Articles tagged with Galaxy Formation
Adam Leroy, a professor of astronomy at Ohio State University, has been recognized with the 2025 Henry Draper Medal for his groundbreaking work on the interstellar medium and its relationship to star formation in nearby galaxies. His research has provided unprecedented detail on the physical nature of this material, advancing our under...
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a panoramic view of the Andromeda Galaxy, unveiling hundreds of millions of stars and providing new clues to its evolutionary history. The galaxy's unique structural features, such as coherent streams of stars, suggest a more active recent star formation and interaction history than the Milky Way.
A team of astronomers has obtained detailed images of a small galaxy and its surroundings, revealing features typically associated with larger galaxies. The study found that the mechanisms fueling galaxy growth may be more universal than previously thought, suggesting that even dwarf galaxies can build stellar halos through accretion.
The Hubble Space Telescope has completed a comprehensive survey of the Andromeda galaxy, revealing its structure and evolution on a holistic scale. The observations provide insights into the galaxy's age, heavy-element abundance, and stellar masses, helping astronomers distinguish between competing scenarios of merger history.
Astronomers have observed a phenomenon where a supermassive black hole forms plasma jets in real-time, marking the first-ever observation of this process. The discovery provides new insights into how black holes interact with their host galaxies and could help scientists understand the evolution of the universe.
Astronomers discovered three ultra-faint dwarf galaxies in an isolated region of space, containing only very old stars. The findings support the theory that events in the early universe cut off star formation in small galaxies.
Researchers have discovered three tiny ultra-faint dwarf galaxies, dubbed 'stellar-ghost-town' galaxies, with minimal gas and old stars. This suggests that their star formation was cut off early in the universe's history due to insufficient gravity or events like reionization or supernovae explosions.
Researchers found a core-collapsing self-interacting dark matter subhalo is responsible for the peculiar spur and gap features observed in the GD-1 stellar stream. This discovery provides insights into the nature of dark matter itself and offers a new explanation for the observed perturbations.
Researchers observed a galaxy nearly 6.5 billion light-years away, revealing a large number of individual stars made visible through gravitational lensing. The discovery provides new insights into the universe's greatest mysteries, including dark matter and stellar populations.
A team of scientists found that carbon and other star-formed atoms don't just drift through space, but are pushed out by giant currents into intergalactic space. These atoms can eventually be pulled back in to form new stars, planets, and moons.
A team of researchers used James Webb Space Telescope data to find massive galaxies with supermassive black holes showing no sign of star formation, supporting the theory that SMBHs can suppress gas supply and halt galaxy growth. The study provides new insights into the co-evolution of SMBHs and galaxies.
Astronomers detect a massive black hole in the early universe that is lying dormant due to low accretion rates, sparking debate about its formation and growth. The discovery challenges standard models of black hole development and suggests that these monsters may be born big or go through periods of hyperactivity.
An international team of researchers has found the first binary star in the immediate vicinity of Sgr A* by analyzing individual observations of dust sources. The discovery provides new clues to how young stars form close to the supermassive black hole, solving a long-standing mystery.
Researchers used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study stars in a nearby galaxy with limited heavy elements. They found that some star-forming disks persist longer than predicted, allowing planets to form and grow bigger.
The Roman Space Telescope has successfully integrated its telescope, instruments, and spacecraft components at NASA Goddard. The observatory will focus cosmic light and send it to its instruments, revealing billions of objects in space and time.
Astronomers from Wellesley College have discovered a newly forming galaxy that resembles a young Milky Way, with 10 distinct star clusters forming at different times. The galaxy, dubbed the 'Firefly Sparkle', has a mass similar to the Milky Way's when it was in its early stages of development.
Five Texas researchers have been honored with the 2025 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Awards for their innovative breakthroughs in small cell lung cancer, lithium-ion battery technology, and galaxy discovery. Lauren Averett Byers is being recognized for her work on novel therapeutic strategies for SCLC, while Caitlin M. Casey is exploring p...
Researchers used pulsar accelerations and stellar velocities to determine the presence of a cluster of stellar mass black holes at the centre of Omega Centauri. The study refines understanding of the formation of these intermediate-mass black holes, which could bridge the gap between stellar and supermassive black holes.
Astronomers have used the Hubble Space Telescope to study a quasar up close, revealing complex structures around a supermassive black hole. The observations show a mysterious L-shaped filamentary structure and small satellite galaxies falling into the black hole, offering insights into quasar formation and galaxy interactions.
Researchers found evidence of spheroid formation in distant submillimeter-bright galaxies, which challenges current understanding of galaxy evolution. The study provides the first solid observational evidence that spheroids can form directly through intense star formation within the cores of highly luminous starburst galaxies.
Researchers have observed a rare metal-poor supernova, providing valuable information about the early universe. The study revealed that this supernova was distinct from others in nearby galaxies, with unique properties such as a steady brightness period and rapid spin.
Astronomers have observed a massive galaxy collision sparked by a speeding galaxy traveling at 2 million mph. The collision has been seen in unprecedented detail using the William Herschel Telescope Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE) wide-field spectrograph.
Researchers analyzed 21 distant quasars to find a connection between X-ray emission and wind speed, indicating rapid accretion of matter. This study challenges physics limits and provides insights for future X-ray missions.
The discovery provides a unique way to investigate the extreme phase of stellar evolution, bridging the gap between the earliest and final stages of binary star systems. This breakthrough could help explain cosmic events like supernova explosions and gravitational waves.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a library of basalt-based spectral signatures to help identify the presence of water on exoplanets. By analyzing small spectral differences between basalt samples, scientists can determine if an exoplanet once had running surface water or water in its interior.
An international team discovered three ultra-massive galaxies, each nearly as massive as the Milky Way, forming at unexpected speeds. The findings indicate that star formation in the early Universe was more efficient than previously thought, posing a challenge to existing galaxy formation models.
An international team led by UNIGE has identified three ultra-massive galaxies forming at unexpected speeds in the early Universe. The discovery challenges existing galaxy formation models and suggests that massive galaxies may have been more efficient in building stars than previously thought.
A new theoretical model estimates the probability of intelligent life emerging in our Universe and potentially in multiverse scenarios. The model suggests that the observed dark energy density in our Universe is not the most likely to support life, but a higher density would still be compatible.
Astronomers at Case Western Reserve University have questioned the long-held standard model for galaxy formation, instead suggesting that modified gravity theories may be responsible. The James Webb Space Telescope's data suggests large and bright galaxies formed rapidly, contradicting predictions of dark matter's role.
A recent study reveals that fast radio bursts are more commonly associated with massive and metal-rich star-forming galaxies. This suggests that magnetars, the thought-to-be-triggers of FRBs, likely form in environments conducive to stellar mergers. The discovery was made using Caltech's Deep Synoptic Array-110 project.
A groundbreaking study has provided a 3D view of the formation and evolution of globular clusters, revealing key differences in kinematic properties between multiple stellar populations. The research highlights that these ancient structures formed through multiple star formation events and provide constraints on their dynamical path.
Researchers have derived a new formula to estimate the maximum occurrence rate of Earth-like habitats (EHs) in the galaxy, concluding that these habitats are relatively rare. The investigation suggests that the probability of extraterrestrial intelligence is significantly rarer still.
Astronomers have observed a black hole triple system for the first time, featuring a central black hole consuming a star and a distant companion that orbits every 70,000 years. The discovery raises questions about the origins of the black hole itself.
The team observed an 'inside-out' growing galaxy in the early universe using the James Webb Space Telescope. This type of growth had been predicted by theoretical models but was never directly observed until now. The research found that the star formation activity is rising towards the outskirts, indicating a rapid growth rate.
Astronomers have detected the most distant Milky-Way-like galaxy, REBELS-25, with a rotation and structure similar to our own galaxy. The galaxy is estimated to be 700 million years old, challenging current understanding of galaxy formation.
Two UMD Astronomy space probes, AXIS and PRIMA, have advanced to the next round of consideration for a $1 billion NASA mission. AXIS will study X-rays from stars and black holes, while PRIMA will explore far-infrared radiation to understand galaxy formation.
Researchers use high-resolution computer simulations and terabytes of data to detect faint signals from the Epoch of Reionization, providing insights into galaxy formation. The study sets an upper limit on when the EoR likely ended, offering a new parameter for scientists to work with as they continue to investigate the early universe.
A new study identifies regions where gravity dominates, such as the Sloan Great Wall and Shapley Supercluster, suggesting that our Milky Way likely resides in the larger Shapley basin. The research provides an unprecedented look into the gravitational landscape of the local Universe.
The SAGA Survey has found that the Milky Way Galaxy appears to be an outlier in terms of its satellite galaxies, having acquired only two large satellites recently compared to other systems. The survey also explores the mechanisms that would stop star formation in these small galaxies, finding that environmental factors play a role.
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.
A team of researchers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope found more black holes than previously reported in the early universe. The new result sheds light on how supermassive black holes were created and can help scientists understand galaxy evolution.
Researchers suggest that if most dark matter is composed of microscopic primordial black holes, they should pass through the solar system at least once per decade, introducing a wobble into Mars' orbit. This detection could lend support to the idea that primordial black holes are a primary source of dark matter.
Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to confirm that supermassive black holes can stop their host galaxies from forming new stars. The team observed a massive galaxy 'Pablo's Galaxy' in the early universe, finding that its supermassive black hole is expelling gas at high speeds, starving the galaxy of fuel.
A new study proposes that early dark energy could explain the formation of numerous bright galaxies in the early universe, resolving the 'Hubble tension' puzzle. The team modeled galaxy formation with a brief appearance of early dark energy, finding it fits observations and solves both puzzles.
Astronomers discovered that super-Earths cannot form near low-metallicity stars due to a strict cut-off in conditions. The study provides an upper limit on the number and distribution of small planets in the galaxy.
UNLV astrophysicists found evidence suggesting the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, Sgr A*, is likely the result of a past cosmic merger. The study utilized data from the Event Horizon Telescope's 2022 observation of Sgr A* to investigate various growth models and demonstrated that the misaligned spin prop...
A new study uses observations from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft to measure the cosmic optical background, a phenomenon known as the universe's glow. The results suggest that the glow is roughly 100 billion times fainter than sunlight and provides valuable insights into the history of the universe since the Big Bang.
A team of researchers observed two galaxies merging 12.8 billion years ago, forming a massive object that triggered rapid growth of supermassive black holes and starburst activity. The discovery provides new insights into galaxy/black hole formation in the early Universe.
Researchers led by Katherine Chworowsky found that early galaxies were not as massive as initially thought due to black holes' influence. The study suggests that these black holes consume gas, emitting heat and light that makes the galaxies appear brighter than they really are.
An international team of astronomers has disproven a 'conspiracy' that stars and dark matter interact in inexplicable ways. By using advanced modeling techniques, they found that the similarity in galaxy density is due to how astronomers measured and modeled galaxies, rather than an actual interaction between stars and dark matter.
A new study published in the Astrophysical Journal has found that galaxies in denser environments are up to 25% larger than isolated galaxies. Researchers used a machine learning tool to analyze millions of galaxies and found a clear trend: galaxies with more neighbors are also on average larger.
Researchers at the University of Utah and Max Planck Institute have discovered an intermediate-mass black hole in the Omega Centauri cluster, providing crucial evidence for a long-theorized class of black holes. The discovery offers insights into galaxy evolution and the formation history of globular clusters.
Astronomers have observed five young massive star clusters in the Cosmic Gems arc galaxy for the first time, revealing details about infant galaxies and globular cluster formation. The study uses gravitational lensing to resolve small scales in the distant galaxy, providing a unique window into the early Universe.
A satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, Crater 2, has been studied by a UC Riverside-led team. They offer an explanation for its unusual properties using the self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) theory.
Researchers uncover new clues about the early universe, finding spiral galaxies were prevalent as early as 2 billion years after the universe formed. This discovery challenges previous theories and provides insight into how spiral galaxies like the Milky Way formed over time.
Heidi Jo Newberg and Tom Donlon's research using Gaia data reveals the Milky Way Galaxy's last major collision occurred billions of years later than previously thought. The team found that the galaxy's wrinkles, formed by collisions with other galaxies, dissipated over time, allowing them to trace the timing of the final collision.
Simulations reveal that dense molecular clouds can give birth to very massive stars that evolve into intermediate-mass black holes. The study provides new insights into the potential mechanisms of intermediate-mass black hole formation, which could have significant implications for our understanding of these enigmatic objects.
Researchers witness the formation of three of the universe's earliest galaxies, 13.3-13.4 billion years ago, using the James Webb Space Telescope. The discovery contributes to understanding the universe's origins and provides insight into galaxy formation, shedding light on humanity's most basic questions.
Researchers have discovered three of the oldest stars in the universe, forming between 12 and 13 billion years ago. The team believes these 'Small Accreted Stellar System' (SASS) stars originated from small primitive galaxies absorbed by the Milky Way.
Astronomers have observed the faint light from stars in the host galaxies of three ancient quasars, revealing clues to how the earliest supermassive black holes and galaxies evolved. The study suggests that some of the earliest