Using the shadows of clusters to measure the universe
Astronomers have begun using a sophisticated suite of simulations, an advanced machine learning model of the formation of galaxy clusters, and an exotic relationship between galaxies to understand the origins of dark matter and dark energy......»»
A three-step mechanism explaining ultraviolet-induced CO desorption from CO ice
The desorption of CO ice induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a phenomenon that occurs in some cold parts of the universe, which has often also been replicated in laboratory settings. While this phenomenon is now well-documented, the molecular me.....»»
First prehistoric person with Turner syndrome identified from ancient DNA
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, working with University of Oxford, University of York and Oxford Archaeology, have developed a new technique to measure the number of chromosomes in ancient genomes more precisely, using it to identify the.....»»
"Stellar paternity tests" match orphaned stars to their Milky Way origins
In the chaotic environment of open star clusters, strong gravitational interactions between bodies can launch individual stars far outside the cluster, even outside our galaxy, the Milky Way. Now, for the first time researchers have mapped several of.....»»
Unexpectedly massive black holes dominate small galaxies in the distant universe
Astronomers have discovered that the supermassive black holes in the centers of early galaxies are much more massive than expected. These surprisingly hefty black holes offer new insights into the origins of all supermassive black holes, as well as t.....»»
Dark energy is one of the biggest puzzles in science and we"re now a step closer to understanding it
Over ten years ago, the Dark Energy Survey (DES) began mapping the universe to find evidence that could help us understand the nature of the mysterious phenomenon known as dark energy. I'm one of more than 100 contributing scientists that have helped.....»»
Meat and dairy industry"s attempt to change how we measure methane emissions would let polluters off the hook
Lobbyists from major polluting industries were out in force at the recent UN climate summit, COP28. Groups representing the livestock industry, which is responsible for around 32% of global methane emissions, want to increase their use of a new way o.....»»
Shadows and greenness: Uncovering satellite biases in viewing Earth"s vegetation
For decades, scientists have used satellite data to assess the health and greenness of Earth's vegetation. These data have influenced our understanding and decision-making on pressing issues from sustainable crop production to climate change......»»
Space oddity: Uncovering the origin of the universe"s rare radio circles
It's not every day astronomers say, "What is that?" After all, most observed astronomical phenomena are known: stars, planets, black holes and galaxies. But in 2019 the newly completed ASKAP (Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder) telescope pi.....»»
Scientists flip around gravitational-wave data analysis: Have LIGO and Virgo detected a merger of dark-matter stars?
Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime that travel at the speed of light. These are produced in some of the most violent events in the universe, such as black-hole mergers, supernovae, or the Big Bang itself. Since their first det.....»»
5 most anticipated HBO and Max shows of 2024
The five most anticipated HBO and Max TV shows of 2024 include The Sympathizer, a series set in The Batman universe, and True Detective: Night Country......»»
Experimental antibiotic kills deadly superbug, opens whole new class of drugs
The relatively large molecule clogs a transport system, leading to lethal toxicity. Enlarge / This Scanning Electron Microscope image depicts several clusters of aerobic Gram-negative, non-motile Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria.....»»
How much detail is too much? Midjourney v6 attempts to find out
As Midjourney rolls out new features, it continues to make some artists furious. Enlarge / An AI-generated image of a "Beautiful queen of the universe looking at the camera in sci-fi armor, snow and particles flowing, fire in the.....»»
How a small town in Japan fiercely defends its dark skies
Light pollution ruins dark skies. It's a scourge that ground-based observatories have to deal with in one form or another. Scientists used a small observatory in Japan to measure what changed when a nearby town improved its lighting practices. They a.....»»
The early universe was surprisingly filled with spiral galaxies, research suggests
If we could travel far beyond our galaxy, and look back upon the Milky Way, it would be a glorious sight. Luminous spirals stretching from a central core, with dust and nebulae scattered along the spiral edges. When you think about a galaxy, you prob.....»»
The zaï technique: How farmers in the Sahel grow crops with little to no water
Hubert Reeves once wrote that "on the cosmic scale, liquid water is rarer than gold". And what is true for the universe is even truer in the Sahel, the name given to the vast, arid belt that skirts the Sahara and stretches across Africa from east to.....»»
What’s new on Netflix and what’s leaving in January 2024
Netflix's January 2024 lineup includes Fool Me Once, Bitconned, This Is Us, Aquaman, Masters of the Universe: Revolution, and the first three John Wick films......»»
Meet the infrared telescopes that paved the way for NASA"s Webb
The Webb telescope has opened a new window onto the universe, but it builds on missions going back 40 years, including Spitzer and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite......»»
Further evidence for quark-matter cores in massive neutron stars
Neutron-star cores contain matter at the highest densities reached in our present-day universe, with as much as two solar masses of matter compressed inside a sphere of 25 km in diameter. These astrophysical objects can indeed be thought of as giant.....»»
What’s next for the DC Universe after Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Now that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has ended the DC Extended Universe, it's a good time to break down what's next for DC Studios......»»
Ancient stars could make elements with atomic masses greater than 260
The first stars of the universe were monstrous beasts. Comprised only of hydrogen and helium, they could be 300 times more massive than the sun. Within them, the first of the heavier elements were formed, then cast off into the cosmos at the end of t.....»»