Science September 5, 2024

Outer Solar System More Populated than We Thought

Observations of the outer Solar System with the Subaru Telescope have discovered new bodies where none were expected. The new objects are likely members of a much larger population waiting to be discovered. This discovery has profound implications for our understanding of the structure and history of the Solar System. First and foremost, it suggests that the Solar System has more in common with other planetary systems, which in turn has implications on our search for life outside of the Solar System.

Science August 30, 2024

Dancing Galaxies Make a Monster at the Cosmic Dawn

Astronomers have spotted a pair of galaxies in the act of merging 12.8 billion years ago. The characteristics of these galaxies indicate that the merger will form a monster galaxy, one of the brightest types of objects in the Universe. These results are important for understanding the early evolution of galaxies and black holes in the early Universe.

Science May 31, 2024

Simulations Yield New Intermediate Mass Black Holes Recipe

The first star-by-star simulations of globular cluster formation show that massive star collisions can start a runaway process resulting in the formation of intermediate-mass black holes. These results can help explain the origins of this rare type of black holes.

Science May 24, 2024

Earth Twin or Evil Twin

The discovery of a planet similar to Venus around a star in the neighborhood of the Solar System raises hopes that astronomers may someday unlock the secret to why life appeared on Earth.

Science May 10, 2024

ONe Nova to Rule Them All

Astronomers have proposed a new theory to explain the origin of phosphorus, one of the elements important for life on Earth. The theory suggests a type of stellar explosion known as ONe novae as a major source of phosphorus.

Science April 11, 2024

Twinkle Twinkle Baby Star, ‘Sneezes’ Tell us How You Are

Astronomers have discovered the remnants of powerful ‘sneezes’ expelling gas, dust, and electromagnetic energy around stars in the process of forming. The team believes these sneezes help the baby star expel excess magnetic flux, and as such may play a vital role in enabling the star to form.

Science April 8, 2024

Inexplicable Flying Fox found in Hydra Galaxy Cluster

High sensitivity radio observations have discovered a cloud of magnetized plasma in the Hydra galaxy cluster. The odd location and shape of this plasma defy all conventional explanations. Dubbed the Flying Fox based on its silhouette, this plasma will remain a mystery until additional observations can provide more insight.

Science March 28, 2024

ALMA Finds New Molecular Signposts in Starburst Galaxy

The ALMA radio telescope has detected more than 100 molecular species, including many indicative of different star formation and evolution processes, in a galaxy where stars are forming much more actively than in the Milky Way. This is far more molecules than were found in previous studies. Now the team will try to apply this knowledge to other galaxies.

Science March 22, 2024

Simulations of Europa Craters Suggest Thick Ice Crust

Sometimes planetary physics is like being in a snowball fight. Most people, if handed an already formed snowball, can use their experience and the feel of the ball to guess what kind of snow it is comprised of: wet and puffy, or dry and packable. Using nearly the same principles, planetary scientists have been able to study the structure of Europa, Jupiter’s icy moon.

Science February 1, 2024

Ancient Gas Outflow Suppressed Star Formation

Astronomers have found the earliest known example of a galaxy hosting an active supermassive black hole expelling large quantities of molecular gas. This outflow will suppress star formation in the galaxy. These results will help us to understand how black holes and galaxies have evolved together over the history of the Universe.