Tag

Dust

All articles tagged with #dust

science4 days ago•5 min saved

Webb Unmasks Progenitor of Nearby Supernova in NGC 1637

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, combined with archival Hubble data, identified the red supergiant star that exploded as supernova SN 2025pht in the galaxy NGC 1637—Webb’s first published detection of a supernova progenitor. The progenitor appeared unusually red due to surrounding dust, supporting ideas that dusty, massive stars can be missed in pre-explosion imaging. The dust is likely carbon-rich, prompting future searches for similar progenitors, including with the upcoming Roman Space Telescope.

via NASA Science (.gov)|

#dust #ngc-1637 #red-supergiant

local-news9 days ago•2 min saved

Dusty winds trigger deadly 30-vehicle crash on I-25 near Pueblo

A major pile-up on southbound I-25 near Pueblo, Colorado, involved more than 30 vehicles in heavy wind and blowing dust, leaving at least four dead; I-25 was shut in both directions and the crash is under investigation as weather advisories warn of significant blowing dust with gusts to 65 mph on the plains.

via ABC7 Chicago|

#colorado #dust #fatalities

science22 days ago•11 min saved

Astronomers spot a red supergiant's rapid changes hinting at a secret stellar companion

Astronomers monitoring WOH G64, a red supergiant in the Large Magellanic Cloud, report real-time changes: the star has dimmed and appears warmer, while its surroundings show more dust and ionized gas. New SALT observations hint at a hotter, smaller companion heating gas near the star and influencing its wind, suggesting binary interaction. If this relationship persists, the star’s visible characteristics could continue to shift, offering a rare live view of the final stages in a massive star’s life.

via The Conversation|

#astronomy #dust #large-magellanic-cloud

science4 months ago•4 min saved

Webb Telescope Reveals Final Moments of Dust-Obscured Red Supergiant

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the first detailed image of a red supergiant star before it exploded as a supernova, revealing that many such stars are hidden behind thick dust layers, which obscures them from optical telescopes. This discovery helps explain the previously observed scarcity of luminous red supergiants in pre-explosion images and provides new insights into the life cycle of massive stars.

via Space|

#dust #jwst #ngc-1637

science5 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Confirm Dust's Role in Cloud Freezing, Impacting Climate Models

New research demonstrates that dust significantly influences cloud freezing, with satellite data showing regions with more dust have more ice-topped clouds, which could impact climate models by affecting how clouds reflect sunlight and trap heat.

via ZME Science|

#climate-change #clouds #dust

weather6 months ago•2 min saved

Burning Man 2025 Faces Dust Storms, Thunder, and Long Waits

Attendees at this year's Burning Man in Nevada's Black Rock Desert are facing challenging weather conditions, including dust storms, wind, and potential thunderstorms with hail, although some rain has helped reduce dust. The weather is expected to improve by Thursday, providing relief before the event concludes next Monday. Participants are advised to monitor forecasts and prepare for hazardous conditions.

via NPR|

#burning-man #dust #hail

science7 months ago•4 min saved

Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Image of Dying Star Nebula

A new Webb telescope image reveals a spectacular spiral nebula around two Wolf-Rayet stars in the Apep system, providing insights into star death and cosmic dust formation, and uncovering a third star influencing the nebula's shape.

via The Conversation|

#apep #dust #nebula

science8 months ago•3 min saved

Hubble Uncovers Mysteries of Uranus's Moons and Rings

New observations from the Hubble Space Telescope reveal that Uranus's largest moons are not showing the expected radiation damage from the planet's warped magnetic field; instead, dust accumulation from micrometeorites is darkening their leading sides, suggesting a more complex interaction between Uranus's magnetic environment and its moons. The inner moons appear unaffected, and further studies with the James Webb Space Telescope are planned to better understand these phenomena.

via Space|

#dust #hubble-telescope #magnetic-field

space1 year ago•4 min saved

"Hidden Galaxy Revealed: Hubble's Stunning Discovery"

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of the galaxy IC 4633 partially obscured by a dark nebula, revealing a bustling, star-forming galaxy with an active galactic nucleus. The dark dust blocking the view is part of a star-forming region called Chamaeleon, located closer to Earth than the galaxy. Astronomers are using data from both Hubble and ground-based instruments to study the galaxy and the role of cosmic dust in processes like star formation.

via Digital Trends|

#dark-nebula #dust #galaxy

health-and-lifestyle2 years ago•5 min saved

"Unveiling the Hidden Filth: The Shoeless Door Dilemma"

Requiring guests to take off their shoes at the door can help limit the spread of germs and potentially toxic dust in the home. Studies have shown that shoes can carry bacteria, including fecal material, as well as heavy metals and pesticide residues from outdoor environments. To minimize these risks, experts recommend keeping the home as dust-free as possible, using wet mops and damp cloths for cleaning, and vacuuming carpeted areas with HEPA filters. Providing washable slippers or nonslip socks for guests can also be a thoughtful gesture.

via The Mercury News|

#dust #germs #health-and-lifestyle

science-and-astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

"Shape-shifting Centaur: Icy Object's Rings Undergo Astonishing Transformation"

The Centaur object 2060 Chiron, a captured cometary object that orbits between Jupiter and Neptune, has been found to have a transforming disk of dust around it that changes shape and can mimic rings. Observations during stellar occultations in 2011 and 2018 revealed the presence of dusty material at different distances from Chiron's center, suggesting an evolving system rather than stable rings. Another Centaur, 10199 Chariklo, was previously shown to have rings, but the findings at Chiron raise questions about the nature of the structures around Chariklo as well. The origin and composition of the material around Chiron remain unknown.

via Space.com|

#centaur #chiron #dust

science-and-environment2 years ago•8 min saved

Unveiling the Hidden Wonders of Dust

Dust, composed of tiny flying particles, is a complex and ubiquitous substance that has both positive and negative impacts on our world. It nourishes life, contributes to climate change by darkening and heating ice and snow, and can be toxic when contaminated with microplastics or irradiated by nuclear bombs. Dust is intertwined with human activities such as land use changes and industrialization, leading to disastrous consequences like the Dust Bowl and air pollution. The invention of clean rooms, enabled by HEPA filters, has revolutionized modern technology by providing a controlled environment free of particles that could interfere with delicate processes. Dust's role in climate change is multifaceted, as it can both reflect sunlight and trap heat, and its interactions with clouds and ice contribute to feedback loops that amplify warming.

via WIRED|

#air-pollution #clean-rooms #climate-change

astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

Hidden Supermassive Black Holes: Unveiling the Secrets of Star-Birthing Galaxies

Supermassive black holes, known as quasars, can be hidden at the center of starburst galaxies behind walls of gas and dust, according to a study by researchers at Durham University. These quasars, powered by black holes, emit powerful light that can be obscured by the surrounding material. The study found that the quasars are more likely to be located in galaxies undergoing intense star formation, where the large amounts of gas and dust prevent the light from escaping. The findings suggest that there may be more quasars in the universe than previously believed, as many star-forming galaxies could be hiding active supermassive black holes at their centers.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #dust #galaxies

space2 years ago•2 min saved

The Color Mystery of Martian Sunsets

The blue sunsets on Mars are caused by the scattering of sunlight on the dust particles in its tenuous atmosphere, which allows blue light to pass through while scattering red light. This is the opposite of Earth, where blue light bounces off air molecules, giving our sky its characteristic hue. Mars's atmosphere is composed of carbon dioxide and has a lot of dust, which scatters red light and creates a cool blue hue during sunsets. Mars and Earth are unique places where atmospheric color changes at dusk and dawn can be observed.

via IFLScience|

#atmosphere #dust #mars

science2 years ago•2 min saved

Unveiling the Cause of the Dinosaurs' Demise: Dust and Asteroid Impact

Scientists have discovered that the impact of an asteroid that struck Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years ago, leading to the extinction of dinosaurs, may have been exacerbated by trillions of tons of dust propelled into the atmosphere. This dust caused a "global winter" by blocking out the sun's rays, resulting in a drop in global surface temperature and the collapse of the ecosystem. The study suggests that the asteroid's impact slowly killed off the dinosaurs over a few years, rather than immediately. The extinction event played a crucial role in the development of mammals, including humans, as the dominant organisms on Earth.

via The Independent|

#asteroid-impact #dinosaurs #dust