Articles tagged with Universe
New calculations confirm the universe may collapse, with a higher risk than previously thought. A phase transition in the Higgs field could lead to a violent process where particles become extremely heavy and the universe ceases to exist.
A new study by Smithsonian researchers at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics shows that iPad-based simulations improve student understanding of astronomical scale, compared to traditional classroom instruction. Students grasped the concept more effectively when using iPads to explore 3-D simulations of the universe.
Researchers at the University of Washington and Stony Brook University have discovered a potential link between quantum entanglement and wormholes. The study suggests that entangled particles may be connected by hypothetical features of space-time that could facilitate faster-than-light travel.
Researchers at the University of Delaware part of an international team that observed 28 high-energy particle events coming from cosmic accelerators, possibly exploding stars or accreting black holes. The discovery marks the first solid evidence of neutrinos originating from sources outside our solar system.
Astronomers have observed a monster gamma-ray burst in the relatively nearby universe, revealing a giant star with a mass 20-30 times that of the Sun and rapidly rotating. The burst was so powerful that it could be observed for several months, providing insights into the properties of the original star.
A new study by Dartmouth researchers eliminates a controversial theory that the universe's accelerating expansion is an illusion. They used Big Bang afterglow to show that Earth has no special place in the expanding universe, eliminating the possibility of a cosmic center.
Researchers found iron concentration is uniform across Perseus Galaxy Cluster, indicating widespread dispersal of heavy elements in the early universe. The team attributes this to supernova explosions and active black holes, suggesting a period of intense cosmic activity.
The LUX experiment has proven to be the most sensitive dark matter detector in the world, detecting rare interactions between dark matter particles and ordinary matter. With its highly sensitive detection capabilities, LUX is blazing a path to illuminate the nature of dark matter and pin down the correct models.
Researchers use spectroscopy to confirm distance of newly discovered galaxy, z8-GND-5296, which forms stars at a rate ~300 times that of the Milky Way. The discovery sheds light on the earliest formation of galaxies and provides insights into the evolution of galaxies throughout the universe's age.
Researchers at Caltech's intermediate Palomar Transient Factory have detected a rare type of supernova in a nearby galaxy, providing evidence for the theory that it originated from a Wolf-Rayet star. Additionally, they found the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst, precisely locating its position using optical telescopes alone.
A crowdsourcing project, Galaxy Zoo 2, has produced a 10 times larger galaxy catalog than any previous one. Over 16 million galaxy classifications were gathered, representing about 57 million computer clicks, and over 300,000 galaxies were included in the catalog.
New research reveals that 'red nugget' galaxies, previously thought to be extinct, were actually hidden within previous survey data. These compact galaxies may represent a missing link between distant 'red nuggets' and nearby elliptical galaxies.
Astronomers have discovered a massive population of globular clusters within Abell 1689, the largest number ever found. The study reveals that this galaxy cluster could contain over 160,000 globulars, with 10,000 identified in Hubble observations.
Scientists have developed novel methods to identify thousands of molecules formed during hydrogen cyanide reactions in laboratory experiments. These approaches confirm the potential for these techniques in future chemical analyzes, including exploring autocatalytic cycles and understanding life's origins on Earth and other planets.
Researchers have developed a new method to clean theories and models of particle physics from uncertainties, making it easier to assess their validity. The approach could lead to the discovery of new physics, which may explain long-standing problems such as dark matter and gravity.
Fermi's extended mission will enable deeper studies of gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, and supermassive black holes. The telescope has already revealed giant bubbles above and below our galaxy, shedding light on the universe's most extraordinary phenomena.
Physicists propose a unified framework for understanding matter, energy, space, and time. The report highlights pressing questions, such as the nature of dark matter and neutrinos, and outlines 20-year research priorities.
Researchers at Montana State University have discovered a universal relation among three intrinsic properties of neutron stars: moment of inertia, Love number, and quadrupole moment. This finding enables astrophysicists to infer the shape and degree of deformation without detailed internal structure knowledge, aiding gravitational wave...
Scientists found gold in a short gamma-ray burst caused by the collision of two neutron stars. The team estimates that up to 10 moon masses of gold were created and ejected during this event.
Scientists have discovered brief, intense radio bursts from the distant Universe using CSIRO's Parkes telescope. The flashes are believed to originate from up to 11 billion light-years away and could be detected every ten seconds.
Researchers have released a unique dataset based on 32 nights of repeated observations of SN 2011fe, providing unprecedented detail and a solid point of reference for Type Ia physics. The data reveals that the supernova is remarkably normal, passing important tests but not matching leading computational models.
Research by Jan Simek and team finds strategic placement of rock art to reveal a cosmological puzzle mapping the prehistoric people's universe. The 'upper world' features celestial bodies, while 'middle world' represents nature, and 'lower world' is associated with darkness and death.
Astronomers use a new stacking technique to detect faint signals from distant galaxies, revealing crucial information about the amount of hydrogen they contain. This technique allows for the detection of ancient galaxies and provides insights into the evolution of the Universe.
Researchers have discovered a tiny dwarf galaxy, Segue 2, with only 1,000 stars, offering insights into the formation of iron and other elements crucial for human life. The galaxy's size and weight are its most striking features, challenging astronomers' understanding of structure formation in the universe.
A study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and Spitzer Space Telescope data suggests that black holes are responsible for at least 20% of the cosmic infrared background. This finding indicates intense activity from black holes feeding on gas during the epoch of the first stars.
The new mathematical model by Professor Kostas Skenderis links flat space-time to negatively curved space-time, governed by laws similar to electromagnetism. The research aims to find a combined understanding of the Universe, combining individual theories to describe its nature.
A study published in Nature found that 70% of stars with high sodium content fail to reach the final red giant phase. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the life cycle of low-mass stars, including our Sun.
Researchers at University of Nevada, Reno propose a new method to detect gravitational waves from the far reaches of the universe. The device, which uses optically levitated sensors, has the potential to exceed existing detectors' sensitivity by an order of magnitude.
Engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center performed delicate 'eye surgery' to implant the MIRI instrument, weighing 181 pounds, into the ISIM module. The precise operation requires coordination among multiple team members to avoid disturbing the critical science instruments.
Researchers have developed a computer algorithm that can model and catalogue the entire set of lightweight, carbon-containing molecules that chemists could feasibly create in a lab. The map helps scientists identify unexplored regions of the chemical space where new compounds may hold solutions to some of the world's most vexing challe...
A team of researchers has developed a method using black holes to measure the universe's rate of expansion with high accuracy. The method uses radiation emitted by material surrounding black holes, allowing for distance measurements of billions of light years and providing insights into the universe's past.
Researchers developed a new mathematical tool to determine spacetime's shape from 'sound' pulses caused by quantum fluctuations. This technique connects quantum theory and general relativity via vibrational wavelengths, enabling novel probing of the universe.
A team of Harvard scientists has successfully measured the magnetic charge of single particles of matter and antimatter, achieving a significant increase in accuracy for antiprotons. This breakthrough could provide new insights into the nature of matter and help address fundamental questions about the universe.
The Planck observatory's first 15 months of data reveal that the universe is 100 million years older than previously thought, with more matter and less dark energy. Scientists used supercomputing at NERSC to create detailed maps of the relic radiation from the big bang.
Astronomers used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to determine the age of the oldest known star, HD 140283, which could be as old as 14.5 billion years. The new age estimate reduces measurement uncertainty, overlapping with the universe's age, and provides a precise calculation of the star's intrinsic brightness.
Researchers used a CSIRO radio telescope to measure the temperature of an unnamed galaxy 7.2 billion light-years away, finding it was 5.08 Kelvin (-267.92 degrees Celsius). This confirms the Big Bang theory's prediction that the Universe's temperature drops smoothly as it expands.
A team of Caltech astronomers used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to discover seven primitive and distant galaxies, existing 13 billion years ago. The galaxies formed during the 'cosmic dawn' period, with their numbers steadily increasing over time, supporting the idea that first galaxies didn't form in a sudden burst.
Researchers use Multi-Object Double Spectrograph to determine composition of Type Ia supernovae, finding them likely caused by interaction between two white dwarfs. This discovery sheds light on the expansion and acceleration of the universe, opening new ideas in understanding.
The Skynet Junior Scholars program will train middle school educators to engage youths in telescopic observations of planets, asteroids, and galaxies. The program aims to introduce students to potential STEM careers during the critical middle school years.
Researchers find two super-luminous supernovae at high redshifts, consistent with pair-instability supernova mechanism. The explosions are thought to have occurred in massive stars that formed in the early universe.
A University of Michigan report found that less than half of Generation X adults can identify the Milky Way galaxy. The study also discovered a link between knowledge about the universe and personal attitudes.
New observations of distant galaxies reveal that internal motions were more disordered in the past, and the Hubble sequence of well-ordered disk galaxies evolved from earlier chaotic forms. This challenges the long-held assumption about disk galaxy formation, finding they evolved gradually over 8 billion years.
A team of astronomers has spotted a potentially most distant galaxy ever detected, which existed 500 million years after the Big Bang. The discovery opens up a window into the deepest, remotest epochs of cosmic history, providing insights into the universe's earliest objects and the Dark Ages.
Astronomers have detected a potentially most distant galaxy ever seen, offering a glimpse into the universe's earliest epochs. The galaxy, observed through gravitational lensing, has a redshift of 9.6 and is estimated to be less than 200 million years old.
The Dark Energy Camera, the most powerful sky-mapping machine ever created, has captured and recorded its first images in Chile. The camera will use data from the largest galaxy survey to study galaxy clusters, supernovae, and dark energy.
Researchers discovered two galaxies identical to the Milky Way and its companion clouds, a rare occurrence. The Galaxy and Mass Assembly survey revealed these 'twin' galaxies, which are expected to be very rare due to complex cosmic interactions.
New data from WiggleZ galaxy survey finds matter distributed evenly on scales over 350 million light years, contradicting fractal theories. The study's findings support the standard model of cosmology, confirming our understanding of space and time.
Scientists have invented a new approach to simulate the birth and evolution of galaxies, creating a universe with spiral galaxies like Andromeda. The new software, Arepo, uses a flexible grid geometry to match the motions of gas, stars, dark matter, and dark energy.
Researchers have discovered a binary star system, QU Carinae, which may produce a type Ia supernova. The system's white dwarf is accumulating mass from a giant star, producing sodium gas that could be detected after the explosion.
Researchers from University of Bonn discover most massive stars form double systems, with over three-quarters orbiting a companion. The study reveals material transfer and merging between stars, challenging previous assumptions about single stars.
Researchers at RIT and Raytheon are developing larger, cheaper infrared detectors grown on silicon wafers. This technology could enable more scientists to access infrared astronomy, find exoplanets, and study the universe's acceleration. The new detectors may also advance remote sensing and medical imaging.
Researchers explore dark energy's impact on the Universe's fate, citing a 'big rip' scenario as a possibility with predicted timelines for object destruction. The study uses the Ma-Zhang parameterization to forecast the evolution of the Universe.
New research suggests that doing good deeds can have a positive impact on life outcomes, such as job hunting and medical test results. Participants who reflected on uncontrollable outcomes were more likely to volunteer their time and make charitable donations.
The Euclid mission, a collaboration of nearly a thousand scientists, aims to study the distribution and evolution of dark matter and dark energy using state-of-the-art instruments. The UK Space Agency has funded £8.5M for the development of scientific instruments and the Science Ground Segment.
The European Space Agency has adopted the largest astronomy collaboration to build the Euclid satellite, which will study the dark universe with great precision. The mission will trace the distribution and evolution of dark matter and dark energy throughout the Universe.
Researchers narrow down possible masses for neutrino, a tiny particle that rarely interacts with matter, using sensitive detectors buried underground. The new data suggests a neutrino cannot be more massive than about 0.140 to 0.380 electron volts.
Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered a faint infant galaxy 13 billion light-years away, revealing insights into the early universe's formation. The team, led by Sangeeta Malhotra and James Rhoads, identified the galaxy using a unique technique that allows for sensitive searches in infrared wavelengths.
Researchers have discovered an additional third of atomic hydrogen gas in galaxies, which could impact star formation rates. The findings suggest that galaxies are forming stars at 20 times the rate they did billions of years ago.
A recent study proposes that up to 100,000 nomad planets might exist in the Milky Way Galaxy for every star, with an estimated quadrillion number of total nomads. If confirmed, this could mean nomad planets play a significant role in the universe.
Astronomers have identified two 11- to 12-billion-year-old white dwarf stars, the oldest and closest known to Earth. Located 100 light years away, these stars are believed to be among the first formed in the Universe soon after the Big Bang.