Cosmic Formation
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SPHEREx Space Telescope to Map Cosmos in Infrared Light, Launching in February 2025
Set to launch in February 2025, NASA’s SPHEREx mission will provide a comprehensive map of the universe in infrared light. The telescope will examine 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars, shedding light on the universe’s formation, early conditions after the Big Bang, and the presence of water in planetary systems. SPHEREx will survey the...
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JWST Detects Unexpectedly Massive Black Holes in the Early Universe
A new study led by Jorryt Matthee of ISTA reveals that black holes in early galaxies were significantly more massive than expected. Using JWST data, researchers found that some black holes accounted for nearly 10% of their galaxy's stellar mass—far exceeding the 0.01% ratio seen in modern galaxies. The findings challenge existing growth models, s...
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Gravitational Waves Reveal Black Hole Ancestry Through Spin Analysis
A study published in Physical Review Letters explores how gravitational waves reveal the ancestry of black holes. By examining 69 black hole mergers, researchers found that spin shifts indicate repeated collisions in dense star clusters. This insight supports models suggesting black holes grow through sequential mergers. Observatories like LIGO and...
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Researchers Spot Unusual, Overmassive Globular Clusters in Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy FCC 224
A new study has uncovered an unexpected globular cluster system in FCC 224, an ultra-diffuse galaxy located in the Fornax cluster. Using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Keck Cosmic Web Imager, researchers found that FCC 224 hosts luminous, overmassive globular clusters with unusual properties. The galaxy’s star clusters exhibit narro...
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NASA SPHEREx Telescope to Map the Universe and Search for Life’s Ingredients
NASA’s SPHEREx mission, set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 27, aims to explore the origins of the universe and the formation of galaxies. Using near-infrared light, the telescope will study over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars in the Milky Way. It will also search for water and organic molecules in regions where ...
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Early Supernovas Could Have Created Water in the Universe, Paving the Way for Life 100 Million Years Post-Big Bang
A recent study suggests that supernova explosions, triggered by the death of early stars, could have created significant amounts of water just 100 million years after the Big Bang. Simulations of these early, massive stars show that their explosive deaths may have resulted in the formation of water molecules within the dense hydrogen and oxygen clo...
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Astronomers Spot Hundreds of Hidden Supermassive Black Holes Using Infrared
Hundreds of hidden supermassive black holes have been identified using infrared observations, offering fresh insights into their role in galaxy formation. Researchers relied on data from NASA's Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) to detect emissions from black holes obscured by thick clouds ...
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Astronomers Observe Black Hole Reactivate, Emitting Jets of Plasma
A supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy 1ES 1927+654 has been observed reactivating after a quiet period. Jets of hot gas were released from both sides of the black hole, surprising astronomers. Researchers speculate that a white dwarf star in close orbit may be interacting with the black hole, providing key insights into cosmic behavior....
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Cosmic Rays Could Help Scientists Study Tornado Formation Through Muon Detection
Cosmic rays and their byproduct, muons, may help scientists study tornado formation by detecting pressure changes remotely. This technique would avoid the need for direct measurements within dangerous storms. Researchers plan to use muon detectors over large areas or portable versions to track severe weather patterns. The findings could enhance und...
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New "Kiss-and-Capture" Theory Explains Pluto's Formation of Largest Moon, Charon
A new theory proposes that Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, was formed billions of years ago through a rare "kiss-and-capture" collision in the Kuiper Belt. This process involves two icy bodies briefly merging and then separating, leaving Charon in a stable orbit around Pluto. Unlike traditional collision models, this event challenges previous theor...
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Five Dwarf Galaxies Found in a Rare Alignment, Challenges Current Cosmic Models
A rare alignment of five dwarf galaxies, positioned around 117 million light-years away, has been discovered by astronomers. This grouping, which challenges existing models of galaxy formation, shows active star formation despite their small sizes. The galaxies, labelled D1 to D5, exhibit unique characteristics, including shared rotational motion a...
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Astronomers Seek Binary Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Centers
Astronomers have detected possible binary black holes at the centres of galaxies, using light patterns from active galactic nuclei as key indicators. The study of PG 1553+153, in particular, shows evidence of a 20-year variation, pointing to a system of two supermassive black holes. If confirmed, this could provide new insights into galaxy formatio...
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Organic Molecules in Space: A Key to Understanding Life's Cosmic Origins
Organic molecules, the building blocks of life, have been discovered across space—from interstellar clouds to asteroids and comets. Findings from missions like Rosetta, Hayabusa2, and Osiris-Rex reveal that these compounds existed long before the Sun formed. Scientists believe organic molecules survived planetary formation in protoplanetary disks...
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Astronomers Spot New Cosmic Explosions 100 Times Brighter Than the Sun
Astronomers have discovered a new class of cosmic explosions, known as 'millinovas,' which are 100 times brighter than the Sun. These events, first identified in 2023, were observed in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. The millinovas are thought to occur when white dwarfs feed off a companion star, prod...
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James Webb Telescope Breaks Record with Discovery of Early Galaxies Dating 200 Million Years After Big Bang
The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted five galaxy candidates dating back to 200 million years after the Big Bang. These findings could transform our understanding of early cosmic evolution. Discovered via gravitational lensing, these galaxies, if confirmed, predate known formations and offer vital insights into the universe’s infancy. Scient...
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SPHEREx Space Telescope to Map Cosmos in Infrared Light, Launching in February 2025
Set to launch in February 2025, NASA’s SPHEREx mission will provide a comprehensive map of the universe in infrared light. The telescope will examine 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars, shedding light on the universe’s formation, early conditions after the Big Bang, and the presence of water in planetary systems. SPHEREx will survey the...
-
JWST Detects Unexpectedly Massive Black Holes in the Early Universe
A new study led by Jorryt Matthee of ISTA reveals that black holes in early galaxies were significantly more massive than expected. Using JWST data, researchers found that some black holes accounted for nearly 10% of their galaxy's stellar mass—far exceeding the 0.01% ratio seen in modern galaxies. The findings challenge existing growth models, s...
-
Gravitational Waves Reveal Black Hole Ancestry Through Spin Analysis
A study published in Physical Review Letters explores how gravitational waves reveal the ancestry of black holes. By examining 69 black hole mergers, researchers found that spin shifts indicate repeated collisions in dense star clusters. This insight supports models suggesting black holes grow through sequential mergers. Observatories like LIGO and...
-
Researchers Spot Unusual, Overmassive Globular Clusters in Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy FCC 224
A new study has uncovered an unexpected globular cluster system in FCC 224, an ultra-diffuse galaxy located in the Fornax cluster. Using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Keck Cosmic Web Imager, researchers found that FCC 224 hosts luminous, overmassive globular clusters with unusual properties. The galaxy’s star clusters exhibit narro...
-
NASA SPHEREx Telescope to Map the Universe and Search for Life’s Ingredients
NASA’s SPHEREx mission, set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 27, aims to explore the origins of the universe and the formation of galaxies. Using near-infrared light, the telescope will study over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars in the Milky Way. It will also search for water and organic molecules in regions where ...
-
Early Supernovas Could Have Created Water in the Universe, Paving the Way for Life 100 Million Years Post-Big Bang
A recent study suggests that supernova explosions, triggered by the death of early stars, could have created significant amounts of water just 100 million years after the Big Bang. Simulations of these early, massive stars show that their explosive deaths may have resulted in the formation of water molecules within the dense hydrogen and oxygen clo...
-
Astronomers Spot Hundreds of Hidden Supermassive Black Holes Using Infrared
Hundreds of hidden supermassive black holes have been identified using infrared observations, offering fresh insights into their role in galaxy formation. Researchers relied on data from NASA's Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) to detect emissions from black holes obscured by thick clouds ...
-
Astronomers Observe Black Hole Reactivate, Emitting Jets of Plasma
A supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy 1ES 1927+654 has been observed reactivating after a quiet period. Jets of hot gas were released from both sides of the black hole, surprising astronomers. Researchers speculate that a white dwarf star in close orbit may be interacting with the black hole, providing key insights into cosmic behavior....
-
Cosmic Rays Could Help Scientists Study Tornado Formation Through Muon Detection
Cosmic rays and their byproduct, muons, may help scientists study tornado formation by detecting pressure changes remotely. This technique would avoid the need for direct measurements within dangerous storms. Researchers plan to use muon detectors over large areas or portable versions to track severe weather patterns. The findings could enhance und...
-
New "Kiss-and-Capture" Theory Explains Pluto's Formation of Largest Moon, Charon
A new theory proposes that Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, was formed billions of years ago through a rare "kiss-and-capture" collision in the Kuiper Belt. This process involves two icy bodies briefly merging and then separating, leaving Charon in a stable orbit around Pluto. Unlike traditional collision models, this event challenges previous theor...
-
Five Dwarf Galaxies Found in a Rare Alignment, Challenges Current Cosmic Models
A rare alignment of five dwarf galaxies, positioned around 117 million light-years away, has been discovered by astronomers. This grouping, which challenges existing models of galaxy formation, shows active star formation despite their small sizes. The galaxies, labelled D1 to D5, exhibit unique characteristics, including shared rotational motion a...
-
Astronomers Seek Binary Supermassive Black Holes in Galactic Centers
Astronomers have detected possible binary black holes at the centres of galaxies, using light patterns from active galactic nuclei as key indicators. The study of PG 1553+153, in particular, shows evidence of a 20-year variation, pointing to a system of two supermassive black holes. If confirmed, this could provide new insights into galaxy formatio...
-
Organic Molecules in Space: A Key to Understanding Life's Cosmic Origins
Organic molecules, the building blocks of life, have been discovered across space—from interstellar clouds to asteroids and comets. Findings from missions like Rosetta, Hayabusa2, and Osiris-Rex reveal that these compounds existed long before the Sun formed. Scientists believe organic molecules survived planetary formation in protoplanetary disks...
-
Astronomers Spot New Cosmic Explosions 100 Times Brighter Than the Sun
Astronomers have discovered a new class of cosmic explosions, known as 'millinovas,' which are 100 times brighter than the Sun. These events, first identified in 2023, were observed in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. The millinovas are thought to occur when white dwarfs feed off a companion star, prod...
-
James Webb Telescope Breaks Record with Discovery of Early Galaxies Dating 200 Million Years After Big Bang
The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted five galaxy candidates dating back to 200 million years after the Big Bang. These findings could transform our understanding of early cosmic evolution. Discovered via gravitational lensing, these galaxies, if confirmed, predate known formations and offer vital insights into the universe’s infancy. Scient...
