play a significant role in shaping the cosmos.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 15, 2023

Space-bound clocks to detect dark matter

A new proposal aims to detect ultralight dark matter using atomic clocks in space. The clocks will track changes in energy oscillations caused by dark matter, allowing researchers to measure its presence.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Astronomy·DateDec 5, 2022

Astronomers discover massive galaxy 'shipyard' in the distant universe

Astronomers have discovered a massive galaxy protocluster, believed to be a 'galaxy shipyard', in the distant universe. The discovery provides insights into galaxy cluster formation and sheds light on the process of galaxies forming into clusters.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Astrophysicists reveal largest-ever suite of universe simulations

The AbacusSummit simulations are the largest-ever produced, clocking in at nearly 60 trillion particles. They will help scientists extract information about the universe from upcoming surveys of the cosmos.

SourceSimons Foundation·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 24, 2021

Mapping the local cosmic web

Researchers have created a new map of dark matter in the local universe using machine learning, revealing previously undiscovered filamentary structures connecting galaxies. The map provides a detailed understanding of the distribution of dark matter and its gravitational influence on galaxies.

SourcePenn State·DateMay 24, 2021

Does the human brain resemble the Universe?

Researchers compared neuronal networks to galaxy distributions, finding similarities in complexity and self-organization. The study suggests that diverse physical processes can create comparable structures despite vastly different scales.

SourceUniversità di Bologna·JournalFrontiers in Physics·DateNov 16, 2020
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Astronomers use slime mould to map the universe's largest structures

Researchers used a computer algorithm inspired by slime mould to create a three-dimensional map of the cosmic web structure in the local Universe. The analysis revealed that intergalactic gas is organised into filaments and detected at distances over 10 million light-years from galaxies.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 26, 2020

Slime mold simulations used to map dark matter holding universe together

Researchers have successfully mapped the cosmic web's filamentary structure using a slime mold-inspired algorithm, providing insights into dark matter's role in shaping the universe. The study revealed that denser regions of intergalactic gas are organized into filaments that stretch over 10 million light-years from galaxies.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 10, 2020
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Astronomers use slime mold model to reveal dark threads of the cosmic web

Researchers use a Physarum-based algorithm to visualize the cosmic web's filaments, connecting galaxies and diffuse hydrogen gas. The model replicates the distribution of dark matter on large scales, providing a new tool for understanding the universe's structure.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 10, 2020

Glowing gas reveals faint filaments of the cosmic web

Researchers detected individual filaments of intergalactic gas in a newly forming cluster, providing insight into the Universe's evolution and galaxy formation. The analysis found that these filaments are arranged like long threads, extending over one million parsecs, and fueling star formation and super massive black hole growth.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateOct 3, 2019

Spiraling filaments feed young galaxies

A new study using the Keck Cosmic Web Imager has provided the clearest evidence yet that filaments of cool gas spiral into young galaxies, explaining how they can make stars on fast timescales. The observations suggest a cold-flow model of galaxy formation, where cool gas flows directly into forming galaxies and is converted into stars.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJul 1, 2019
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Radio ridge between two galaxy clusters bridges intergalactic space

A team of researchers has discovered a massive radio-emitting plasma ridge in the gap between two merging galaxy clusters. This finding challenges existing theories on particle acceleration in intergalactic space and suggests an unknown mechanism at play.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJun 6, 2019

Exchanges of identity in deep space

Researchers recreated complex cosmic simulations to investigate a possible transformation process where photons become axions and retransform into photons upon interacting with magnetic fields. This phenomenon may explain the observed brightness of distant celestial bodies.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 7, 2017
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Ripples in the cosmic web

A team of astronomers has made the first measurements of small-scale ripples in primeval hydrogen gas, using rare double quasars. The results provide important clues about the temperature of gas in the cosmic web just a few billion years after the Big Bang.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScience·DateApr 27, 2017

Cosmic environments and their influence in star formation

A study of galaxy properties in the cosmic web reveals that central galaxies form stars for a longer period than satellite galaxies. Satellite galaxies experience a steep decline in star formation activity due to 'ram-pressure stripping' as they fall into dense cluster environments.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateMar 6, 2017

Vast luminous nebula poses a cosmic mystery

Astronomers have found a massive, luminous nebula at the heart of a 'rotocluster' of early galaxies, which appears to be part of the cosmic web connecting galaxies. The newly discovered nebula, MAMMOTH-1, is thought to be powered by a hidden active galactic nucleus (AGN) that is strongly obscured by dust.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·DateFeb 23, 2017
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

New Caltech instrument poised to image the cosmic web

The Caltech instrument, KCWI, will map gas flowing into and out of forming galaxies, revealing dominant modes of galaxy formation. KCWI is a versatile general-purpose instrument that can study cosmic objects in ways not possible before.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·DateJan 12, 2017

It's filamentary: How galaxies evolve in the cosmic web

Researchers propose that filaments in the cosmic web played a critical role in the evolution of galaxies in the distant universe. Galaxies residing in these filaments have a higher chance of actively forming stars, with a process known as 'pre-processing' accelerating their evolution.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateNov 20, 2014

These aren't the voids you're looking for

Researchers found delicate strings of galaxies in previously thought-empty voids, revealing a new type of structure called 'tendrils'. This discovery suggests that voids might be smaller than initially believed, challenging our understanding of the universe's organization.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 9, 2014
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Distant quasar illuminates a filament of the cosmic web

Researchers detected a distant quasar illuminating a vast nebula of diffuse gas, extending about 2 million light-years across intergalactic space. The study provides the first image of extended gas between galaxies, offering insight into the overall structure of the universe.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature·DateJan 19, 2014

$70 million CU-Boulder instrument set for insertion on Hubble Space Telescope

A $70 million CU-Boulder instrument will be installed on the Hubble Space Telescope in mid-October to study the 'fossil record' of gases in the early universe. The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph will gather information from ultraviolet light, allowing scientists to reconstruct the physical condition and evolution of the early universe.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·DateSep 17, 2008