Quasi-periodic oscillations detected in pulsar LMC X-4
Using ESA's XMM-Newton telescope, Indian astronomers have performed X-ray observations of a binary X-ray pulsar known as LMC X-4. The observational campaign resulted in the detection of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in this source. The finding i.....»»
If rogue planets are everywhere, how could we explore them?
At one time, astronomers believed that the planets formed in their current orbits, which remained stable over time. But more recent observations, theory, and calculations have shown that planetary systems are subject to shake-ups and change. Periodic.....»»
The PLATO mission could be the most successful planet hunter ever, scientists believe
In 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) will launch its next-generation exoplanet-hunting mission, the PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO)......»»
Tailoring quantum oscillations of a Bose-Einstein condensate of excitons as qubits
What plagues quantum upscaling? Most quantum computing devices are dependent on using complex physical phenomena that are either very short-lived (~10-12 seconds) and/or only survive at ultra-low temperatures (e.g., 10-3 to 10-6 Kelvin) and/or requir.....»»
Two additional exoplanets detected in a nearby planetary system
By conducting radial velocity (RV) follow-up observations of the GJ 367 planetary system with the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS), an international team of astronomers has detected two additional alien worlds, at least four time.....»»
PFAS detected in blood of horses and dogs too near factory in eastern North Carolina
Debra Stewart walked toward a horse paddock with a bag of carrots in hand. Whisper, a splashed chocolate and white paint horse, met her at the fence......»»
Social media roundup: CSAM on Mastodon; Zuckerberg faces contempt charge; Twitter’s bank plans
An investigation by the Stanford Internet Observatory has found worrying volumes of CSAM on Mastodon. Of particular concern is that the child sexual abuse material included many known examples that should have been automatically detected by digital.....»»
Spontaneous quasi-crystal self-assembly observed using tiny vibrating magnetic spheres
A team of physicists at Université Paris-Saclay has, for the first time, observed spontaneous quasi-crystal self-assembly. The observation occurred during an experiment they were conducting with tiny vibrating magnetic spheres. The team has written.....»»
A tailor-made magnetic vortex: A closer look at a special kind of quasiparticle
Skyrmions are microscopic magnetic vortices that can form in certain materials. First detected in 2009, they are of interest to researchers because they could be harnessed for new forms of data storage. As theoreticians predicted, there are also so-c.....»»
Does this exoplanet have a "sibling" sharing the same orbit?
Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers have found the possible "sibling" of a planet orbiting a distant star. The team has detected a cloud of debris that might be sharing this planet's orbit, which they believe co.....»»
Researchers operating Gamma-ray Burst Monitor discover brightest gamma-ray burst ever detected
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has announced that three researchers associated with the UAH Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR) have discovered a gamma-ray burst (GRB) approximately 2.4 billion light-years away in th.....»»
New tidal disruption event discovered by Chinese astronomers
Astronomers from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei report the discovery of a new faint tidal disruption event (TDE). The newfound TDE, designated AT 2023clx is the faintest and closest optical TDE so far detected. The finding.....»»
Detecting nanoplastics in fractions of a second using modified Raman spectroscopy
Microplastics are tiny, barely visible plastic particles that can harm the environment, for example, if they are eaten by animals. However, it has been difficult to assess the effect of even smaller particles, which can hardly be detected using conve.....»»
We"ve detected a star barely hotter than a pizza oven—the coldest ever found to emit radio waves
We have identified the coldest star ever found to produce radio waves—a brown dwarf too small to be a regular star and too massive to be a planet......»»
Astronomers observe subpulse drifting and nulling of pulsar PSR J0026–1955
Using the upgraded Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (uGMRT), astronomers from India and Australia have performed radio observations of a pulsar known as PSR J0026–1955. Results of the observational campaign, published July 5 on the preprint server a.....»»
Microsoft takes pains to obscure role in 0-days that caused email breach
Critics also decry Microsoft's "pay-to-play" monitoring that detected intrusions. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Aurich Lawson) On Friday, Microsoft attempted to explain the cause of a breach that gave hackers working f.....»»
Astronomers discover a luminous nuclear transient
Using NASA's Swift spacecraft, an international team of astronomers has discovered a luminous and slowly-evolving nuclear transient event. The origin of the newly detected transient, designated Swift J221951-484240, is yet to be determined. The findi.....»»
New breakthrough shows how short pulses of light destroy particles
Polaritons are a peculiar state, a kind of quasi-particles consisting of part-light and part-matter that can bring unexpected abilities to conventional chemical reactions. New research from Umeå University and others reveals that when the polaritons.....»»
Impact of film thickness in laser-induced periodic structures on amorphous Si films
Since the scientists at Bell Labs invented the world's first transistor in December 1947, a revolution in microelectronics technology has profoundly affected lifestyles worldwide. As electronics get smaller and smaller, it is a challenge to find an e.....»»
Astronomers use dead stars to measure gravitational waves produced by ancient black holes
An international team of astronomers has detected a faint signal of gravitational waves reverberating through the universe. By using dead stars as a giant network of gravitational wave detectors, the collaboration—called NANOGrav—was able to meas.....»»
Astronomers puzzled by "planet that shouldn"t exist"
The search for planets outside our solar system—exoplanets—is one of the most rapidly growing fields in astronomy. Over the past few decades, more than 5,000 exoplanets have been detected and astronomers now estimate that on average there is at l.....»»