Articles tagged with Universe
A new study led by Dartmouth researchers provides the clearest understanding yet of supermassive black holes' life cycles. By analyzing X-ray telescope data and a new data analysis technique, scientists found that accretion rates vary significantly depending on how obscured an object is by gas and dust ring.
A team of researchers found that the internal donut-shaped structure of quasars can affect the ionization level of intergalactic gas in different directions. The study suggests that a dust torus is likely to be responsible for this anisotropic effect.
An international research team has shed light on the origin of neutrinos, shedding new evidence that blazars can be confidently associated with astrophysical neutrinos. The study utilizes neutrino data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and BZCat catalogue to establish a connection between high-energy neutrinos and galactic nuclei.
A team of scientists led by Clemson University's Marco Ajello has provided conclusive evidence that astrophysical neutrinos come from blazars, which are powerful black holes. This breakthrough resolves the long-standing question about the origin of high-energy cosmic rays.
Researchers have detected a persistent radio signal from a far-off galaxy that repeats every 0.2 seconds in a clear periodic pattern, similar to a heartbeat. The source of the signal is unknown but may be related to a radio pulsar or magnetar, which could provide an astrophysical clock for measuring the universe's expansion.
Scientists have discovered a new, extremely faint galaxy named Pegasus V, located on the outskirts of Andromeda. The dwarf galaxy is believed to be one of the oldest in the universe, with its stars forming over 13 billion years ago.
Astronomers discovered five isolated 'blue blob' systems containing young, blue stars and little atomic hydrogen gas. The presence of mostly young stars and lack of gas suggests recent gas loss, contradicting expectations of older red stars.
Scientists studying particle collisions at RHIC have identified a specific mechanism for jet quenching, where individual quarks emit gluons as they interact with the QGP. The results provide new insight into the properties of quark-gluon plasma, which filled the early universe.
Physicists are using a deposit of nearly pure argon, extracted from southwest Colorado, to search for answers about the universe's dark matter. The argon is separated from carbon dioxide and shipped to Italy for use in the DarkSide-20k detector.
The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission enables new measurements of cosmic X-ray sources, such as pulsars, black holes, and neutron stars. With its state-of-the-art telescopes and detectors, IXPE will provide high-quality polarization data of various sources, including supernova remnants, active galaxies, and blazars.
Astronomers identify GNz7q, a dusty compact object with properties of both galaxies and quasars, born 750 million years after Big Bang. The discovery provides new insights into the rapid growth of supermassive black holes in early universe.
Researchers proved a conjecture on quantum complexity growth, contradicting the Brown-Susskind intuition that complexity increases linearly for astronomically long times and then remains maximum. Instead, complexity grows linearly with time until it saturates at an exponential point related to system size.
Physicist Dr Melvin Vopson's latest experiment aims to detect and measure information in elementary particles using particle-antiparticle collision. If successful, it could confirm information as the fifth state of matter, changing our understanding of the universe.
A WVU postdoctoral researcher has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of magnetic reconnection, which can be used to predict space weather events that affect satellite and power grid systems. The study uses advanced laser diagnostics to measure electron speeds, providing new insights into plasma physics processes.
Researchers at Brookhaven Lab propose a cosmological phase transition as the key to supermassive black hole formation in the early universe. This process, facilitated by ultralight dark matter particles, enabled efficient collapse of matter into black holes.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have discovered a simplified model for quantum gravity called the 'holographic principle' that describes how gravity emerges from quantum mechanics. This breakthrough may also offer new insights into mysterious dark energy.
A new FQXi report re-assesses the 'fine-tuned universe' hypothesis, proposing that intelligent life could have evolved under drastically different physical conditions. This challenges popular arguments for a multiverse and suggests that the universe may be able to produce life under a wider range of circumstances than previously thought.
Researchers tracked 10,000 galaxies and clusters over 11.5 billion years, revealing complex motions influenced by gravity and the Big Bang theory. The study provides new insights into the formation history of large-scale mass structures in the universe.
Astronomers have discovered a binary system consisting of a rapidly spinning neutron star and the precursor to an extremely-low-mass white dwarf, dubbed a 'cosmic spider'. The system emits powerful gamma-rays and has been observed using the SOAR Telescope in Chile.
An international team of astronomers has found strong evidence for an ultra-low frequency signal, consistent with the expected characteristics of a gravitational wave background. The discovery was made using data from 65 millisecond pulsars, combining independent data sets from around the world.
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.
Researchers at the DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory discovered a process in plasma swirling around black holes that causes previously unexplained emissions of light and heat. The process, known as magnetic reconnection, also jettisons huge plumes of plasma billions of miles in length.
Swati Singh, a UD assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, has received a $400,000 NSF CAREER award to explore new methods for studying the dark sector. She aims to develop precision measurement systems to detect astrophysical signals using mechanical devices operating in classical and quantum realms.
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.
Researchers have successfully created an experimental model of a skyrmion particle in a beam of light, providing a real system to demonstrate the behavior of this elusive type of fundamental particle. The study reveals the intricate structure and topological properties of skyrmions, which can be distorted but not broken.
Researchers used computer simulations to investigate the conversion rates of neutrons and protons in accretion disks surrounding black holes, finding that disks with masses between 0.01 to 0.1 solar masses are optimal for heavy element production. This suggests that neutron star mergers producing such disks could be the origin of a lar...
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will harness the power of cross-checking techniques using its rich data set to study critical questions in cosmology, including cosmic acceleration. It will also explore additional mysteries such as dark matter and black hole growth.
Theoretical physicists modelled the region around M87's supermassive black hole, confirming that gravity plays a key role in accelerating particles out to thousands of light years. The findings provide further evidence for Einstein's theory of general relativity and its application to astrophysical phenomena.
A new study suggests that black holes grow in lockstep with the expanding universe, a phenomenon called cosmological coupling. This idea improves the explanation for large black hole masses observed in gravitational wave observatories.
A recent international workshop aimed to turn plans for a crewed lunar observatory into reality. The workshop, led by Vanderbilt astrophysicist Karan Jani, brought together experts from GW science, planetary science, and lunar exploration to discuss the geophysical properties of the moon and opportunities for observation.
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.
Researchers examine the accelerating expansion of the Universe, a phenomenon driven by dark energy. The study reveals disparities between observations and theoretical models, highlighting the need for new understanding and precision experiments.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham explore new approaches to detecting low-frequency gravitational waves using pulsars and other measurements. They suggest combining these methods with observations from projects like Gaia, which could help disentangle and interpret signals from the earliest periods of the universe.
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.
An international team of scientists, led by Professor Owen Long, explored supersymmetry as an extension of the Standard Model. They conducted experiments at the Large Hadron Collider and found no signs of supersymmetric particles, but their null result is still a significant scientific progress.
The PHAse Space MApping experiment, a complex plasma physics research project at WVU, aims to study the motion of ions and electrons in plasmas. The facility can measure three-dimensional motion at very small scales and is capable of performing detailed measurements.
A new study by LIGO reveals a new type of mirror coating made of titanium oxide and germanium oxide reduces background noise in mirrors by a factor of two. This allows for an eight-fold increase in the volume of space that can be probed, enabling more frequent detection of gravitational waves.
The 2021 Fall Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics presents cutting-edge research on nuclear astrophysics, quantum technology, and rare isotopes. Researchers will discuss breakthroughs such as the most precise measurement of neutron lifetime and novel experiments measuring neutron skin in calcium.
A team of astronomers has observed six massive galaxies in the early universe that have mysteriously stopped forming stars due to depleted gas reserves. The discovery was made possible by the Hubble Space Telescope's high resolution and gravitational lensing, allowing researchers to study these galaxies in unprecedented detail.
Researchers used ALMA to observe distant galaxies and discovered two new, dusty galaxies near original targets, challenging our understanding of early galaxy formation. The discovery suggests that a significant portion of early galaxies may be hidden from view due to cosmic dust.
Researchers from Australian National University confirm that star-forming galaxies are responsible for creating gamma-rays that had been puzzling astronomers. The discovery sheds light on the origins of these mysterious emissions and could provide clues to understanding Dark Matter.
A nearly $2 million NSF grant will accelerate the hunt for low-frequency gravitational waves using high-precision timing observations of exotic stars called millisecond pulsars. WVU's Maura McLaughlin is principal investigator on the project, which aims to discover new types of gravitational waves and expand the IPTA's reach globally.
Researchers used gravitational lensing to observe the same exploding star in three different locations and predict a fourth image will appear in the sky by 2037. This study provides an opportunity to explore the expansion of our universe and sheds light on cosmological riddles, including the expansion rate.
The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered white dwarfs that burn hydrogen on their surface, slowing down their cooling rate. This finding challenges the conventional view of white dwarfs as inert, slowly cooling stars.
A supercomputer simulation reveals that interstellar frontal collisions lead to the maturation of young galaxies. The study shows how these chaotic galaxies eventually form stable spiral galaxies with similar populations of stars as the Milky Way.
Scientists at Carnegie Mellon and University of Washington are developing new software platforms to analyze the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) dataset. The open-source platforms will enable researchers to make sense of big data and address fundamental questions about the universe, such as dark matter and dark energy.
A new study found a low rate of lithium production in a classical nova, indicating diversity within these events. This discovery suggests that other objects, such as supernovae, may also contribute to lithium production in the Universe.
A new study suggests that cosmic dawn, when stars formed for the first time, occurred between 250 and 350 million years after the beginning of the universe. The study used data from the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes to estimate the age of distant galaxies.
The Cosmic Infrared Background Experiment-2 (CIBER-2) has completed a successful first launch, aiming to better understand extragalactic background light and resolve discrepancies about the number of stars in the universe. The experiment will analyze data collected during four planned launches over several years.
A study proposes three resolutions to explain the red sky paradox, where FGK dwarfs are not apparent in the sky despite being five times more common than Sun-like stars. Red dwarfs have a lower probability of emerging intelligent life, a shorter available time window for complex life evolution, and a lower occurrence of habitable worlds.
The Roman Space Telescope will create massive infrared images, 200 times larger than Hubble, with exquisite resolution. The 24 flight-certified detectors will enable scientists to explore vast celestial objects and phenomena.
The CHIME telescope has detected over 500 fast radio bursts, quadrupling the number of known radio bursts. The newly discovered signals reveal two distinct classes: repeaters and one-offs, which are thought to arise from separate mechanisms and astrophysical sources.
The CHIME/FRB catalogue reveals significant differences between repeater and non-repeater FRBs, with repeaters emitting more focused radio frequencies and bursting repeatedly. The discovery provides clues about the properties of FRBs and potentially offers an independent measurement of matter distribution in the Universe.
A team of astronomers mapped molecular clouds in the nearby Universe, discovering diversity in stellar nurseries across 90 galaxies. The study found that location and environment play a critical role in star formation, with clouds in dense central regions being more massive and turbulent.
A team of researchers has conducted the first systematic survey of stellar nurseries, charting over 100,000 nurseries in 90 nearby galaxies. The study reveals that these nurseries are surprisingly diverse across galaxies, live only a relatively short time, and are not very efficient at making stars.
Researchers discover two waves of bulge formation in disc galaxies, with older bulges formed at redshift 6.2 and younger ones at 1.3. The bulges formed quickly or over thousands of million years, showing the universe has two ways to form galaxy centers.
Researchers recreated Quark-Gluon Plasma using Large Hadron Collider and analyzed its collective expansion. The study found that the plasma evolved from a fluent liquid form to a more solid state, changing its shape over time, which is surprising and different from other matters.
A team of scientists discovered that three dozen dwarf galaxies simultaneously accelerated their star birth rates, defying expectations. The galaxies, separated by up to 13 million light-years, had a synchronized decrease in stellar birth rate 6 billion years ago and an increase 3 billion years ago.
A $1.2 million NSF EPSCoR grant will establish a new faculty position, support postdoctoral researchers and graduate students, and fund work on neutrino detection at IceCube and RNO-G observatories. The research aims to improve calibration of massive instruments and develop advanced data analysis techniques.
The STARFORGE simulation reveals that protostellar jets play a vital role in determining a star's mass, with jets disrupting the inflow of gas toward the star. This breakthrough helps researchers better understand star formation and its impact on galaxy evolution.