Articles tagged with Universe
A recent galactic survey suggests that ultralight neutrinos may be at most half as massive as initially estimated. The MegaZ DR7 map of over 700,000 galaxies indicates a reduced upper limit for neutrino mass.
A team of scientists has developed a method to correct the irregularities in pulsar spin rates, enabling them to serve as more accurate clocks. This breakthrough could help detect gravitational waves, which are believed to exist but have yet to be directly observed.
New results from a galaxy survey set the smallest upper limit on the size of the elusive neutrino particle to date at 0.28 electron volts. The research uses a large 3D map of galaxies and cosmic microwave background radiation, providing insights into dark matter.
Researchers used quantum simulations to study hydrogen's behavior under extreme pressure, discovering a discontinuous transition between molecular and atomic states. The critical point occurs at high temperatures and pressures, near 3100°F and 1 million atmospheres.
The discovery of SN2005E reveals a supernova whose origin cannot be explained by any previously known mechanism. It is rich in helium and surprisingly different from typical white dwarf systems.
An international team of astronomers will conduct a closer look at the mega star birthing cloud, located 8,000 light years away in the Southern sky constellation Carina. The cloud is collapsing in on itself, offering an unusual view into behemoth star birth and providing insights into the formation of our solar system.
Researchers at UCR have isolated a collection of pure positronium atoms, a crucial step in creating a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) that could enable the production of fusion power. This achievement also brings scientists closer to developing gamma ray lasers with potential military and scientific applications.
Swift has detected over 6,000 GRBs, with a 75% share of recorded bursts, offering insights into massive star deaths and the universe's structure. The spacecraft has also monitored black holes and neutron stars for high-energy radiation and conducted long-term X-ray surveys.
A recent study by UCI astrophysicists refines predictions for the detection of dark matter, suggesting that current models cannot account for excess high-energy positrons. The research leaves room for future experiments to potentially detect dark-matter evidence in the near future.
A new survey using ESO's Very Large Telescope discovered that most Lyman-alpha light is trapped within galaxies, making 90% of galaxies invisible to traditional surveys. This breakthrough highlights the limitations of current methods and paves the way for more accurate representations of the cosmos.
Theoretical results suggest that small blocks of matter on a desktop could reveal elusive properties of dark matter particles. Researchers propose using topological insulators to detect the axion, a theoretical particle thought to make up a quarter of the universe.
A team led by Charles L. Bennett will build an instrument to measure cosmic microwave background radiation, searching for unique polarization patterns that could confirm the 'inflation' theory. The five-year project is expected to create 39 full-time jobs and support further research.
McGill University astrophysicist Matt Dobbs has been awarded a prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship to investigate cosmic microwave background radiation and shed light on the universe's fundamental structures. The $50,000 two-year award supports Dobbs' research on the origins and evolution of the universe.
Researchers will present their findings on the latest dark matter detection experiments and detectors, shedding light on one of science's last great frontiers. The UCLA symposium aims to advance our understanding of dark matter, a mysterious substance thought to make up almost 25% of the universe.
The study found that modern films, particularly those from the action and adventure genres, exhibit a pattern called the 1/f fluctuation, which is a natural pattern of human attention. This pattern appears in music, engineering, economics, and elsewhere in nature.
Researchers from Queen's University are making progress in detecting dark matter using the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search experiment. The team, led by Professor Wolfgang Rau, has observed two events with characteristics of an interaction involving a dark matter particle, but further analysis is needed to confirm the results.
Researchers at CU-Boulder's Brookhaven National Laboratory collaboration used RHIC to create a 'quark-gluon plasma' with temperatures hotter than supernova explosions, recreating Big Bang conditions. The team aims to study the universe's first microseconds after the Big Bang.
Astronomers found that only 10 percent of stars host planetary systems similar to our own, with several gas giant planets in the outer part of the system. The discovery was made using gravitational microlensing and is based on 10 years' worth of data from the MicroFUN survey.
Astronomers discovered a distant star that exploded 7 billion years ago when its center became unstable and created matter and anti-matter particle pairs. The Y-155 supernova was 100 billion times brighter than the sun, releasing an enormous amount of energy.
Astronomers using NASA's Suzaku orbiting X-ray observatory have discovered the largest known reservoir of rare metals in the universe, including chromium and manganese. The metallic atoms were detected in the hot gas between galaxies, providing insights into the chemical history of stars and galaxies.
Two gamma-ray photons arrived at NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope with almost identical speeds, confirming Einstein's special theory of relativity. The high-energy photon was a million times more energetic than the lower-energy one, but its speed was not significantly different.
Kraken, the National Institute for Computational Sciences' supercomputer, has achieved petaflop performance, accelerating science and placing it among the top five computers in the world. The system enables researchers to simulate complex phenomena such as core-collapse supernovas with unprecedented realism.
Vanderbilt University astronomers participate in the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) to measure the distance of galaxies and quasars. The team uses 400 simulated universes to test data analysis methods and interpret BOSS's measurements of dark energy.
A team of researchers has developed a scintillating bolometer, a device that detects light and heat produced by dark matter particles. The device was tested at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory in Spain and performed excellently, proving its viability as a detector for dark matter.
The Lennart Nilsson Award recognizes Carolyn Porco and Babak A. Tafreshi for their stunning images of Saturn and the night sky, inspiring new generations of astronomers and photographers. Their work showcases the beauty of the universe, from the rings of Saturn to the stars in remote locations.
Astronomers have discovered the first close-up of a white dwarf star orbiting a companion star, set to explode into a supernova in a few million years. The white dwarf is unusual, with twice its expected mass and a diameter half that of Earth.
Researchers found that galaxy collisions 'puff up' a galactic disk, producing stellar rings and flared edges. The Milky Way's puffy appearance is likely due to interactions with satellite galaxies and dark matter.
Scientists investigate Hořava's quantum gravity model, which modifies Lorentz symmetry. The team finds that the modifications only reproduce general relativity on unobservable scales.
A new analysis by LIGO and Virgo Collaborations has set the most stringent limits yet on gravitational waves from the Big Bang, offering insight into the universe's earliest history. The study constrains models of cosmic strings and provides new constraints on the behavior of the infant universe.
Scientists studying neutrino experiments aim to understand the universe's expansion, Big Bang, and potential for a 'Big Crunch.' These tiny particles' unique properties and behavior are key to unlocking fundamental physics and resolving mysteries like dark matter.
Researchers measured the motion of stars in a distant galaxy and found they are moving at incredible speeds, contradicting expectations of small galaxy size.
The Joint Dark Energy Mission aims to determine the nature of dark energy using three techniques: supernovae, weak gravitational lensing, and baryon acoustic oscillation. A new satellite design could revolutionize these methods, enabling precise measurements of expansion history.
Astronomers have discovered two giant supernovae 11 billion years ago, providing unprecedented insights into the early universe. The discovery was made using a new technique that allows for the detection of distant dying stars.
Astronomers from Queen's University Belfast have proposed a new physical interpretation of the 2008 supernova SN2008ha, suggesting it could be from a massive star. The team, led by Dr. Stefano Valenti, found a weak explosion with unusual properties that differ from those associated with white dwarf stars.
A Kansas State University professor is studying new theories about the origin and future of life in the universe. He suggests that artificial black holes could play a part in the evolution of life and potentially spread it throughout the galaxy.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new technique to measure cosmic distances, extending the range to 300 million light years. They found that ultra long period cepheids (ULP cepheids) can serve as powerful distance indicators and provide insights into the evolution of very massive stars.
A team of astronomers has directly measured the distance to a galaxy, providing a precise tool for unraveling the mystery of Dark Energy. The technique uses water molecules in disks orbiting central black holes to amplify radio waves, enabling measurements up to 160 million light-years away.
Freedman, Kennicutt, and Mould's work resolves decades-long debate on the Hubble constant, revealing the universe is 14 billion years old. This finding enables scientists to estimate the density of the universe and understand its fate.
The Suzaku mission has detected X-ray-emitting gas at a galaxy cluster's outskirts for the first time, providing insights into how massive structures evolve. The study reveals the temperature and density of the gas out to the cluster's virial radius, where order turns to chaos.
The QUIET team will deploy a new gravity-wave probe in June to test the existence of cosmic inflation. The probe aims to detect remnants of the universe's earliest moments, when space expanded faster than light.
A team of astronomers has discovered the most distant object in the universe, a gamma-ray burst located approximately 13 billion light-years away. This explosive event, dubbed GRB 090423, occurred when the universe was just 630 million years old and is providing valuable insights into the early universe.
Astronomers have discovered a gamma-ray burst from a star that died 630 million years ago, marking the most distant cosmic explosion ever seen. The burst, dubbed GRB 090423, is approximately 13 billion light-years away.
Researchers have discovered a mysterious giant space blob, Himiko, that existed 800 million years ago, stretching 55 thousand light years across and raising questions about its physical origins.
Astronomers have identified a triple merger of four separate galaxy clusters, the first time such a phenomenon has been documented. The galaxy clusters are involved in a cosmic free-for-all, with one collision after another occurring as galaxies pour into a region already full of galaxies.
Scientists reveal that half of the Universe's starlight originates from young, star-forming galaxies billions of light-years away. The discovery was made using a two-tonne telescope carried by a balloon, and analyzes data from the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Sub-millimeter Telescope (BLAST) project.
NRL researchers join a team to develop a telescope on the Moon for studying an era of the young Universe, during the first 500 million years after the Big Bang. The project aims to detect signals from hydrogen atoms in the Dark Ages, providing insights into the formation and evolution of the modern Universe.
Researchers using South Pole Telescope aim to detect extremely weak gravity waves produced by cosmic inflation. The detection could provide conclusive evidence for the theory, ruling out competing ideas for the universe's origin.
Dan Akerib, Chair of the Case Western Reserve University Physics Department, has been elected an American Physical Society (APS) Fellow for his significant contributions to direct dark matter detection experiments. He will discuss current and planned research in 'The Search for Dark Matter' at the AAAS conference on February 16.
Theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss warns of a bleak future for the universe, driven by its flatness and the dominant form of energy in empty space. This shift in understanding has profound implications for our questions about the nature of reality.
A team of scientists discovered a mysterious screen of extra-loud radio noise permeating the cosmos, preventing astronomers from observing heat from the first stars. The source of this cosmic background remains unknown.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility has awarded three contracts for a $310 million upgrade project, which will provide a cutting-edge facility for studying the building blocks of matter. The contracts are worth $1.5 million and $3.3 million, respectively, for construction and materials require...
Astronomers are discovering that galaxies with actively forming stars have a bluish color, while those without do so appear red. The BAT Hard X-ray Survey of NASA's Swift spacecraft has found most nearby active galaxies to be spiral and irregular, with more than 30% being colliding.
The Carnegie Hubble Program aims to decrease the uncertainty of the Hubble constant from 10% to 3% by refining distances to galaxies using Cepheid variable stars and Spitzer telescope observations. The team will observe 700 hours of nearby galaxies, correcting for lingering uncertainties and systematic errors.
Researchers found that using science or God to explain ultimate questions can manipulate people's attitudes towards the other. Those who use God as an explanation display a more positive association with God and a negative association with science.
A team of Iowa State physicists, including Soeren Prell, are part of an international research team testing the Kobayashi-Maskawa theory, which explains the difference between matter and antimatter. The BaBar experiment has confirmed the theory's predictions and provided insights into the universe's origins.
Researchers used a massive computer simulation to 'see' gamma-rays given off by dark matter in the Milky Way galaxy. They predict that these gamma-rays should glow in a characteristic pattern near the Sun, which could help detect invisible clumps of dark matter.
The detection of GRB 080913 marks the most distant gamma-ray burst ever seen, occurring 12.8 billion light-years away. This finding reveals that the universe was less than one-seventh its present age when the star exploded.
Scientists use frequency comb to determine starlight color with high accuracy, allowing them to measure velocity changes of astronomical bodies with precision. This method could help search for Earth-like planets and test universe expansion acceleration.
Researchers analyzed light from small galaxies to determine their masses, finding all dwarf galaxies had the same mass - 10 million times the mass of the sun. This discovery reveals a fundamental property of dark matter, a key component of the universe.
The High-Resolution Soft X-Ray Spectrometer (SXS) will investigate dark matter, galaxy formation, and explore the nature of matter in extreme environments. NASA's Explorer Program Mission of Opportunity has awarded $44 million for the instrument and operations.