Distant quasar J0439+1634 explored in X-rays
Using ESA's XMM-Newton spacecraft, an international team of astronomers has conducted X-ray observations of the most distant known gravitationally lensed quasar—J0439+1634. Results of the study, published December 20 on the arXiv pre-print server,.....»»
Early Earth was bombarded by series of city-sized asteroids
Scientists know that the Earth was bombarded by huge impactors in distant time, but a new analysis suggests that the number of these impacts may have been 10 times higher than previously thought. This translates into a barrage of collisions—similar.....»»
New fossil sheds light on the evolution of how dinosaurs breathed
An international team of scientists has used high-powered X-rays at the European Synchrotron, the ESRF, to show how an extinct South African dinosaur, Heterodontosaurus tucki, breathed. The study is published in eLife on 6 July 2021......»»
A new understanding of patterns in fluid flow
Scientists have explored, for the first time, the viscous fingering (VF, one of classical interfacial hydrodynamics) of an annular ring, where 'fingers' in a fluid of finite volume grow radially, through a combination of experiment and numerical simu.....»»
The mystery of heavy elements in galactic cosmic rays
Scientists have used data from the Southwest Research Institute-led Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to explain the presence of energetic heavy elements in galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). GCRs are composed of fast-moving energetic particles, most.....»»
Galaxy cluster Abell 3158 inspected in X-rays
Astronomers from the University of Bonn, Germany and elsewhere have used the eROSITA telescope onboard the Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) mission to perform X-rays observations of a nearby galaxy cluster known as Abell 3158. Results of this observatio.....»»
Smart technology is not making us dumber: study
There are plenty of negatives associated with smart technology—tech neck, texting and driving, blue light rays—but there is also a positive: the digital age is not making us stupid, says University of Cincinnati social/behavioral expert Anthony C.....»»
Tourism, wind-transported metal pollution threaten drinking water around Everest
Increased local tourism and toxic substances transported to glaciers from distant locales can contribute to high concentrations of human-sourced metal pollution in snow and streams around Mount Everest that is likely degrading the quality of water us.....»»
Managing attention deficit disorder by training the brain
Scientists explored a technique called 'neurofeedback,' which enables ADHD patients to train their attention, based on instant feedback from the level of their brain activity. The team of neuroscientists found that not only did the training have a po.....»»
Searching 230-Million-Year-Old Poop, Scientists Find a New Beetle
A new species emerged from three-dimensional x-rays of droppings left by a close dinosaur relative -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Unique use of ESA spacecraft "housekeeping" data reveals cosmic ray behaviour
Using data originally gathered for spacecraft 'housekeeping' aboard ESA's Rosetta and Mars Express missions, scientists have revealed how intense bursts of high-energy radiation, known as cosmic rays, behave at Mars and throughout the inner solar sys.....»»
A Black Hole Feasted on a Neutron Star. 10 Days Later, It Happened Again.
In January last year, astronomers definitively observed, for the first time, a black hole swallowing a dead star, like a raven devouring roadkill. Then 10 days later, they saw the same act of scavenging happen again in a different, distant sector of.....»»
Massive quiescent galaxy found in a distant protocluster
Using the Keck I telescope, Japanese astronomers have identified a massive quiescent galaxy in a distant galaxy protocluster known as SSA22. The galaxy, designated ADF22-QG1, turns out to be the most distant quiescent galaxy in a protocluster to date.....»»
Duolingo filed to go public
Duolingo, a Pittsburgh-based language learning business last valued at $2.4 billion, has officially filed to go public. The 400-person company, which we explored in great detail in our EC-1, was co-founded by Luis von Ahn, the inventor of CAPTCHA and.....»»
Duolingo just filed to go public
Duolingo, a Pittsburgh-based language learning business last valued at $2.4 billion, has officially filed to go public. The 400-person company, which we explored in great detail in our EC-1, was co-founded by Luis von Ahn, the inventor of CAPTCHA and.....»»
Could life exist in the atmosphere of a sub-Neptune planet?
Earth is perfectly suited for organic life. It stands to reason then that similar worlds orbiting distant stars might also be rich with life. But proving it will be a challenge. One of the better ways to discover extraterrestrial life will be to stud.....»»
Scientists focus on cone targets to enhance temperature of electron beams
Intense short-pulse laser-driven production of bright high-energy sources, such as X-rays, neutrons and protons, has been shown to be an invaluable tool in the study of high energy density science......»»
A massive protocluster of merging galaxies in the early universe
Submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) are a class of the most luminous, distant, and rapidly star-forming galaxies known and can shine brighter than a trillion Suns (about one hundred times more luminous in total than the Milky Way). They are generally hard.....»»
NASA"s Webb Telescope will use quasars to unlock the secrets of the early universe
Quasars are very bright, distant and active supermassive black holes that are millions to billions of times the mass of the Sun. Typically located at the centers of galaxies, they feed on infalling matter and unleash fantastic torrents of radiation......»»
New research adds a wrinkle to our understanding of the origins of matter in the Milky Way
New findings published this week in Physical Review Letters suggest that carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen cosmic rays travel through the galaxy toward Earth in a similar way, but, surprisingly, that iron arrives at Earth differently. Learning more about.....»»
SpaceX Starlink internet could be coming to an airline near you
In the not-too-distant future your in-flight internet may be supplied by SpaceX's Starlink service, according to comments made this week by a company executive......»»