Stellar winds regulate growth of galaxies
Researchers use MUSE to study ancient galaxies and find that galactic winds, created by massive stars, limit their growth. The team's findings reveal a universal process affecting most galaxies.
Universe
Articles tagged with Universe
New dark matter theory explains two puzzles in astrophysics
A new theory, self-interacting dark matter (SIDM), proposes that dark matter particles interact through a dark force, explaining high-density halos and low-density halos of ultra-diffuse galaxies. SIDM simulates cosmic structure formation with strong dark matter self-interactions, diversifying halo density in central regions.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 6, 2023
Wits researchers pioneer a new way of searching for dark matter
Researchers investigate whether dark matter particles are produced inside a jet of standard model particles. Their new detector signature, semi-visible jets, opens up new directions into looking for Dark Matter.
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.
SourceLancaster University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 14, 2023
Milky Way-like galaxy found in the early universe
Researchers found a barred spiral galaxy similar to the Milky Way at a redshift of 3, challenging previous understanding of galaxy evolution. The discovery suggests that galaxies matured and became ordered much faster than thought, with implications for theories of galaxy formation and evolution.
Giant planets cast a deadly pall
New studies show that giant gas planets in nearby star systems can prevent life on smaller, rocky planet neighbors by kicking them out of orbit and wreaking havoc on their climates. Researchers found that four giant planets in the HD 141399 system are likely to destroy the chances for life on Earth-like planets.
ET phone Dublin? Astrophysicists scan the Galaxy for signs of life
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin are searching millions of star systems for technosignatures that could support intelligent alien life. The team has already scanned 1.6 million star systems but so far, no signals have been detected.
Biggest ever supercomputer simulation to investigate Universe’s evolution
Researchers have carried out the largest ever computer simulations to investigate the Universe's evolution, taking into account ordinary matter and dark energy. The FLAMINGO simulations provide a detailed picture of virtual galaxies and galaxy clusters, allowing for comparisons with observations from new high-powered telescopes.
SourceDurham University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 24, 2023
Leading scientists, philosophers identify nature’s missing evolutionary law
A team of scientists and philosophers identifies a new law of nature that governs the evolution of complex systems, including plants, animals, stars, and minerals. The law states that complex systems evolve to states of greater patterning, diversity, and complexity, regardless of whether they are living or nonliving.
SourceCarnegie Science Earth and Planets Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateOct 16, 2023
Finding explanation for Milky Way’s warp
Astronomers at Harvard University have discovered a tilted dark matter halo, explaining the Milky Way's warp and flare. The team used models to calculate star orbits within a warped, oblong dark matter halo, matching existing observations of a distorted galaxy.
Pulsars may make dark matter glow
Scientists propose that pulsars could detect dark matter by observing a subtle additional glow. If axions are produced in strong electromagnetic fields around pulsars, they could convert into observable light.
SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 6, 2023
Hidden supermassive black holes reveal their secrets through radio signals
Astronomers discovered a link between dust surrounding supermassive black holes and radio emission in extremely bright galaxies. The study found that quasars with more dust were more likely to have stronger radio emission.
SourceNewcastle University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 25, 2023
Dark energy could be measured by studying the galaxy next door
Researchers have found that studying the mass and movement of the Andromeda galaxy and the Milky Way could help place an upper limit on the value of dark energy. The technique may provide valuable insights into the mysterious force, but it is not yet a direct detection.
Astronomers reveal new features of galactic black holes
An international team of scientists has detected a quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) signal in the radio band from a Galactic black hole system, revealing features that have never been seen before. The QPO signal may provide the first evidence of activity from a jet launched by a Galactic stellar-mass black hole.
Galaxy J1135 reveals its water map
A new study by SISSA has identified the distribution of water vapour in galaxy J1135, which is 12 billion light years away. The researchers used gravitational lensing to observe this remote galaxy and ALMA observations to map its water distribution.
SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateJul 20, 2023
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...
New study weighs the universe's supermassive black holes
A recent study suggests that supermassive black holes at the center of large galaxies grew in size over billions of years, challenging previous estimates. The research, led by astrophysicist Joseph Simon, used computer simulations to predict the masses of massive black holes, revealing a diverse range of sizes across the universe.
DESI data sheds more light on 3D map of cosmos, study of universe
The latest DESI data release provides a precise 3D map of the universe with high certainty. The data also sheds new light on cosmic acceleration and the nature of gravity at large scales.
Earth was created much faster than we thought. This makes the chance of finding other habitable planets in the Universe more likely
Researchers believe Earth's formation was facilitated by the accumulation of small pebbles, resulting in the presence of water as a byproduct. This new theory increases the likelihood of finding habitable planets outside our Solar System.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalNature·DateJun 14, 2023
Astronomers discover supernova explosion through rare ‘cosmic magnifying glasses’
Researchers discovered a gravitationally lensed supernova named SN Zwicky, which was magnified nearly 25 times by a foreground galaxy. This discovery presents an opportunity to study the inner cores of galaxies, dark matter, and the mechanics behind universe expansion.
New study describes unique jet structure of brightest gamma-ray burst ever
Researchers found GRB 221009A's jet exhibited a narrow core with wide sloping wings, differing from standard jets. This unique structure may explain the event's extreme energy release and prolonged visibility.
The laws of physics have not always been symmetric. And it may explain why you exist
University of Florida astronomers discovered parity symmetry violation, a broken symmetry that explains why there's more matter than antimatter. This finding confirms the Big Bang theory and addresses the question of why something exists instead of nothing.
SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 23, 2023
First-of-its-kind measurement of the Universe’s expansion rate weighs in on a longstanding debate in physics and astronomy
A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota has successfully measured the expansion rate of the Universe using data from a magnified supernova. Their findings provide new insight into the problem and bring scientists closer to obtaining the most accurate measurement of the Universe's age.
Celestial monsters at the origin of globular clusters
A team of astronomers has discovered chemical traces of supermassive stars in globular proto-clusters, born 440 million years after the Big Bang. The study suggests that these 'celestial monsters' enriched the original gas cloud with chemical elements, explaining abundance anomalies in their stars.
Astronomers solve the 60-year mystery of quasars – the most powerful objects in the Universe
Scientists have discovered that quasars are ignited by galaxies crashing together, a process that drives gas towards supermassive black holes and releases extraordinary amounts of energy. This finding provides a significant step forward in understanding how these powerful objects are triggered and fuelled.
SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 25, 2023
First research flight images from innovative balloon-borne telescope
The SuperBIT telescope has begun capturing high-resolution images of the Universe on its first research flight. It is investigating the mystery of dark matter, which is thought to be made up of particles that can bounce off each other during galaxy collisions.
Researchers discover tiny galaxy with big star power using James Webb telescope
Researchers have discovered a tiny galaxy with big star power using the James Webb Space Telescope, providing new insights into the universe's early stars. The galaxy is one of the smallest ever discovered at this distance—around 500 million years after the Big Bang—and generated new stars at an extremely high rate for its size.
Dark order in the universe
A team of scientists from Kyoto University has confirmed that galaxy alignments can be a powerful probe for dark matter and dark energy. The analysis of 1.2 million galaxy observations verified general theory of relativity at vast spatial scales, providing strong evidence for gravity's role in shaping the universe.
SourceKyoto University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2023
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.
Better understanding the physics of our universe part of collaborative research effort
Indiana University researchers and collaborators have completed a six-year experiment to study the fundamental properties of neutrinos. They observed nearly 10^26 atoms over six years, pushing the boundaries of detection for this rare phenomenon.
Scientists observe flattest explosion ever seen in space
Astronomers have observed an extremely rare and aspherical Fast Blue Optical Transient (FBOT) explosion 180 million light years away. The explosion, similar to a flat disc shape, challenges scientists' current understanding of stellar explosions.
SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateMar 30, 2023
The brightest explosion ever seen
The detection of GRB 221009A marks the most energetic gamma-ray burst ever observed, with a luminosity surpassing that of entire galaxies and hundreds of billions of stars. The event was followed up by space-based telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope, which provided insight into its properties.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 30, 2023
How cosmic winds transform galactic environments
Researchers modeled how elements move across star-forming regions, finding that galactic winds influence temperature and metal distribution. The study's findings suggest a non-spherical wind pattern, contrary to previous spherical models.
SourceOhio State University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateMar 29, 2023
Light-bending gravity reveals one of the biggest black holes ever found
A team of astronomers has discovered an ultramassive black hole in the foreground galaxy, with a mass estimated to be over 30 billion times that of our Sun. This massive object was detected using gravitational lensing and supercomputer simulations.
SourceDurham University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 28, 2023
How football-shaped molecules occur in the universe
An international team of researchers has successfully demonstrated the formation of fullerene and its derivatives in the universe. The reaction involves a corannulene radical and vinyl acetylene, which deposit layers of carbon onto each other to form the desired molecules.
Artificial intelligence discovers secret equation for ‘weighing’ galaxy clusters
Astrophysicists used AI to improve mass estimates of galaxy clusters by adding a simple term to an existing equation. The new equation downplays the importance of complex cores in calculations, providing more reliable mass inferences.
SourceSimons Foundation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 23, 2023
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.
Unusual atom helps in search for Universe’s building blocks
A University of Queensland-led research team is using an unusual caesium atom to search for dark matter particles. The team's work may also improve atomic theory calculations and technology, such as navigation systems.
James Webb spots super old, massive galaxies that shouldn’t exist
An international team of astrophysicists has discovered six potential galaxies emerging in the universe's earliest moments, containing as many stars as the Milky Way. These ancient structures are gigantic and massive, contradicting current cosmological theory, with calculations suggesting they formed hundreds of new stars a year.
Astrophysicists discover the perfect explosion in space
Researchers found that kilonovae, caused by neutron star collisions, produce spherical explosions with symmetrical shapes. The discovery may provide a new key to fundamental physics and measuring the Universe's age.
‘Ghostly’ neutrinos provide new path to study protons
Researchers from the University of Rochester and MINERvA collaboration used beams of neutrinos at Fermilab to investigate proton structure. This technique offers a new view on measuring protons using neutrino scattering, providing insights into nuclear effects and improving future measurements of neutrino properties.
Scientists release newly accurate map of all the matter in the universe
A team of researchers has created a highly accurate map of the universe's matter distribution, combining data from two major telescope surveys. The analysis reveals that matter is less 'clumpy' than expected, suggesting potential inconsistencies with the current standard model of the universe.
Record-breaking detection of radio signal from atomic hydrogen in extremely distant galaxy using GMRT
Researchers have detected a radio signal from atomic hydrogen in an extremely distant galaxy at redshift z=1.29, marking the largest distance so far. The signal was amplified by gravitational lensing, allowing the team to observe the galaxy's atomic hydrogen mass, which is almost twice its stellar mass.
SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 16, 2023
Discovery of three faint, distant galaxies may expand knowledge of early universe
A team of researchers has discovered three ultra-faint dwarf galaxies around a Milky Way-mass galaxy, providing insights into the formation and evolution of these enigmatic objects. The findings may help develop universal models for how the universe's oldest galaxies formed.
Searching for the earliest galaxies in the universe
A team of astronomers discovered 87 galaxies that could be the earliest known galaxies in the universe using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. This finding suggests a revision to our understanding of galaxy formation, indicating that more galaxies may have formed earlier than previously thought.
New study confirms the light from outside our galaxy brighter than expected
Researchers at RIT have made a groundbreaking discovery confirming the light emitted by stars outside our galaxy is two to three times brighter than previously thought. This finding suggests a possible absence of optical light sources in the universe, potentially changing our understanding of how it formed over time.
Deep-space discovery: Oddball gamma-ray burst forces revision of theoretical framework
Researchers discovered a long-duration gamma-ray burst that defied prevailing theories, leading to the proposal of a new model for its origin. The unusual burst was found to have characteristics similar to those of short-duration bursts, challenging current understanding of gamma-ray burst formation.
Nuclear popcorn: Heavy nucleus changes shapes at different energies
Researchers studied the strong nuclear force using nickel-64 nuclei, discovering that they change shapes under high-energy conditions. The team used advanced detectors to analyze gamma rays and particle direction, revealing two possible shapes for the nucleus: oblate and prolate.
Rare sighting of luminous jet spewed by supermassive black hole
A team led by University of Maryland astronomer Igor Andreoni discovered a bright optical flare caused by a dying star's encounter with a supermassive black hole. The event, AT2022cmc, is extremely rare and was found using a novel data pipeline that analyzed the Zwicky Transient Facility survey.
Mysteriously bright flash is a black hole jet pointing straight toward Earth, astronomers say
Researchers believe a black hole suddenly began devouring a nearby star, releasing energy and creating the brightest ever recorded TDE. The jet's direction may be pointing towards Earth, causing Doppler boosting, and could reveal insights into how supermassive black holes grow.
A supernova in distant space allows us to understand the origin of the elements in the universe
A team of researchers used images from the Hubble Space Telescope to determine the age and composition of a distant supernova. The study suggests that the heavier atomic elements necessary for life were created inside stars and released during supernovae explosions.
Red-supergiant supernova images reveal secrets of an earlier Universe
Researchers have measured the size of a star dating back 2 billion years after the Big Bang, gaining insight into the stars and galaxies of the early Universe. The study used detailed images of a red supergiant supernova to reconstruct its cooling process, shedding light on how massive stars formed in galaxies during this period.
From Graphene to Gravity: Exploring the Physics of Emergence
The book delves into the concept of emergence in two domains: condensed matter physics and quantum gravity. It reveals surprising connections between seemingly disparate areas of physics, shedding light on how mysterious materials work and the origins of space and time.
Revealed: oldest star clusters in the universe
A team of astronomers used the James Webb Telescope to identify five ancient globular clusters, potentially containing the first and oldest stars in the universe. The clusters were formed close to the Big Bang, offering insights into star formation and galaxy evolution.
SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateNov 2, 2022
UNH research tests fundamental force advancing understanding of universe
Researchers at UNH tested state-of-the-art calculations of the strong force with an experiment probing proton spin, finding agreement with one but not the other. The findings provide a benchmark for testing the strong force and its applications in future technology.
Deep space: Massive light burst detected on Earth came from ‘infant’ Universe
Astronomers detect massive light burst from 'infant' Universe, revealing properties of cosmic explosions. The GRB was triggered by a space explosion that occurred when the Universe was less than 900 million years old.
Study: Astronomers risk misinterpreting planetary signals in James Webb data
A new MIT study suggests that current opacity models used by astronomers may not be accurate enough to interpret the precise light-based signals from the James Webb Space Telescope. The researchers predict that properties of planetary atmospheres, such as temperature and elemental composition, could be off by an order of magnitude if e...
Why are dark matter halos of ultra-diffuse galaxies so … odd?
Researchers found that dark matter halos in ultra-diffuse galaxies have lower concentrations than expected, raising questions about their formation and evolution. The study's surprising results indicate these galaxies may be younger and contain more gas than normal galaxies.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateSep 12, 2022
Black hole collisions could help us measure how fast the universe is expanding
Astronomers propose a new method to measure the universe's expansion rate by analyzing the changes in signal properties of black hole collisions. By using the entire population of black holes as a calibration tool, scientists can directly identify and correct for errors, providing a more accurate measurement.
Do ‘bouncing universes’ have a beginning?
A new study by University at Buffalo physicists Will Kinney and Nina Stein reveals that the latest cyclic model introduces a new problem: the universe must have a beginning. This finding contradicts previous theories, which aimed to address entropy concerns by proposing endless cycles of expansion and contraction.