Articles tagged with Universe
Dr. McDonald and his team solved the missing solar neutrinos puzzle, confirming that neutrinos change type on their journey to Earth from the sun. This discovery validates theories of energy generation in the sun and transforms our understanding of elementary particle physics.
Researchers observe enormous cavities surrounding a supermassive black hole, preventing gas from cooling and forming new stars. The discovery sheds light on the universe's structure and supports recent theories about black holes' role in shaping galaxy evolution.
Researchers Sean Carroll and Jennifer Chen suggest infinite entropy, rather than finite, resolves the universe's low entropy, allowing for an eternal cycle of inflation and increasing entropy. This approach resolves a long-standing puzzle in physics, explaining why time flows in only one direction.
Radio astronomers have demonstrated a new technique called e-VLBI, which allows them to combine data from multiple telescopes worldwide and produce high-quality images of the sky in real-time. This enables the observation of distant objects like IRC+10420, a supergiant star surrounded by dusty gas and emitting strong radio waves.
The Quantum Universe report outlines nine fundamental questions in response to research funding agency requests, focusing on particle physics' role in understanding dark matter, dark energy, and more. The report emphasizes new knowledge from particle physics is needed to answer exciting scientific questions of this century.
The BaBar experiment at SLAC has discovered striking matter-antimatter asymmetry in the decay of B and anti-B mesons. The researchers found a clear signal for direct charge parity (CP) violation, with a preference for B meson decays over anti-B meson decays by 13%. This effect is significantly stronger than observed in kaons.
Researchers at BaBar Collaboration have discovered a new way in which matter-antimatter asymmetry occurs, known as CP direct violation. The study found a significant difference in decay rates between B mesons and their antimatter counterparts.
Theoretical physicist Robert J. Scherrer proposes a model that explains dark matter and dark energy as two sides of the same coin, using an exotic form of energy called scalar fields. This unifying idea avoids previous problems and could potentially explain the mysterious phenomena.
Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered a formaldehyde-based chemical in interstellar dust clouds, suggesting that organic molecules may play a more prominent role in star and planet formation. The findings could change ideas about how these molecules form in the universe.
The Space Simulator, a $500,000 Beowulf cluster, has achieved remarkable performance in astrophysics simulations, calculating the evolution of the Universe and studying massive star explosions. Its low cost and scalability make it an ideal tool for specific research applications.
Researchers found a blazar, an enormous source of energy from a supermassive black hole, which is one billion years old. The discovery sheds light on the formation of stars and galaxies, offering insights into the universe's early evolution.
Recent study by Yale University's Richard Easther and colleagues proposes that the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) may contain evidence for string theory. The CMB is thought to hold a fossilized record of the first moments of time, with subtle fluctuations potentially revealing signs of string theory.
Researchers analyzed data from 96,545 galaxies to track star formation history. They found that massive galaxies formed stars earlier than smaller ones, and star formation has decreased since then, contributing to the gradual dimming of the universe.
Astronomers using the Very Large Telescope have secured new data that provide the strongest constraints to date on the possible variation of the fine-structure constant. The study shows no evidence for a time-dependent change in this fundamental constant, contradicting previous claims.
A study suggests that debris from the gobbled-up Sagittarius dwarf galaxy may be 'smoking gun' for detecting dark matter's WIMPs. The combination of WIMPs from the Milky Way and Sagittarius could produce a distinct pattern on the DAMA detector, confirming their existence.
Theoretical cosmologist George F.R. Ellis wins the Templeton Prize for his work on general relativity theory and its intersection with theology and social justice. His research questions the origin of the universe and explores the relationship between science, faith, and morality.
Physicists at Ohio State University propose a solution to the long-standing information paradox by suggesting that black holes are made up of giant tangles of strings that preserve the information of particles that enter them. This theory resolves the paradox and provides new insights into the nature of black holes.
Researchers at the University of Melbourne have discovered a sub-atomic particle called X(3872) that defies explanation using current theories. This 'mystery meson' has unique mass and decay properties that challenge our understanding of quarks and the color force.
Scientists at NIST have precisely measured the lifetime of neutrons using a powerful technique. The measurement is consistent with current theories about particles and forces of nature, providing valuable insights into the creation of matter immediately after the Big Bang.
The eSTAR network uses intelligent agents to automatically observe and analyze astronomical events, such as supernovae explosions and black hole activity. The agents can detect and respond to the rapidly changing universe faster than humans, allowing for more efficient science discovery.
A new model suggests that the Big Bang could have been an explosion within a black hole, with the universe expanding into an infinite space. The theory, developed by UC Davis and University of Michigan mathematicians, satisfies Einstein's equations while allowing for expansion.
A new study analyzing Type 1A supernovae measured with the Hubble Space Telescope sheds light on the nature of dark energy. The results confirm that the universe is expanding at an increasing rate, reinforcing initial discoveries made five years ago.
The study provides strong support for the popular cold dark matter model of the universe, suggesting that galaxies are surrounded by massive, three-dimensional halos. The team measured the shapes of over 1.5 million distant galaxies using weak gravitational lensing, revealing that dark matter halos extend far beyond visible stars.
Researchers from Cardiff University and the Royal Observatory Edinburgh found that some supernovae belch out huge quantities of cosmic dust. This discovery suggests that supernovae were responsible for producing the first solid particles in the Universe, shedding light on the origin of our planet.
A UBC-led research team has confirmed the existence of the universe's oldest and farthest planet, a gas giant formed 13 billion years ago. The ancient world takes a century to complete each orbit and is unlikely to support life due to its metal-poor composition.
Physicists at the University of California, Irvine have discovered superweakly interacting massive particles (superWIMPs) that may constitute up to one-quarter of the universe's mass. These new particles are predicted to be stable and could provide an alternative explanation for dark matter.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University discovered two new instances of Type Ia supernovae, providing valuable insights into the early evolution of the universe. The identified stars are believed to be around 4.7 and 7.6 billion light years from Earth, offering a better understanding of cosmic distances.
The WMAP experiment's results confirm many aspects of inflationary theory while ruling out others. The latest trends in cosmology suggest a new era of precision cosmology, where speculation about the universe is confirmed or rejected by solid experimental data.
The Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2Mass) has completed its vast archive of images and data, featuring five million images, now available online. The survey revealed new class of stars, brown dwarfs, a more complete understanding of the Milky Way's structure, and a detailed database of asteroids.
The SIRTF is designed to peer into deep regions of the universe not visible optically, providing clues to star and galaxy formation. With its infrared spectrograph, it will observe ultrafrigid stars and penetrate obscuring dust in the cosmos.
Researchers created a 3D map of protein structures, grouping them into four distinct classes based on their folds. The map reveals the evolutionary history of proteins and holds promise for understanding cellular functions and designing more effective pharmaceutical drugs.
Scientists have created a 3D map of the protein universe, organizing over 500 common motifs and revealing clusters that resemble cigars. This map helps visualize the relationships among all proteins in nature, shedding light on evolutionary changes and potential applications in biomedical research.
Fotini Markopoulo Kalamara presents a fresh approach to researching theoretical possibilities for looking inside black holes and at particles of space/time. She proposes that an 'inside' quantum theory of gravity should be the collection of all partial observations of the inside observers.
The AMANDA telescope, a massive structure in Antarctica, has successfully tracked high-energy neutrinos to their sources. By pinpointing the direction of these elusive subatomic particles, scientists can gain insights into cosmic events and the origins of the universe.
The Kavli Institute will bring together top minds in particle astrophysics and cosmology to tackle fundamental questions about the universe. The institute will focus on areas like dark matter, black holes, and hidden space-time dimensions.
Researchers probing strong nuclear force's nature encounter surprise at RHIC in Brookhaven, NY., where particles stream out faster from football-shaped collision tips than sides. This defies treasured boost invariance theory and complicates understanding of collisions.
Scientists using Whipple Observatory gamma-ray telescope discover energetic gamma-ray flares from active galaxies, revealing relativistic jets and compact emission regions. The study also holds promise to reveal nature of 'dark matter' and 'dark energy', which dominate universe's mass budget.
Researchers develop waveform templates to analyze gravity wave signals, enabling detection of neutron star collapses and black hole collisions. Gravity waves offer a window to the universe carrying different information than electromagnetic waves.
Researchers at the University of Durham are using the H.E.S.S. telescope array to investigate extreme cosmic environments and detect gamma-ray sources, including supernova remnants and active galactic nuclei. The project seeks to shed light on the origin of cosmic rays, which bombard Earth from space.
Researchers have made breakthroughs in open string theory, revealing connections between five distinct versions and investigating the properties of four-dimensional D-branes. Mathematical research has demonstrated that strings can only move along specific lines or surfaces in group spaces, paving the way for further study.
The National Research Council's Committee on the Physics of the Universe recommends a national underground science laboratory at Homestake Gold Mine in South Dakota. The facility will enable US scientists to conduct experiments in physics, geology, cosmology, and ecology, among other disciplines.
Researchers using galaxy cluster surveys can measure the equation of state of dark energy, which would provide clues about its nature and origin. By studying scaling relations and X-ray emission, scientists hope to determine the essence of dark energy.
University of Washington cosmologist Craig Hogan believes new experiments could shed light on subatomic particles called gravitons, potentially uniting quantum mechanics and relativity. These advancements might also provide clues to the holographic principle, which suggests everything in 3D can be specified by information in 2D.
Alexander Wolszczan, discoverer of the first extra-solar planets, has been featured on a Polish postage stamp celebrating the past millennium. His discovery in 1992 using the Arecibo radiotelescope suggested that planets might be plentiful throughout the universe.
Professor Norman Pace believes life exists elsewhere in the universe due to non-equilibrium gases like oxygen and methane. However, he doubts Earth-like conditions on Mars and Europa can sustain life.
Researchers used data from thousands of galaxies to assess theories of star formation and stellar population dynamics. The cosmic spectrum shows a predominantly greenish hue due to the large numbers of old red stars and young blue stars in the universe.
A team of astronomers led by UMass' Daniel H. McIntosh found evidence of galaxies transforming in response to their environment. They observed three massive galaxy clusters and discovered a link between a galaxy's surroundings and its evolution, with blue galaxies forming stars while reddish galaxies have few stars.
Researchers found enormous cosmic bubbles, dubbed 'ghost cavities,' containing faint radio emissions that may hold magnetic fields. These bubbles could be crucial in creating new stars and shaping galaxy cluster structure.
Researchers combined infrared images with Hubble data to study ancient galaxies, including those similar to the Milky Way. The team identified over 100 billion stars in some galaxies, offering insights into their age, distance, and formation.
Neutrinos may fly out first in powerful gamma-ray bursts, carrying details of the universe's first stars. Scientists believe neutrino bursts can help detect massive star collapses and dark gamma-ray dark collapses.
K.C. Cole will be honored at the annual ACA meeting with the Elizabeth Wood Award for her contributions to science journalism. The award recognizes individuals who have effectively communicated complex scientific concepts to the general public.
Chandra has revealed unprecedented images of a blast wave from an exploding star, a flare from a brown dwarf, and a small galaxy being cannibalized by a larger one. The observatory's high resolution has enabled scientists to pinpoint sources of the X-ray background glow, leading to a better understanding of our universe.
An Australian-led team has captured the first picture of the sky in which the Milky Way no longer blocks our view of the Universe beyond. The new survey, HIPASS, used CSIRO's Parkes radio telescope to detect large numbers of small and faint galaxies, as well as giant clouds of gas that give off no light.
A new study suggests that most gamma radiation reaching Earth is leftover energy from massive shock waves caused by gravitational forces. The collision of electrons with low-energy photons could be a sign of ordinary matter captured within intergalactic clouds, shedding light on the 'missing matter' puzzle.
Astronomers pinpointed a gamma-ray burst's precise location using coordinated observations from NASA satellites, providing data on X-rays and visible energy. The blast occurred over 10 billion light years away, roughly 2 billion years after the Big Bang.
Researchers at CU-Boulder are part of an international team experimenting with sub-atomic particles to explain how the universe came into existence. They aim to find out why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe.
NYU chemist Robert Shapiro challenges existing assumptions about life's universality with a new theory that simple cellular life may arise from organic chemistry and self-organizing systems. He also advocates for continued search for extraterrestrial life in nearby worlds like Mars, Europa, and Titan.
The FUSE Satellite will observe wavelengths of light inaccessible to other telescopes, testing models of chemical evolution and determining the primordial abundance of deuterium. This will help scientists understand the origins of the universe, galaxy evolution, and chemical mixing and distribution.
Theorists contemplate the impact of modern cosmology on Western society, noting a lack of social consensus and rootlessness. Joel Primack presents a new symbol, the cosmic uroboros, to embody an image of the cosmos consistent with modern science.
Astronomers will discuss Hubble Space Telescope findings on life in the universe, including environments suitable for life being probably plentiful. They'll also explore Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa, as well as two upcoming NASA missions searching for signs of life elsewhere in the solar system.