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Do ‘bouncing universes’ have a beginning?

A new study by University at Buffalo physicists Will Kinney and Nina Stein reveals that the latest cyclic model introduces a new problem: the universe must have a beginning. This finding contradicts previous theories, which aimed to address entropy concerns by proposing endless cycles of expansion and contraction.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·DateAug 9, 2022
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Astronomers develop novel way to ‘see’ the first stars through the fog of the early Universe

A team of astronomers has developed a novel way to observe the first stars and galaxies, detecting light through the fog of the early Universe. The Square Kilometre Array will likely make images of the earliest light, but current telescopes struggle to detect the cosmological signal through hydrogen clouds.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateJul 21, 2022

Capturing the onset of galaxy rotation in the early universe

Researchers have detected the most distant galaxy rotation ever observed, suggesting an initial stage of rotational motion development. The galaxy's rapid rotation and small diameter provide valuable insights into its age and evolution.

SourceWaseda University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 30, 2022

Hubble Space Telescope captures largest near-infrared image to find universe’s rarest galaxies

The Hubble Space Telescope has released the largest near-infrared image ever taken, allowing researchers to map star-forming regions and understand how the earliest galaxies originated. This high-resolution survey will enable the identification of rare objects such as massive galaxies, highly active black holes, and colliding galaxies.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 6, 2022
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Cosmological gravitational waves: A new approach to reach back to the Big Bang

A new study by the POLARBEAR collaboration provides a new correction algorithm that allows for almost double the amount of reliable data on Cosmological Gravitational Waves (CGWs), produced during Inflation in the early Universe. This enhances our understanding of the signal and brings us closer to observing CGWs.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJun 6, 2022

Black holes helped quenching star formation in the early Universe

A team of astronomers found that black holes played a crucial role in preventing rejuvenated star formation in massive quiescent galaxies. By analyzing the combined light from thousands of galaxies, they discovered a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus that may have heated the galaxy's gas, preventing new stars from forming.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateJun 1, 2022

Astronomers identify likely location of medium-sized black holes

Researchers used Chandra X-Ray Observatory to detect X-ray signatures of black holes in nuclear star clusters across 108 galaxies. The study found that above a certain mass and density threshold, these clusters emit x-ray signatures indicative of a black hole at twice the rate below the threshold.

SourceWashington State University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateApr 20, 2022

Phase transitions in the early universe and their signals

A University of Helsinki research team used holographic duality to model early universe phase transitions and their potential impact on gravitational wave signals. The study, published in Physical Review Letters, suggests that such collisions could create powerful ripples in spacetime detectable by satellite missions like LISA.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 19, 2022
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Missing-link black hole found lurking in plain sight

Researchers found a missing link between galaxies and quasars, discovering a supermassive black hole in archived Hubble Space Telescope data. The object, GNz7q, appears to be a black hole just starting to overpower its host galaxy in the process of becoming a quasar.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateApr 13, 2022

Breaking news from the dawn of the universe

Astronomers identify GNz7q, a dusty compact object with properties of both galaxies and quasars, born 750 million years after Big Bang. The discovery provides new insights into the rapid growth of supermassive black holes in early universe.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalNature·DateApr 13, 2022

Scientists develop the largest, most detailed model of the early universe to date

Researchers have created the Thesan simulation, a cubic volume spanning 300 million light years across, to study cosmic reionization and galaxy formation. The simulation aligns with observations and sheds light on key processes, such as how far light can travel in the early universe.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 24, 2022

Astronomers reveal remarkable simulations of the early universe, from the Dark Ages through First Light

Researchers at the Center for Astrophysics created a suite of simulations named Thesan, resolving interactions in the early universe with unprecedented detail. The simulations capture properties of early galaxies and how light impacts gas, spanning over 300 million light years across.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 24, 2022
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

The dark side of the universe: How black holes became supermassive

Researchers at Brookhaven Lab propose a cosmological phase transition as the key to supermassive black hole formation in the early universe. This process, facilitated by ultralight dark matter particles, enabled efficient collapse of matter into black holes.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 11, 2022

New simulations refine axion mass, refocusing dark matter search

Physicists have narrowed the axion mass range to 40-180 micro-eV using advanced simulations and supercomputer power. This new estimate suggests that the most common type of experiment to detect axions won't be able to detect them, regardless of tuning.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 25, 2022

Surprisingly high fraction of dead galaxies found in ancient galactic city

A team of astronomers has discovered a massive cluster of young galaxies forming in the early universe, with many member galaxies already stopped forming stars. The newly found growing galactic metropolis is about 11.8 billion light-years away and consists of at least 38 member galaxies.

SourceW. M. Keck Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 10, 2022

Shadow of cosmic water cloud reveals the temperature of the young universe

A team of astrophysicists has discovered a new method to measure the cosmic microwave background radiation's temperature at an early epoch of the universe. By observing HFLS3, a massive starburst galaxy, they found a cold water cloud that casts a shadow on the microwave radiation, revealing the Big Bang's relic temperature.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 2, 2022
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.

Towards quantum simulation of false vacuum decay

By shaking an optical lattice potential, researchers realized a discontinuous phase transition in a strongly correlated quantum gas, opening the door to quantum simulations of false vacuum decay in the early universe. This work provides a flexible platform for exploring the role of quantum fluctuations in first-order phase transitions.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 20, 2022

Closing in on the first light in the Universe

Researchers have reduced background noise using new antennas in the Australian hinterland, allowing them to refine their search for a 13-billion-year-old signal known as the Epoch of Reionisation. By surveying over 80,000 radio signal sources, they produced models that significantly improved efforts to locate the elusive signal.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D)·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Australia·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2021
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.

ALMA scientists detect signs of water in a galaxy far, far away

Researchers have detected water and carbon monoxide molecules in the largest galaxy in the early Universe, located nearly 13 billion light-years from Earth. This finding provides insight into the formation of life-creating elements in the earliest galaxies.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateNov 3, 2021

Unveiling galaxies at cosmic dawn that were hiding behind the dust

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.

SourceWaseda University·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 22, 2021
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Hubble finds distant galaxies that ran out of fuel

A team of astronomers has observed six massive galaxies in the early universe that have mysteriously stopped forming stars due to depleted gas reserves. The discovery was made possible by the Hubble Space Telescope's high resolution and gravitational lensing, allowing researchers to study these galaxies in unprecedented detail.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateSep 22, 2021

Hubble finds early, massive galaxies running on empty

The Hubble Space Telescope and ALMA have discovered six early, massive galaxies that have run out of hydrogen gas to form stars. These 'dead' galaxies, which appeared in the universe just 20% of its current age, were found using strong gravitational lensing, a technique that amplifies light from distant objects.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature·TypeNews article·DateSep 22, 2021

How to catch a perfect wave: Scientists take a closer look inside the perfect fluid

Researchers have discovered a new technique to locate the diffusion wake's signal in the quark-gluon plasma, a subatomic soup that flowed like a friction-free fluid after the Big Bang. This breakthrough may help scientists understand how matter emerged from this perfect fluid.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

New York Tech researcher earns NSF grant to solve cosmic mystery

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.

SourceNew York Institute of Technology·DateSep 7, 2021

How a supermassive black hole originates

A team of researchers has proposed a new explanation for the origin of supermassive black holes, suggesting that they are formed through the collapse of a massive seed black hole produced by the gravitational instability of a dark matter halo. This process, known as gravothermal collapse, can lead to the creation of a seed black hole w...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJun 16, 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.

New study suggests supermassive black holes could form from dark matter

A new theoretical study suggests that supermassive black holes could form directly from dark matter in high-density regions, contradicting current understanding of their formation. This proposal has key implications for cosmology and the early Universe, potentially explaining how supermassive black holes grew so quickly.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 24, 2021

Astronomical instrument hunts for ancient metal

Researchers have developed a new instrument that can analyze the chemical signatures of distant quasars, providing insight into the origins of metals like iron. By studying these ancient galactic cores, scientists hope to refine their understanding of the early universe and its role in forming the elements necessary for life.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateNov 30, 2020

ALMA sees most distant Milky Way look-alike

Astronomers using ALMA have discovered the most distant Milky Way look-alike galaxy, SPT0418-47, which is surprisingly unchaotic and appears as a ring of light in the sky. The discovery challenges our understanding of how galaxies form and gives new insights into the past of the Universe.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateAug 12, 2020

Cosmic tango between the very small and the very large

A new study using loop quantum cosmology accounts for two major mysteries of the universe's largest scales. The research resolves two anomalies that have puzzled scientists for years, providing a closer look at the early universe and its primordial features.

SourcePenn State·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 29, 2020

Case for axion origin of dark matter gains traction

Researchers propose a kinetic misalignment scenario that strengthens the axion/dark matter equivalence. This novel concept answers key questions and provides new avenues for detection efforts.

SourceInstitute for Advanced Study·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 26, 2020
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.

K-State study reveals asymmetry in spin directions of galaxies

Researchers analyzed over 200,000 spiral galaxies, finding a pattern of asymmetry in their spin directions that suggests the early universe may have been spinning. The study also reveals complex cosmological multipoles, which indicate a non-symmetric structure to the universe.

SourceKansas State University·DateJun 1, 2020
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

This is how a 'fuzzy' universe may have looked

Researchers simulated galaxy formation in a 'fuzzy' universe, where dark matter is ultralight and quantum-waves-like. The simulation suggests galaxies would form in extended filaments with striated patterns, potentially illuminating the type of dark matter present today.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 3, 2019

Astronomers discover 83 supermassive black holes in the early universe

A team of astronomers has discovered 83 quasars powered by supermassive black holes in the early Universe, increasing the number of known black holes at that epoch. The survey reveals the average spacing between supermassive black holes is a billion light-years, providing insights into their origin.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 13, 2019
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Compelling evidence for small drops of perfect fluid

Researchers analyzed particle flow from tiny projectiles colliding with gold nuclei at nearly the speed of light. The data show strong correlations between initial geometry and final flow patterns, supporting the quark-gluon plasma hypothesis.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Physics·DateDec 10, 2018

Astronomers find a cosmic Titan in the early universe

An international team of astronomers has discovered a massive galaxy proto-supercluster, Hyperion, in the early universe, just two billion years after the Big Bang. The supercluster has a complex structure with at least seven high-density regions connected by filaments of galaxies.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateOct 17, 2018

The faint glow of cosmic hydrogen

A team of scientists has detected a faint glow in the Lyman-alpha line across the entire sky, revealing extensive masses of gas around primitive galaxies. This discovery connects previously detected gas feeding galaxies with newly observed Lyman-alpha emission, providing new insights into the universe's infancy.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalNature·DateOct 2, 2018
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Galactic 'wind' stifling star formation is most distant yet seen

For the first time, researchers have observed a powerful 'galactic wind' of molecules in a galaxy 12 billion light-years away, providing insights into how early galaxies regulated their growth. The wind was detected in a galaxy called SPT2319-55, which is more than 1 billion years old.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalScience·DateSep 6, 2018

Double or nothing: Astronomers rethink quasar environment

Researchers have identified nearly 200 regions of galaxies gathering together to form protoclusters in the early Universe 12 billion years ago. The discovery challenges the long-held assumption that quasars are created by galaxy mergers, suggesting alternative mechanisms for quasar activity.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·DateMar 13, 2018

Gravitational waves could shed light on the origin of black holes

Researchers propose using gravitational wave experiments to detect merger events at redshifts greater than 40, which could indicate the presence of primordial black holes or non-Gaussianity in the early universe. A detection would bolster theories about dark matter, while a non-detection would cast doubt.

SourceBrown University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 30, 2017
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Oxygen-deficient dwarf galaxy hints at makings of early universe

A newly discovered dwarf galaxy in the constellation Lynx has extremely low oxygen levels, likely resembling early nascent galaxies. The finding suggests that these tiny star-forming galaxies can offer valuable insights into how the first galaxies formed 13 billion years ago.

SourceUniversity of Virginia·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 25, 2017

Subaru telescope detects the shadow of a gas cloud in an ancient proto-supercluster

Researchers used Subaru Telescope to create extensive map of neutral hydrogen gas in ancient proto-supercluster. The study revealed the region is rich in gas, which is a major building block of galaxies. Gas distribution does not align perfectly with galaxies' distribution within the proto-supercluster.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 28, 2017

Deepest X-ray image ever reveals black hole treasure trove

A team of astronomers led by Penn State's Niel Brandt has captured the deepest X-ray image ever obtained, revealing a treasure trove of supermassive black holes. The image, taken with Chandra observing time of about 11 weeks, shows that these massive objects grow in bursts rather than slowly accumulating matter.

SourcePenn State·DateJan 5, 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.

Theory that challenges Einstein's physics could soon be put to the test

Researchers have predicted a testable figure for the spectral index, which could confirm their theory that the speed of light was variable in the early universe. The team's model suggests a value of 0.96478, close to current estimates, and could lead to modifications of Einstein's theory of gravity.

SourceImperial College London·JournalPhysical Review D·DateNov 25, 2016