Add BrightSurf on Google Email

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
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Diffuse puffs of “missing” matter surround most galaxies

Researchers reveal that missing ordinary matter exists in diffuse clouds surrounding galaxy groups, extending beyond predicted distances. The findings suggest stronger and more violent star activity and black hole jets, pushing matter to larger scales.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 21, 2026

CHIME collaboration helps identify location of "missing" matter in the universe

Researchers from McGill and MIT used fast radio bursts and galaxy locations to map the distribution of missing matter, finding it surrounds galaxies and extends four million light-years from them. The discovery supports the idea that black hole jets and other energetic processes fling matter outside galaxies.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2026

Dark forces hinder the growth of the Universe

Researchers studied dark matter's potential additional attractive force and found it suppresses structure growth, contrary to expectations. The extra clustering effect is counterbalanced by a decrease in dark matter particles' mass over time, reducing the overall impact on cosmic microwave background observations.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 22, 2026
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.

Galaxy-killing wind discovered in the early universe

Researchers have discovered a 'galaxy-killing wind' that could explain the origin of massive dead galaxies in the early universe. Using JWST and ALMA, they imaged a galaxy one billion years after the Big Bang, revealing a huge plume of cold gas extending far away from it.

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

MIT astronomers discover the earliest known flickering quasar

The discovery reveals a surprisingly mature black hole at just 850 million years old, with an accretion disk resembling a flat pancake. This challenges the understanding of how supermassive black holes can grow and mature in a short amount of cosmic time.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJun 8, 2026

Cosmic blowtorches: How quasars shut down star formation in the early universe

A team at the University of Arizona discovered exceptionally fast and powerful galactic winds from quasars a billion years after the Big Bang. These winds could have caused galaxies to lose gas supplies, effectively shutting down star formation. The study suggests that quasars with extreme outflows were more common in the early univers...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateMay 7, 2026

Little red dots: New clues from the early universe

Astronomers used TACC supercomputers to develop models of Little Red Dot formation, finding better agreement with Direct Collapse Black Hole theories. Researchers also analyzed JWST data using a 'genetic technique' to understand the history of these enigmatic cosmic objects.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 16, 2026
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.

See and hear galaxies evolve from the dawn of the universe

The COLIBRE simulations successfully reproduce real galaxies in the present-day universe and early universe as seen by the James Webb Space Telescope. The models include cold gas and cosmic dust, which strongly affect galaxy appearance in telescopes.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateApr 13, 2026

'Reborn' black hole spotted 'erupting like cosmic volcano'

Astronomers have captured a vivid portrait of a 'reborn' black hole, likened to the eruption of a 'cosmic volcano', in the radio galaxy J1007+3540. The black hole's newly ignited jets are being bent and distorted by the massive galaxy cluster environment.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 15, 2026
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.

‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Young galaxy ran out of fuel as black hole choked off supplies

Astronomers have spotted an ancient galaxy that was slowly starved of fuel by a supermassive black hole. The galaxy's lack of cold gas prevented it from forming new stars, despite its relatively young age. Repeated episodes of heating and gas removal by the black hole likely drained the galaxy's fuel in as little as 16-220 million years.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 12, 2026

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

Carnegie Science names Michael Blanton 12th Observatories Director

Michael Blanton will lead the Carnegie Science Observatories as its 12th director, focusing on large-scale astronomical surveys to constrain cosmological history. The new director brings a deep well of knowledge of instrumentation and data collection to oversee research at Pasadena's campus and Las Campanas Observatory.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·DateDec 4, 2025
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.

Astronomers spot one of the largest spinning structures ever found in the Universe

Researchers have identified a massive cosmic filament containing 280 galaxies, many of which are spinning in the same direction as the filament itself. The discovery provides rare insight into how galaxies gain their spin and could inform future efforts to model intrinsic alignments of galaxies.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 3, 2025

New SwRI laboratory to study the origins of planetary systems

The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has launched a new laboratory to investigate the chemical origins of planetary systems. The Nebular Origins of the Universe Research Laboratory aims to connect pre-planetary evolution to planetary formation, filling key data gaps in understanding the solar system's early history.

SourceSouthwest Research Institute·DateDec 1, 2025

WVU engineers recalibrate radio telescopes to illuminate dark energy

Researchers at WVU are enhancing the calibration of radio telescopes to measure dark energy by analyzing the '21-centimeter signal' from neutral hydrogen atoms. This technique aims to improve the ability of radio telescopes to detect large-scale structures in the universe, such as galaxy clusters and voids.

SourceWest Virginia University·DateOct 17, 2025
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.

Planet formation depends on when it happens: UNLV model shows why

Researchers have created a new model that shows how planet formation timing influences planetary composition and density. The study suggests that older, rocky planets are less dense than younger ones due to the varying lifetimes of stars.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 16, 2025

UMD-led study discovers warm space dust in distant place

Researchers have discovered warm space dust in a reservoir of hot gas surrounding the Makani galaxy, located 100 million years away. The study, led by University of Maryland astronomer Sylvain Veilleux, provides evidence that ejected dust particles can survive long journeys and may be an important ingredient in planet and star formation.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateSep 3, 2025
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.

Milky Way-like galaxy M83 consumes high-speed clouds

Researchers discovered high-velocity clouds in the nearby spiral galaxy M83, which moved at speeds significantly different from the galaxy's overall speed of rotation. The findings suggest that these clouds originated outside the galaxy, providing new insights into how galaxies acquire fresh gas and sustain star formation over billions...

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJul 1, 2025

AI vs supercomputers round 1: galaxy simulation goes to AI

Researchers used machine learning to simulate galaxy evolution and supernova explosions, achieving speeds four times faster than supercomputers. This breakthrough enables the study of galaxy origins, including the creation of the Milky Way's elements essential for life.

SourceRIKEN·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateJul 1, 2025

JWST captures the structural evolution of disk galaxies

Astronomers have identified thin and thick disks in distant galaxies using JWST images, revealing a consistent trend of sequential disk formation. The study estimates the thin disk formation time for Milky Way-sized galaxies to be around 8 billion years ago.

SourceTohoku University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 27, 2025

Discovery of ‘mini halo’ points to how the early universe was formed

Astronomers have detected a vast cloud of energetic particles surrounding one of the most distant galaxy clusters ever observed. This discovery reveals that entire galaxy clusters were immersed in high-energy particles for most of their existence.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateJun 26, 2025
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.

ALMA measures evolution of monster barred spiral galaxy

Researchers use ALMA to observe J0107a, a 'monster' galaxy 11.1 billion years ago. They find similarities with modern galaxies in gas distribution and motion, but higher concentrations and faster gas flow rates.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateMay 21, 2025

Stretched in a cross pattern: Our neighboring galaxy is pulled in two axes

Researchers at Nagoya University discovered that Cepheid variable stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud are moving in opposing directions along two distinct axes, indicating the galaxy is being stretched by multiple external gravitational forces. The findings challenge previous theories of the galaxy's structure and dynamics.

SourceNagoya University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2025

Astrophysicists explore our galaxy’s magnetic turbulence in unprecedented detail using a new computer model

A new computer model simulates magnetism and turbulence in the interstellar medium, providing unprecedented detail on the Milky Way Galaxy's overall magnetic field. The model also helps understand star formation and the propagation of cosmic rays, offering insights into astrophysical phenomenon.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 13, 2025
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 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

The most distant twin of the Milky Way ever observed

Astronomers have discovered a massive spiral galaxy resembling the Milky Way, formed just 1 billion years after the Big Bang. The galaxy, Zhúlóng, exhibits a mature structure with a central old bulge and large star-forming disk, challenging our understanding of galaxy formation.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeNews article·DateApr 16, 2025

‘Cosmic radio’ could find dark matter in 15 years

Researchers at King's College London and Harvard University develop a detector that can identify axions, leading potential candidates for dark matter. The Axion Quasiparticle (AQ) technology has the potential to discover dark matter in five years with further development.

SourceKing's College London·JournalNature·DateApr 16, 2025

New evidence suggesting magnetar origin of GRBs

A new study finds that a millisecond magnetar could have triggered the flashes of GRB 230307A, an extremely bright GRB detected in March 2023. The observation suggests that the magnetar model is consistent with the features of the prompt emission and the long-lasting X-ray plateau.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeObservational study·DateApr 15, 2025
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.

Mizzou researcher offers new theory on universe’s star formation

A new study proposes a third category of galaxies: red star-forming. These galaxies produce low-mass stars and may have played a significant role in the universe's history. The findings could change our understanding of galaxy evolution, star formation, and the life cycle of galaxies.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateApr 9, 2025

'Hidden galaxies' could be smoking gun in universe riddle

Researchers have found evidence of a new population of faint galaxies hidden in the far-infrared sky, which could break current models of galaxy numbers and evolution. The discovery was made using data from the Herschel Space Observatory, which revealed a deeper image of the universe than ever before.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateApr 9, 2025

Do “completely dark” dark matter halos exist?

Researchers have calculated that star formation can occur in halos down to 10 million solar masses through molecular hydrogen cooling. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of galaxy formation and the nature of dark matter.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 8, 2025
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.

Galaxies die earlier than expected

A recent discovery reveals that massive quiescent galaxies formed even earlier and more rapidly than previously thought. The study found a galaxy named RUBIES-UDS-QG-z7, which formed a stellar mass of over 10 billion solar masses within the first 600 million years after the Big Bang before ceasing star formation.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeNews article·DateApr 2, 2025

Sound frequencies of stars sing of our galaxy’s past and future

A new study by UNSW Sydney researchers has discovered the sound frequencies of a cluster of stars 2700 light years away, allowing scientists to map the history of the Milky Way and other galaxies. The discovery uses oscillation frequencies to determine a star's age and mass, providing insights into galaxy formation and evolution.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalNature·DateApr 2, 2025
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.

Melodies of musical ‘starquakes’ shed new light on how our galaxy formed

Astronomers have discovered that stars in a specific region of our galaxy exhibit fluctuations in brightness, caused by 'starquakes'. These fluctuations can be translated into frequencies, providing clues about a star's age and properties. The study, led by Dr Claudia Reyes, offers new insights into how our galaxy formed.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 2, 2025

New high-powered telescope reaches Chilean peak

The Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) has arrived at its final home in Chile's Parque Astronómico Atacama after a six-week ocean voyage and trekking through the mountains. The telescope will study cosmic dawn, star and galaxy formation, and gravitational waves from the Big Bang.

SourceCornell University·DateMar 31, 2025

Cosmic anomaly hints at frightening future for Milky Way

Astronomers have discovered a cosmic anomaly that challenges our understanding of the universe, revealing a spiral galaxy harboring a supermassive black hole billions of times the Sun's mass. This discovery forces us to rethink how galaxies evolve and how supermassive black holes grow in them.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateMar 21, 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

Deep dive into space turns up new Spitzer bubbles

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University used a deep learning model to discover new bubble-like structures in the Milky Way galaxy, providing insights into star formation and galaxy evolution. The study also revealed shell-like structures formed by supernova explosions.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·TypeObservational study·DateMar 17, 2025
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

TOI-1453 c: a key sub-Neptune in a system of two exoplanets

The discovery of two exoplanets around TOI-1453, a star about 250 light years away, reveals insights into planetary configuration and formation. The super-Earth and sub-Neptune present an interesting contrast in their characteristics, with the sub-Neptune exhibiting unusually low mass and density.

SourceUniversity of Liège·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateMar 14, 2025
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.

ASU forges new strategic partnership to solve the mystery of how planets are formed

A new collaboration between ASU, MSU, and LLNL aims to answer the question of how planets form by analyzing the atmospheres of seven young exoplanets. The team will use the James Webb Space Telescope and powerful computers to create atmospheric models that can reveal insights into planetary formation and evolution.

SourceArizona State University·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 27, 2025
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.

Evan Schneider has been named a Sloan Research fellow

Evan Schneider, assistant professor at University of Pittsburgh, receives $75,000 grant to support her research on galaxy formation and gas dynamics. Her Cholla code, a GPU-based hydrodynamics model, has been used in early tests on exascale supercomputers.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·DateFeb 25, 2025