All articles tagged with #cosmic phenomena
Astronomers have identified that luminous fast blue optical transients (LFBOTs), including the recent bright event AT 2024wpp, are caused by a black hole tearing apart a massive star, rather than traditional supernovae, providing new insights into extreme stellar interactions and black hole formation.
Caltech researchers may have discovered the first superkilonova, a rare event where a star explodes twice in different ways, involving the formation of low-mass neutron stars within a supernova, followed by their merger producing a kilonova, challenging previous understanding of stellar explosions.
The article highlights the top space images of 2025, including stunning photos of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as a cosmic rainbow, a skydiver in front of the sun, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's first images, a planetary parade, and various other celestial phenomena, showcasing the year's most breathtaking astronomical captures.
The article reveals unsettling science facts that challenge our understanding of safety, control, and the universe, highlighting the limitations of scientific knowledge, environmental dangers, biological threats, and cosmic events that could have catastrophic consequences.
Neutrinos, often called 'ghost particles,' are abundant, nearly massless particles that pass through Earth unnoticed, yet they hold key insights into the universe's origins and evolution. Scientists are working to better understand their properties and roles in cosmic events through innovative research and science communication efforts, such as the SPARC program, which aims to make complex scientific concepts accessible to the public.
Researchers at Seoul National University have demonstrated multiscale coupling in plasma, revealing how microscopic magnetic ripples can induce large-scale structural changes, with significant implications for fusion energy technology and understanding cosmic phenomena, marking a major breakthrough in plasma physics.
Astronomers have observed a rare series of repeating gamma-ray bursts, lasting much longer than typical bursts and originating outside our galaxy, which could reveal new insights into the death of stars and extreme cosmic events. The cause remains uncertain, with theories including unusual supernovae or star-black hole interactions, and ongoing observations aim to uncover more about these extraordinary phenomena.
Astronomers discovered an unusual Einstein Cross with a fifth, unexplained image caused by a massive dark matter halo, revealing new insights into dark matter and gravitational lensing, and highlighting the universe's hidden structures.
The article explores the space-themed art in the Magic: The Gathering set 'Edge of Eternities', featuring insights from astrophysicist Zoe Le Conte on cosmic phenomena like black holes, supernovae, and megastructures, highlighting the blend of science and fantasy in the game's visuals.
A star has been observed escaping a supermassive black hole and returning for a second encounter, challenging previous understanding of tidal disruption events and suggesting some black holes may partially consume stars rather than fully destroy them. The discovery raises questions about the nature of these flares and whether stars can survive multiple close encounters with black holes, potentially rewriting theories about black hole-star interactions.
Scientists have discovered cold hydrogen clouds inside the hot, high-energy Fermi bubbles at the center of the Milky Way, suggesting these structures are much younger than previously thought, and raising questions about how such cold gas survives in extreme environments.
Astronomers from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research have discovered a unique cosmic event, GLEAM-X J0704-37, characterized by long-period radio transients occurring every three hours. Detected in the Puppis constellation, this phenomenon is linked to a binary system involving an M dwarf and a white dwarf, potentially explaining the energy emissions. This finding opens new research avenues and highlights the potential of archival data from the Murchison Widefield Array in uncovering cosmic mysteries.
A new theoretical study suggests that primordial black holes, formed in the early universe, may have left detectable signatures in the form of hollow planetoids or microscopic tunnels in everyday materials on Earth. These black holes, potentially constituting dark matter, could have consumed the liquid cores of celestial bodies or passed through solid materials, leaving behind tunnels. The study, co-led by the University at Buffalo, proposes searching old rocks and buildings for these signatures, offering a low-cost method to potentially confirm the existence of primordial black holes.
A mysterious radio signal, FRB 20190203, detected by a Russian telescope from a galaxy 2.3 billion light-years away, has reignited speculation about extraterrestrial life. This Fast Radio Burst (FRB) is notable for its intense energy and low detection frequency, and unlike many FRBs, it has not repeated, adding to its mystery. While theories suggest natural origins like magnetars, the possibility of it being a technosignature from an advanced civilization remains. Further research is needed to understand this enigmatic signal.
The 2024 solar eclipse at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway brought together people from various walks of life to witness the celestial event, each experiencing it in their own unique way. From emotional connections to the past, to scientific observations and a sense of shared wonder, the eclipse left a lasting impact on those who gathered to witness the rare phenomenon. The event served as a reminder of the beauty and vastness of the universe, connecting individuals through a shared experience of something truly special and existential.