Physical Cosmology

A new way to spot signs of dark matter

Texas A&M opens world’s largest academic controlled-explosions lab

The new facility enables scientists to observe and measure detonation forces in unprecedented detail, shedding light on industrial safety risks and potential breakthroughs. Researchers aim to develop safer designs and protocols by examining detonation disasters like the Buncefield Fire.

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.

We have no idea what most of the universe is made of, but scientists are closer than ever to finding out

Researchers at Texas A&M University are building highly sensitive detectors to explore dark matter and energy. The team's work builds on previous breakthroughs in detecting low-mass particles, and they aim to find ways to amplify signals that were previously buried in noise.

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.

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.

After nearly 100 years, scientists may have detected dark matter

Researchers believe they have finally detected gamma rays predicted by the annihilation of theoretical dark matter particles. The observed energy spectrum matches the emission predicted from weakly interacting massive particles, with a mass approximately 500 times that of a proton.

The simulated Milky Way: 100 billion stars using 7 million CPU cores

Researchers at RIKEN successfully simulated the Milky Way Galaxy with over 100 billion individual stars, far surpassing previous state-of-the-art models. This achievement demonstrates the power of AI-accelerated simulations in tackling complex multi-scale problems in astrophysics and beyond.

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.

Could dark energy change over time? Searching for answers through computer simulations

A recent study used Japan's Fugaku supercomputer to simulate the effects of time-varying dark energy on cosmic evolution. The results show that a higher matter density creates stronger gravitational forces, leading to earlier and more efficient formation of massive galaxy clusters.

Dark matter and dark energy may only be a cosmic illusion

Researchers propose that natural forces of the universe slowly weakening as it ages could explain phenomena such as galaxy rotation and expansion. This new approach challenges established concepts by explaining these observations with the same equation without needing dark matter or dark energy.

Hungry star is eating its cosmic twin at rate never seen before

Astronomers discovered a greedy white dwarf star consuming its closest celestial companion at an unprecedented rate. The study found that the super-dense white dwarf is burning brightly due to the mass transfer between the two stars, potentially leading to a massive explosion visible from Earth.

Magnetic fields in the infant universe may have been billions of times weaker than a fridge magnet

A team of scientists used over 250,000 computer simulations to study the cosmic web and understand the influence of primordial magnetic fields. They found that these fields may have been billions of times weaker than a small fridge magnet, yet their traces still remain in the universe.

Using exoplanets to study dark matter

Researchers propose that Jupiter-sized exoplanets may accumulate and collapse into detectable black holes due to dark matter. This process could potentially generate multiple black holes in a single exoplanet's lifetime, making exoplanet surveys a promising method for hunting superheavy dark matter particles.

Revealing how matter affects the evolution of the universe

A University of Queensland researcher developed a new mathematical model explaining the universe's evolution, including collapsing regions of matter and expanding voids. The model resolves long-standing issues like Hubble tension and dynamical dark energy, showing complexity in the universe impacts cosmological measurements.

Early galaxies — or something else? Mizzou scientists uncover mysterious objects in the universe

Researchers used infrared images to spot bright objects, then applied the 'dropout' technique to confirm their nature. The study could challenge current ideas about galaxy formation in the early universe if confirmed.

NASA installs key ‘sunblock’ shield on Roman Space Telescope

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will feature a 'sunblock' shield made of lightweight yet stiff panels designed to limit heat transfer. The observatory's instruments will benefit from this design, which can detect faint signals from space.

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.

Out of the string theory swampland

Researchers propose a new subset of string theories that incorporate dynamic tension could help describe the real universe without violating observational constraints. This approach may alleviate the 'swampland problem,' which has hindered conventional string theory's ability to reproduce inflation and dark energy.

New study casts doubt on the likelihood of a Milky Way – Andromeda collision

Scientists used NASA's Hubble and Gaia space telescopes to simulate the evolution of the Milky Way and Andromeda over 10 billion years. Contrary to previous beliefs, they found a only 2% probability of collision within five billion years.

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.

Understanding why galaxy clusters are warm may explain the origin of giant interstellar structures

A team of researchers at Nagoya University has discovered a fast-moving, high-temperature gas flow in the center of the Centaurus cluster of galaxies. This finding may solve the 'cooling flow problem', which explains why galaxy clusters appear to be warm despite emitting X-rays.

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.

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.

NASA successfully joins sunshade to Roman Observatory’s ‘exoskeleton’

NASA has successfully integrated its deployable aperture cover sunshade with the outer barrel assembly of the Roman Observatory, enhancing the telescope's ability to detect faint light from across the universe. The integration marks a significant milestone in the mission's assembly and testing phase.

Even quantum physics obeys the law of entropy

Research at TU Wien shows that quantum systems exhibit increasing entropy over time, even in isolated systems. This reconciles quantum theory with thermodynamics by defining a 'Shannon entropy' that depends on measurement probabilities.

Astrophysicists reveal structure of 74 exocomet belts orbiting nearby stars in landmark survey

A landmark survey has imaged exocomet belts around 74 nearby stars, revealing their structure and location. The study provides new insights into the evolution of planetary systems, including the existence of large, undetectable planets that affect the distribution of pebbles in these systems.

NASA joins telescope, instruments to Roman spacecraft

NASA has successfully integrated its Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's payload into the Roman spacecraft, paving the way for transformative cosmic observations. The telescope will undergo extensive testing to ensure proper function and performance in space.

The carbon in our bodies probably left the galaxy and came back on cosmic ‘conveyer belt’

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.

NASA successfully integrates Roman mission’s telescope, instruments

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 close to solving mystery of how universe’s giant galaxies formed

Scientists have discovered birth sites of gigantic elliptical galaxies, suggesting large gas flows and galaxy collisions created these ancient systems. The research, published in Nature, may finally unravel the enigma of how these giant galaxies formed.

Telescope for NASA’s Roman Mission complete, delivered to Goddard

The telescope will focus cosmic light and send it to Roman's instruments, revealing billions of objects in space. The assembly underwent rigorous tests simulating launch conditions, temperature control, and gas handling.

Our cosmic neighborhood may be 10x larger

A team of researchers has made groundbreaking findings that suggest our cosmic neighborhood may be far larger than previously thought. The study, which analyzed the movements of 56,000 galaxies, reveals a potential shift in the scale of our galactic basin of attraction.

Astrophysicists use AI to precisely calculate universe’s ‘settings’

Researchers at the Flatiron Institute and colleagues used AI-powered approach, SimBIG, to estimate five cosmological parameters with precision. The method significantly improved previous results, yielding less than half the uncertainty and closely agreeing with other estimates based on observations.

A galactic conspiracy disproven

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.

Gravitational waves hint at dark matter and Big Bang mysteries

Researchers propose that simple forms of ultra-light scalar field matter could generate detectable gravitational wave backgrounds soon after the Big Bang. This discovery could shed light on dark matter and its role in the universe's mass, offering a new avenue for fundamental physics research.

Searching for dark matter with the coldest quantum detectors in the world

Researchers at Lancaster University and others are building the most sensitive dark matter detectors using quantum technologies. They aim to detect dark matter particles weighing between 0.01 to a few hydrogen atoms, which could reveal the mass and interactions of these mysterious particles.

High-precision measurements challenge our understanding of Cepheids

A new dataset from the VELOCE project has collected over 18,000 high-precision measurements of Cepheid radial velocities, providing insights into the structure and evolution of these stars. The data reveal complex patterns in pulsations that cannot be explained by traditional models, suggesting intricate processes within the stars.

Mizzou scientists spot more Milky Way-like galaxies in early universe

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.

Twinkle twinkle baby star, 'sneezes' tell us how you are

Researchers at Kyushu University discovered that baby stars expel plumes of dust, gas, and electromagnetic energy in a phenomenon called 'interchange instability', releasing magnetic flux within the protostellar disk. This finding sheds new light on how baby stars develop and may be crucial for understanding star formation.

Kerr-enhanced optical spring for next-generation gravitational wave detectors

Researchers developed a Kerr-enhanced optical spring to boost the sensitivity of next-generation gravitational wave detectors. The new design successfully amplifies signals without increasing intracavity power, opening up new avenues for unraveling the universe's mysteries.

NASA’s Webb, Hubble telescopes affirm universe’s expansion rate, puzzle persists

The expansion rate of the universe is faster than predicted, according to NASA's Webb and Hubble telescopes. By combining data from both telescopes, scientists have ruled out measurement errors as the cause, suggesting that new physics may be at play.

Final supernova results from Dark Energy Survey offer unique insights into the expansion of the universe

The Dark Energy Survey has released unprecedented results on the mysteries of dark energy and the expansion of the universe. The study placed the strongest constraints on the expansion rate of the universe ever obtained, consistent with the standard cosmological model but not definitive enough to rule out a more complex model.

Scientists measure the distance to stars by their music

Researchers from EPFL and University of Bologna used asteroseismology to calculate star distances, providing accurate measurements and validating Gaia's parallax data. The study analyzed over 12,000 oscillating red giant stars, measuring their vibrations and oscillations to determine stellar properties.

Using eclipses to calculate the transparency of Saturn’s rings

A Lancaster University PhD student used a new method to calculate the optical depth of Saturn's rings, revealing their transparency. By analyzing changes in Cassini's Langmuir Probe data during solar eclipses, the researcher determined how much sunlight passed through each ring.

Astrophysicists propose a new way of measuring cosmic expansion: lensed gravitational waves

Researchers propose using lensed gravitational waves from binary black holes to measure cosmic expansion. The method uses the delays between repeat appearances of these signals to encode the universe's expansion rate. This approach does not rely on knowing the exact locations or distances of binary black holes, making it a promising to...

James Webb Space Telescope images challenge theories of how universe evolved

The James Webb Space Telescope has observed six galaxies that defy the standard model of cosmology, with masses billions of times that of our sun. These findings suggest alternative theories on galaxy formation and expansion rates shortly after the Big Bang.

New findings that map the universe’s cosmic growth support Einstein’s theory of gravity

Researchers from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope collaboration have created a groundbreaking new image that reveals the most detailed map of dark matter distributed across a quarter of the entire sky. The study confirms Einstein's theory of how massive structures grow and bend light, supporting the standard model of cosmology.

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.

Tracing the remnants of Andromeda’s violent history

Researchers studied over 500 stars in a region of Andromeda called the Northeast shelf, finding conclusive evidence of an ancient collision. The findings provide insights into how material from collisions shapes a galaxy's appearance and makeup.

Too much heavy metal stops stars producing

The ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D has discovered that the youngest generation of stars will eventually stop contributing metals back to the universe. This change affects the composition of the galaxy over time, with around half of the carbon and all elements heavier than iron synthesized by stars like our Sun.

Discovery of the least 'metallic' stellar structure in the Milky Way

A unique stellar structure in the Milky Way, C-19, has been found to consist of stars with extremely low metallicity, challenging current understanding of star formation models. This discovery provides a direct window into the earliest ages of star formation and the development of stellar structures in the distant past.

The uneven universe

Researchers develop new model using Mori-Zwanzig formalism to account for uneven matter distribution in the universe. The model predicts a deviation in cosmic expansion speed, offering an opportunity for experimental testing and resolving the enigma of dark energy.

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.

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.

Over a thousand cosmic explosions in 47 days detected by FAST

A team led by Prof. LI Di and Dr. WANG Pei detected 1,652 independent bursts of Fast Radio Burst (FRB) 121102 within 47 days using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The characteristic energy and energy distribution of FRBs were determined for the first time.

Challenging the big bang puzzle of heavy elements

Scientists propose an alternative model for the formation of nitrogen, oxygen, and water based on the Earth's atmosphere history. They suggest that the Earth's lower mantle can create heavier elements through nuclear transmutation under high temperatures and pressures.

Sacred constant might be changing

Research by Dr. Michael Murphy suggests that the fine structure constant, governing electromagnetic forces, may have changed over time by about one part in two-hundred-thousand during the last 10 billion years. This finding challenges existing knowledge and could have significant implications for our understanding of the universe.