Tag Archives: Core

Webb Discovers Surprising Hydrocarbon Abundance in Mysterious Core of Nearby Luminous Galaxy

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Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have identified an extraordinary presence of small gas-phase hydrocarbons—such as benzene, triacetylene, diacetylene, acetylene, methane, and methyl radicals—within the concealed core of the ultra-bright infrared galaxy IRAS 07251-0248.

Hydrocarbons are influential in shaping the chemistry of the interstellar medium. However, definite observational constraints on their enrichment and relationship with carbonaceous particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons remain elusive. García Bernete et al. report Webb infrared observations of the Local Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxy (ULIRG) IRAS 07251-0248, revealing extragalactic detections of small gas-phase hydrocarbons. Image credit: García-Bernete et al., doi: 10.1038/s41550-025-02750-0.

The core of IRAS 07251-0248 (also known as 2MASS J07273756-0254540) is obscured by significant amounts of gas and dust.

This dense material absorbs most radiation emitted by the central supermassive black hole, complicating studies with traditional telescopes.

However, the infrared spectrum can penetrate this dust, providing unique insights about these regions and illuminating vital chemical processes in this heavily obscured core.

Dr. Ismael García Bernete and his team employed spectroscopic observations using Webb’s NIRSpec and MIRI instruments, covering wavelengths from 3 to 28 microns.

These observations reveal chemical signatures of gas-phase molecules alongside signatures from ice and dust particles.

These data empowered astronomers to characterize the abundance and temperature of various chemical species within the core of this concealed galaxy.

Remarkably, they discovered an exceptionally high abundance of small organic molecules such as benzene, methane, acetylene, diacetylene, and triacetylene—the first such detections outside our Milky Way, including the methyl radical.

Additionally, substantial amounts of solid molecular materials, including carbonaceous particles and water ice, were identified.

“We uncovered unexpected chemical complexity, showcasing abundances far exceeding current theoretical models,” stated Dr. García Bernete, an astronomer at the Astrobiology Center.

“This suggests a continuous source of carbon within these galactic nuclei, fueling this rich chemical network.”

“These molecules may serve as vital building blocks for complex organic chemistry, relevant to processes that pertain to life.”

Professor Dimitra Rigopoulou from the University of Oxford remarked, “Small organic molecules may not exist in living cells, yet they could play a pivotal role in prebiotic chemistry—a crucial step toward forming amino acids and nucleotides.”

These findings were published in a recent issue of Nature Astronomy.

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I. Garcia-Bernete et al. Abundant hydrocarbons within buried galactic nuclei with evidence of processing of carbonaceous particles and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Nat Astron, published online on February 8, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41550-025-02750-0

Source: www.sci.news

Should We Target the Asteroid Heading Toward the Moon as Our Core Initiative?

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What action should humanity take if an asteroid is heading toward the moon? Why not attempt to divert these celestial bodies before they collide? Should we neutralize it with a nuclear explosion?

These queries are examined in a recent paper authored by more than a dozen researchers, including NASA scientists. These scenarios aren’t merely theoretical: the asteroid known as 2024 YR4 is estimated to have a 4% chance of impacting the moon in 2032.

Such collisions could “spike levels of background radiation up to 1,000 times higher in just a few days, posing threats to astronauts and spacecraft in low-Earth orbit,” the researchers noted in their paper. The preprint on arXiv was published on September 15th but has yet to undergo peer review.

To prevent a potentially hazardous debris field, one approach is to use nuclear energy to neutralize the asteroid or, as scientists term it, create a “robust mess” before it reaches the moon.

Cue references from the “Armageddon” movie.

However, this approach carries significant risks, as it has never been tested for asteroid destruction using nuclear forces.

Crucial information about asteroid 2024 YR4 remains unknown, including its mass, which is vital for determining the most effective way to “destroy” it without unintentionally creating greater problems.

“If an explosion isn’t sufficient, just create a debris field anyway,” remarked Julie Brissett, interim director of the Florida Space Institute.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 was first identified in December by Chile’s Asteroid Land Impact Trajectory Store Alt System Station. NASA estimates it could be up to 220 feet in diameter, large enough to be categorized as a “city killer,” since it could severely damage an urban area or region on Earth.

Experts initially estimated a slim chance of asteroids hitting Earth, with an impact probability of 3% predicted earlier this year. However, subsequent analyses ruled out collisions with our planet.

Given that Earth appears to be safe, asteroid 2024 YR4 is considered to have an estimated 4.3% chance of impacting the moon.

The authors of a recent paper suggested launching a reconnaissance mission to study the asteroid and then developing an explosive device before deploying it for a space lock.

Alternatively, if a nuclear detonation is deemed too extreme for destruction, researchers will provide detailed strategies for steering the asteroid off course.

NASA has relevant experience; in 2022, its DART probe successfully altered its orbit by crashing into a small asteroid called Dimorphos. This test occurred 6.8 million miles from Earth, successfully redirecting Dimorphos and reducing its orbital period by 33 minutes, according to NASA.

However, for deflection efforts to succeed, Brissett noted that it’s crucial to ascertain the mass of asteroid 2024 YR4.

In response to an NBC News inquiry regarding NASA’s recent paper, Kelly Fast, the agency’s Planetary Defense Officer, stated that there are currently no plans to deflect the asteroid or intervene in its course.

Nevertheless, she indicated that a study is planned for early next year using the James Webb Space Telescope, aiming to yield insights into its trajectory.

“If we observe it, additional data could enhance our understanding of the asteroid’s position in December 2032,” Fast mentioned, “possibly reducing the impact probability to 0%.”

Even if missions, such as those discussed in the paper, can be executed, there are political dynamics to consider.

Currently, no astronauts or long-term habitats exist on the moon, though this may change. China, for instance, intends to send astronauts to the moon by 2030 and has discussed establishing a nuclear power plant there to support lunar bases in partnership with Russia.

The U.S. plans to conduct regular missions to the moon before NASA eventually targets Mars, but future missions and objectives remain uncertain due to notable budget cuts exceeding $6 billion in the NASA budget plan proposed by President Trump.

The use of nuclear devices in space could escalate tensions among the U.S., China, and other space-faring nations, potentially leading to disputes over which countries and agencies would spearhead or contribute to such projects, noted Brissett.

“It’s likely a country with the technical capability to do that,” she said, “narrowing it down to three or four, but the question remains: do they want to collaborate?”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Hubble Captures the Stellar Core of Messier 82

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Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured a new image of the central region of the Edge-on-Starburst Galaxy Messier 82.

This Hubble image displays Messier 82, a starburst irregular galaxy located 12 million light years away in the Ursa Major constellation. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/WD Vacca.

Messier 82 is situated roughly 12 million light years from the northern Ursa Major constellation.

Initially identified by German astronomer Johann Erard Bord in 1774, this galaxy spans about 40,000 light years.

Known as the Cigar Galaxy, Messier 82 features an elongated oval shape due to the tilt of its starry disc relative to our view.

This galaxy is renowned for its remarkable pace in star formation, generating stars at a rate ten times faster than that of the Milky Way.

“Messier 82 is home to a stunning star that shines through clouds of gas, dust, and clumps,” remarked the Hubble astronomer.

“It’s not surprising to find that the galaxy is so densely packed with stars.”

“Galaxies that produce stars at a rate ten times faster than the Milky Way are classified as Starburst Galaxies.”

“This vigorous starbursts phase has led to the emergence of superstar clusters at the galaxy’s core.”

“Each of these stellar clusters contains hundreds of thousands of stars, surpassing the brightness of ordinary star clusters.”

Astronomers have employed Hubble to investigate these vast clusters and understand their formation and evolution.

“The image reveals features that were previously unseen in earlier Hubble images of galaxies: data from the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) high-resolution channels,” they noted.

“The high-resolution channel is one of three sub-instruments of the ACS, which was installed in 2002.”

“After five years of operation, the high-resolution channel provided stunning, detailed observations of a dense stellar environment like the heart of the Starburst Galaxy.”

“Unfortunately, an electronic failure in 2007 rendered the high-resolution channel inoperative.”

Source: www.sci.news

What is Required to Rebuild Economics with Nature at its Core?

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Shrimp Harvesting on a Farm in Southeastern Vietnam

Quang Ngoc Nguyen/Alamy

About Natural Capital
Parta Dasgupta (Witness Book) (UK, now); Mariner’s Book (USA, January 20, 2026)

How do environmental hazards associated with production influence costs? What implications does that have for the nation’s economy? Can we quantify the significance of a healthy living environment and the biodiversity surrounding us?

In 2021, Partha Dasgupta, emeritus professor of economics at Cambridge University, authored a comprehensive 610-page report addressing these inquiries for the UK government. His latest work, About Natural Capital: The Value of the World Around Us, aims to broaden its accessibility.

Your opinion of Dasgupta’s success may hinge on your interest in an analytical exploration of economic concepts interspersed with engaging narratives. His core thesis asserts that GDP’s utility in measuring economic success is fundamentally inadequate. Historical advancements in living standards have primarily stemmed from human innovations; as Dasgupta notes, “entrepreneurs have prioritized labor and capital-saving devices over natural savings devices.”

This is particularly evident with the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, a hallmark of humanity’s quest for “labor and capital savings.” High-tech billionaires behind AI tout extraordinary productivity gains, yet the substantial water consumption for the cooling of associated data centers is often overlooked.

Dasgupta notes in his original report that from 1992 to 2014, per capita human capital (encompassing our health, education, and skills) rose by about 13% globally, while per capita natural capital plummeted by nearly 40%. To remedy this disparity, he champions the widespread adoption of a metric for “global wealth per person” that incorporates nature.

The narrative can be further expanded by examining shrimp farms in Vietnam and Bangladesh. Dasgupta elucidates how these operations adversely impact the “natural capital” of those nations, effects that remain unaccounted for in the retail price of shrimp. The establishment of shrimp farms typically necessitates the destruction of mangroves and salt marshes, reducing carbon storage capabilities.

Notably, around 30% of the diet for these shrimp consists of soybeans cultivated in plantations that replace tropical forests. Dasgupta references a case study suggesting that if true environmental costs were factored in, shrimp export prices might rise by 15-20%. Essentially, affluent nations purchasing shrimp may be receiving an unfair bargain.

While I do not profess expertise in economics, I am generally apprehensive about pursuing economic gains at the expense of significant environmental degradation. So, what are the actionable steps we can take? In a concise chapter, Dasgupta proposes a method to value nature adequately. This could involve collecting fees from shipping companies navigating global waters, with proceeds allocated towards job creation to alleviate pressures on ecosystems worldwide.

These concepts resonate intuitively for me, but I find myself seeking more detailed explanations. Dasgupta alludes to the challenges of achieving collective agreement and the lack of enthusiasm surrounding global shipping fees. This is an area where I wished he presented a more impassioned argument. While his ideas are captivating, they lack the urgency many readers might desire.

About Natural Capital provokes a reevaluation of economic perspectives, though I yearn for a more emotive approach. Perhaps this expectation is excessive for such a publication, yet I remain concerned that crucial messages may not resonate with a broader audience.

Jason Arun Mruguez is a writer based in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Observations Indicate OJ 287 Galaxy May Host an Ultra-Massive Black Hole Binary at Its Core

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Utilizes data from 10m space-based wireless telescopes, including Radioastron. Astronomers have formed a network of 27 ground observation stations focused on OJ 287, a galaxy approximately 5 billion light-years distant from the Cancer constellations.

This image of OJ 287 reveals the sharply curved ribbon-like structure of the plasma jet emitted from its center. Image credits: Efthalia Traianou / Heidelberg University / IWR.

“Among the different types of active galactic nuclei, BL Lacertae (BL LAC) objects are notable for their rapid, large-amplitude variability and significant polarization across multiple wavelengths due to relativistic jets aligned closely with our line of sight.”

“A standout example of this subclass is OJ 287, characterized by a redshift of z = 0.306.”

Optical observations of OJ 287 have yielded an extensive light curve extending back to the 1880s, covering nearly 150 years.

This comprehensive dataset has uncovered periodic brightness variations, featuring marked 60-year cycles and notable high-brightness flares with recurrent double peaks occurring approximately every 12 years.

These periodic changes can be attributed to the presence of a binary supermassive black hole system, where secondary supermassive black holes follow eccentric precession paths around the more massive primary.

“The level of detail in the new images allows us to see the structure of the OJ 287 Galaxy like never before,” stated Dr. Traianou.

“The images penetrate deep into the galaxy’s center, revealing the jet’s sharply curved ribbon-like structure.”

“This also provides new insights into the composition and dynamics of plasma jets.”

“Certain regions exceed temperatures of 10 trillion Kelvin, indicating the release of extreme energy and movement near the black hole.”

Astronomers have also monitored the development, dispersion, and interactions of new shock waves along the jet, linking them to energies in the range of trillions of electron volts from rare gamma-ray observations made in 2017.

Using Radioastron and 27 terrestrial observatories, they captured images of OJ 287 across the radio spectrum.

The imaging relies on measurement techniques that utilize overlapping waves related to the properties of light waves.

“Interference measurement images bolster the hypothesis that a binary supermassive black hole resides within OJ 287,” the researchers commented.

“This also offers critical insights on how these black holes influence the shape and direction of the emitted plasma jet.”

“These unique characteristics position the galaxy as an ideal candidate for further studies on black hole mergers and associated gravitational waves.”

Survey results will be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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E. Traianou et al. 2025. Reveal ribbon-like jets on OJ 287 via Radioastron. A&A 700, A16; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202554929

Source: www.sci.news

Webb Focuses on the Core of Messier 82

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Astronomers utilized the mid-infrared instrument (Miri) on the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to capture breathtaking infrared images of the heart of Messier 82, an edge-on starburst galaxy located approximately 12 million light-years away.

This Webb/Miri image highlights the central region of the Starburst Galaxy Messier 82. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/Webb/A. Bolatto.

Messier 82 is positioned higher in the Northern Spring Sky, situated within the Ursa Major constellation’s direction.

The galaxy was first identified by German astronomer Johann Erard Bord in 1774 and is estimated to be around 40,000 light-years old.

Messier 82 is also referred to as the Cigar Galaxy due to its elongated oval shape, a result of the tilt of its stellar disk relative to our perspective.

Known for its exceptional rate of star formation, galaxies like Messier 82 generate stars ten times faster than our Milky Way.

“Though smaller than the Milky Way, Messier 82 is five times as luminous and creates stars at a rate 10 times greater,” the Webb astronomers noted.

“Classified as a Starburst Galaxy, Messier 82 is particularly active in its center, producing new stars at an accelerated pace compared to other galaxies of its size.”

In visible light images, the central region’s intense activity is concealed by a thick veil of dust clouds, but Webb’s infrared capabilities allow it to penetrate this obscuring layer and unveil the hidden dynamism.

“The reason for the star formation surge in Messier 82 likely lies with its gravitational interactions with the neighboring Spiral Galaxy Messier 81,” the astronomers remarked.

“These interactions directed gas towards the center of Messier 82 millions of years ago.”

“This influx of gas supplied essential materials for new star formation, resulting in Messier 82’s distinct structure! The galaxy boasts over 100 superstar clusters.”

“Superstar clusters are larger and more luminous than normal star clusters, each containing approximately 100,000 stars.”

Earlier Webb images of Messier 82, utilizing data from the telescope’s near-infrared camera (Nircam), were made public in 2024.

These images concentrated on the galaxy’s core, where individual clusters of young stars contrasted with gas clumps and tendrils.

The latest images from Webb’s Miri instruments provide an astonishing, almost starless view of Messier 82.

“Instead, these images highlight warm dust and a complex cloud of sooted organic molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),” the researchers explained.

“Emissions from PAH molecules trace the expansive runoff of the galaxy, propelled by intense radiation and winds from the hot young stars within the central superstar cluster.”

“Superstar clusters are responsible for Messier 82’s powerful galactic winds, which may signal the conclusion of the galaxy’s Starburst period. These winds, transforming into massive waves in intergalactic space, carry the cool gas necessary for further star formation.”

Source: www.sci.news

Hidden Plumes in Earth’s Mantle May Drain Heat from the Core

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The Al Haja Mountains of Oman

l_b_photography/shutterstock

Researchers have discovered the first known “ghost plume” beneath Oman, suggesting a column of hot rock rising from the lower mantle with no visible volcanic activity on the surface.

The mantle plume is a mysterious intrusion of molten rock believed to transfer heat from the core-mantle boundary to the Earth’s surface, sometimes occurring beneath the heart of continental plates, as seen in regions like Yellowstone and East Africa. Notably, “these scenarios typically feature surface volcanoes,” states Simone Pilia from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. Oman lacks such volcanic indicators.

Pilia first hypothesized the existence of this “accidental” plume while examining new seismic data from Oman. The analysis revealed that seismic waves from distant earthquakes travel more slowly through a cylindrical region beneath eastern Oman, indicating it is less dense than surrounding materials due to elevated temperatures.

Additional independent seismic assessments identified critical boundaries where Earth’s deep minerals undergo changes that align with the hot plume’s characteristics. This evidence suggests the plume extends over 660 km from the surface.

The presence of these plumes also explains why the region continues to elevate despite geological compression, a process where the crust is squeezed together. This discovery fits models that explain alterations in Indian tectonic plate movements.

“The more evidence we collected, the more convinced we became it was a plume,” remarks Pilia, who has named this geological feature the “Dinni plume” after her son.

“It’s plausible that this plume exists,” agrees Saskia Goes at Imperial College London, adding that this study is “thorough.” Nevertheless, she emphasizes that identifying narrow plumes is notoriously challenging.

If verified, the existence of a “ghost plume” trapped within Oman’s relatively thick rocky layers suggests there might be others. “We are confident that the Dinni plume is not alone,” says Pilia.

If multiple hidden plumes exist, it could indicate that heat from the core is transferring more readily through the mantle in these regions, influencing our understanding of Earth’s evolutionary history.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Research Indicates Vesta Lacks a Metal Core

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A recent analysis of data from NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft indicates that Vesta, the second-largest asteroid in our solar system, has not fully differentiated into a metallic core, silicate mantle, or basaltic crust.

NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft studied Vesta from July 2011 to September 2012. The towering mountains of Antarctica, more than twice the height of Mount Everest, can be seen at the bottom of the image. A set of three craters known as ‘snowmen’ can be found in the top left. Image credits: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA.

First discovered by Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers on March 29, 1807, Vesta is the only significant asteroid visible to the naked eye.

It completes a rotation in 5.34 hours, orbits the Sun in 3.63 years, and has an elongated shape with dimensions of 286 x 279 x 223 km.

Due to its substantial size, Vesta is regarded as a differentiated body with a core and mantle, similar to our own planet.

“There has been significant effort put into this research,” noted Dr. Seth Jacobson, a researcher from Michigan State University, along with his colleagues.

“One possibility is that Vesta has undergone incomplete differentiation, meaning it initiated the necessary melting process to create distinct layers such as a core, mantle, and crust, but never completed it.”

“Another theory suggests that Vesta is a fragment of a larger body that contributed to the formation of planets in the solar system.”

“The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has played a crucial role in this research,” explained Dr. Ryan Park, a senior research scientist and principal engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“After nearly ten years of advancements in calibration and processing technology, we have achieved remarkable consistency between the Dawn spacecraft’s Deep Space Network data and its onboard imaging data.”

“We were eager to see the strength of the data in revealing Vesta’s deep interior.”

“Our findings suggest that Vesta’s history is far more complex than previously thought, influenced by unique processes such as interrupted planetary differentiation and late-stage collisions.”

Celestial bodies with dense cores behave differently from those without cores.

With this newfound understanding, researchers assessed Vesta’s rotation and gravitational field.

The findings indicate that Vesta’s behavior contradicts previous notions about core formation.

“To confirm whether Vesta is an ancient remnant from a planetary formation, we need to develop more models and refine our analyses,” stated Dr. Jacobson.

“Scientists can also adapt their methodologies for studying Vesta’s materials to delve deeper into both hypotheses.”

“Further research can be conducted using innovative approaches to the Dawn mission data.”

“Our publications mark the beginning of a new research direction and could fundamentally alter how scientists perceive differentiated worlds.”

Read the paper published in the journal Natural Astronomy.

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RS Park et al. Vesta’s small core is inferred from Dawn’s observations. Nature Astronomy published online on April 23, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02533-7

Source: www.sci.news

Explaining Mars’ one-sided magnetic field with the liquid inner core

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Recent measurements from NASA’s insight mission show that Mars’ core is less dense than previously believed planetary scientists. This shows that Mars has never developed a solid inner core at the earliest time in its history. in New research Published in the journal Geophysical Research BookResearchers at the University of Texas and elsewhere were hoping to understand the impact of this lack of a solid inner core.

Computer simulation of the unilateral magnetic field of early Mars. Image credits: Ankit Barik/Johns Hopkins University.

“Like Earth, Mars once had a strong magnetic field that protected the thick atmosphere from the solar wind,” said Dr. Chi Yang, a colleague at the University of Texas.

“But now only the magnetic imprint remains. But with a long, confused scientist, this imprint appears most strongly in the southern half of the red planet.”

The team’s new research will help explain the one-sided traces. We present evidence that the planet’s magnetic field covers only the southern half.

“The resulting biased magnetic field will match the traces we saw today,” Dr. Yang said.

“It will also make the Earth’s magnetic field that covers the entire Earth different from the Earth’s magnetic field.”

“If Mars’ inner core is liquid, a one-sided magnetic field can be generated.”

“The logic here is that it’s much easier to generate a hemispherical (one-sided) magnetic field because there is no solid inner core.”

“It could have influenced the ancient dynamos on Mars and perhaps could have maintained the atmosphere.”

In this study, researchers used computer simulations to model this scenario.

Until now, most early Mars studies relied on magnetic field models that gave the red planet an inner nucleus like Earth surrounded by solid, molten iron.

Scientists were urged to try to simulate a full liquid core after insights discovered that Mars’ core is made up of lighter than expected elements.

“That means there’s a very high chance that it’s melting because the core melts differently than Earth’s,” said Sabin Stanley, a professor at Johns Hopkins University.

“If Mars’ core was melting now, it would almost certainly have melted 4 billion years ago when it was known that Mars’ magnetic field was active.”

To test the idea, the author prepared an early Mars simulation with a liquid core and ran it dozens of times on a supercomputer.

With each run they made the northern half of the mantle planet a little hotter than the south.

Eventually, the temperature difference between the hotter mantle in the north and the colder mantle in the south began to escape from the core and only release at the southern tip of the planet.

The escape heat channeled in such a way was active enough to drive the dynamos and generate a powerful magnetic field focused on the Southern Hemisphere.

Planetary dynamos are self-supporting mechanisms that generate magnetic fields, usually through the movement of molten metal cores.

“We didn’t know if we’d explain the magnetic field, so it’s exciting to see that Mars’ interiors can create (single) hemispherical magnetic fields with an internal structure that fits insights as well as today,” Professor Stanley said.

This finding provides a compelling alternative theory for common assumptions that affect obliterating evidence of magnetic field elimination across rocky planets in the Northern Hemisphere.

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C. Yang et al. 2025. Mars hemispherical magnetic field from a full sphere dynamo. Geophysical Research Book 52(3): E2024GL113926; doi: 10.1029/2024GL113926

Source: www.sci.news

Mars’s inner core could be solid

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A team of researchers from Bayerisches Geoinstitut conducted high-pressure temperature laboratory experiments to determine the crystal structure and density of the iron sulfide phase in the Mars core.

man et al. The formula shows that the high pressure iron sulfide phase is fe4+xs3 It has a higher density than the liquid Mars core, and its fe4+xs3 When the temperature drops below 1960 K at the center of Mars, the inner core crystallizes. Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Maryland.

Like Earth's core, Mars' core is expected to be made up of molten ferrous metals.

However, the density is low, indicating that the Mars core must contain rich amounts of additional lighter elements, such as sulfur.

Previously, it was thought that the temperature of the Martian core would likely be too high for the solid inner core to crystallize, but the possibility of the iron sulfide mineral that forms the inner core was not examined in detail.

“Observations from NASA's insight mission reveal that Mars' core is enriched in the light element, as Mars' nuclei appears to be significantly lower than the density of iron-nickel alloys,” said Leangie, a researcher at Geoinstitut at Bayerish.

“From a cosmic perspective and geochemical considerations, candidate light elements in the Mars core include sulfur, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen.”

“In particular, sulfur is the most common moderately volatile element of the solar nebulae, and is the “iron-loving” behavior during core mantle differentiation, and is therefore often emphasized as a possible main component of the Mars core, as Mars' core formation is not extended enough or is not at the height of silicon or oxycone.

“Earthquake and Lander radio science data from the Insight mission confirmed that Mars has a flow core, but now geophysical basis cannot rule out the presence of a solid inner core.”

“In addition, geophysical observations, when combined with the physical interpretation of the appropriate minerals, provide not only essential constraints on internal composition and temperature, but also provide the mechanism that initiated and terminated the magnetic field of early Mars.”

In their study, scientists conducted high-pressure temperature lab experiments to determine the crystal structure and density of the iron sulfide phase in the Mars core.

They suggest that the temperature at the center of Mars should be below about 1,960 Kelvin, which is within the estimated range of this region.

Further geophysical measurements are required to confirm the actual presence of the core inside solid Mars.

“But our work supports the potential of a solid inner Mars core today, after Mars has been cooled further, or in the near future,” the author said.

Their paper Published in the journal Natural Communication.

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L. Mann et al. 2025. Structure and stability of Fe4+xs3 And the possibility of forming the inner core of Mars. Nut commune 16, 1710; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-56220-2

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists suggest that the composition of the inner core of the Earth is undergoing changes

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Geoscientists at the University of Southern California, the University of Los Angeles, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Cornell University, the Institute of Geology at the University of Utah and the University of Utah have said they have detected structural changes near the center of the Earth.

The inner core of the Earth was previously thought to be solid. Image credit: USC Graphics/Edward Sotero.

Professor John Vidale, a researcher at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, said:

“What we discovered is evidence that the surface near the inner core of the Earth is undergoing structural changes.”

Located 5,000 km (3,000 miles) on the surface of the Earth, the inner core is fixed by gravity within the outer core of the molten liquid. Until now, the inner core was widely considered to be a solid sphere.

“The original purpose was to further diagram the deceleration of the inner core. However, when I was analyzing decades of earthquake records, one dataset of seismic waves remained. It was strangely distinctive from that,” Dr. Vidale said.

“Later I realized I was staring at evidence that my inner core was not solid.”

In this study, the authors recorded seismic waves recorded by Yelson and Yellow Knife Receber Array Stations in North America from repeated seismic pairs in the North-South Sandwich Islands between 1991 and 2023.

One dataset of seismic waves from the latter station contained non-characteristic properties that researchers have never seen before.

“The dataset initially confused me,” Dr. Vidale said.

It was not revealed that seismic waveforms represent additional physical activity in the inner core until the team improved their resolution techniques.

Physical activity is best described as a temporal change in the shape of the inner core.

New research shows that surfaces near the inner core can undergo viscous deformation, altering their shape and shifting at the shallow boundary of the inner core.

The most obvious cause of structural changes is the interaction between the inner and outer cores.

“It is widely known that the melted outer core is a turbulent flow, but that turbulence has not been observed to contiguously contiguously to the inner core of the human timescale,” Dr. Vidale said. Ta.

“The first thing we're looking at in this study is the outer core that probably disrupts the inner core.”

“This discovery could open the door to uncover previously hidden dynamics deep within the Earth's nucleus, and lead to a better understanding of the Earth's thermal and magnetic fields.”

study Published in the journal Natural Earth Science.

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Je Vidale et al. Variations in annual scales at both rotation speed and surfaces near the inner core of the Earth. nut. GeosciPublished online on February 10th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01642-2

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists are puzzled by potential shifts in Earth’s core shape

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It is not unusual for the Earth’s core to experience changes in its rotational speed and shape over time. However, recent research has revealed some unexpected developments.

Scientists have been debating the reasons behind peculiar alterations in seismic waves caused by earthquakes. One side argues that changes in the rotational speed affect the travel time of the waves, while the other side suggests that alterations in the shape of the inner core are responsible. A new study published in Natural Earth Science by Chinese and US scientists indicates that it could be a combination of both factors.

The study reveals that in 2010, the Earth’s inner core started to rotate faster than other planets, potentially impacting seismic waves with changes near the surface of the core. These waves, similar to X-rays, provide insights into the planet’s interior. The findings are expected to provide more information about the core’s properties and structure.

“These findings present observable changes that offer a clearer understanding of how the inner core evolves over a few years. There could be more surprises in store,” said Professor John Emilio Vidale, the lead author of the study, to BBC Science Focus.

The Earth’s core is almost as hot as the sun’s surface and is located approximately 6,500 km (4,000 miles) below the Earth’s surface, with pressure exceeding that of the deepest ocean depths. Due to these extreme conditions, direct exploration of the core is not feasible.

Scientists rely on seismic waves generated by earthquakes to study the core. By analyzing how these waves travel through different layers of the Earth, including the core, scientists can gain a better understanding of its structure and movement.

In this recent research, the team focused on seismic waves from 121 repeat earthquake pairs in the South Sandwich Islands between 1991 and 2023. By examining changes in the arrival times and waveforms of these signals over decades, the team identified minor shifts in core movement.

These findings revealed interesting trends in the Earth’s inner core. It rotated faster than the mantle and crust for decades before slowing down around 2010. However, some earthquakes showed no significant time shifts, indicating occasional pauses or reversals in rotations.

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The Earth’s core is composed of four main layers: the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.

The study also made secondary findings, suggesting that factors other than rotation might be affecting the inner core. The team believes that viscous transformations near the inner core’s boundary could be influencing its behavior.

While this behavior may appear unstable, further data is needed to confirm its normality and deepen our understanding of how the Earth’s core functions.

According to Vidale, the simplest explanation is that the movement of the outer core initiates rotations in the inner core, readjusting its position over decades. However, the exact mechanisms behind these adjustments remain uncertain.

“The inner core’s movements may not follow a harmonious pattern, as they seem to align with the outer core’s movements,” he explained.

While this study presents intriguing insights into the Earth’s core behavior, it could pave the way for more discoveries in the future. Vidale suggests that further analysis may reveal more about the core’s activity and its potential impact on Earth’s magnetic field and other phenomena.

This could help researchers understand unpredictable occurrences that may affect satellite operations and compass readings, although they may not have a direct impact on daily life.

About our experts

John Vidale is a professor of Earth Sciences and Dean at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on earthquakes, the Earth’s structure, volcanoes, and seismic hazards. Vidale has held various roles in earthquake research institutions and warning systems, contributing significantly to our understanding of seismic events.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The power of subterranean pressure is reshaping the Earth’s inner core.

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Diagram showing the inner structure of the Earth

Rostislav Zatonskiy/Alamy

The inner core of Earth’s solids appears to have changed shape over the last 20 years or so, according to seismic wave measurements, but the behavior of these waves can also be explained by other shifts at the center of the planet.

Since the 1990s, models and earthquake measurements have shown that the inner core of Earth’s iron nickel moves at its own pace. Over decades, the inner core rotation is faster, slower than other planets, affecting the length of the day and more.

These rotational changes are primarily due to magnetic forces produced by convection in the Earth’s liquid outer core, they say. John Vidale At the University of Southern California. “That flow constantly torques the inner core.”

These magnetic forces, or related processes, can change the shape of the inner core and its rotation. In fact, previous measurements of seismic waves passing through the center of the planet seem to show just that. However, uncertainty regarding the rotation of the core made it impossible to distinguish between rotational changes and shape changes.

Now, Vidale and his colleagues are analyzing seismic waves generated by 128 earthquakes off the coast of South America between 1991 and 2023. All waves were measured by Alaskan instruments after passing through the planet.

From these, researchers have identified 168 sets of seismic waves that have passed through or near the same area of ​​the inner core, but have been away for years. It was only possible to identify these matches Recent work Vidale says it will better constrain the variation in rotation of the inner core.

Both waves of each pair that did not pass through the inner core shared a similar pattern, suggesting that in the region within the planet nothing had changed between the first and second earthquakes. Masu. However, the waves of the pair crossed with the inner core did not match.

Researchers say this suggests that the inner core not only slows down and speeds up rotation for decades but also changes shape. They say that these changes are magnetically pulled at the less viscous edge of the inner core of the solid or interaction between the inner core and the structure of the planetary core and the lower mantle. They say it is likely caused by interactions between the layers. The crust.

hrvojetkalčić At Australian National University, which was not involved in the study, this is a “step” to resolve changes in the internal core beyond rotation. However, he says that the shape change is not the only explanation for the seismic waves of incongruity.

As Vidale and his colleagues acknowledge, these differences can also be caused by unrelated changes in the outer core, convection within the inner core itself, or by eruption of melted material from the inner core. There is. “It’s really hard to tell,” Bidal says. He suggests that studying more repeated earthquakes in the future will help identify changes in more detail.

Tkalčić says seismological measurements in remote areas such as the seabed are also useful. “This is important for understanding the deepest inner evolution of Earth, from the time of the planetary layers to the present,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The hidden radioactive waste problem lies at the core of achieving net zero emissions

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A dog chased a ball past me at full speed across the open fields of Seascale Beach, Cumbria. The beach is surrounded by a small park, rows of shops, and houses, with tall chimneys and large rectangular buildings visible on a vast industrial site as you walk north.

Close to Seascale Beach is the Sellafield complex, a 2 square mile nuclear facility located 5 km away. Sellafield is home to most of the UK’s radioactive nuclear waste and the world’s largest store of plutonium.

I visited Sellafield earlier this year to learn about the management of Britain’s nuclear waste. It was an eye-opening and expensive lesson in dealing with hazardous material with no clear plan.

Sellafield played a crucial role in producing plutonium during the Cold War. The current cleanup operation involves processing and storing spent nuclear fuel, cooling and stabilizing it, then storing it in silos covered with steel and concrete.

Initially, safe long-term storage was not a priority, leading to waste being disposed of from decades ago. The process of moving waste from dilapidated silos to more modern stores is ongoing.

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A recent report by the National Board of Audit highlighted that Sellafield is still in the early stages of the cleanup mission, expected to last until 2125 with an estimated cost of £136bn, showcasing uncertainty about the exact tasks and timeline.

The plan for the most dangerous nuclear waste is to bury it deep underground in a geological disposal facility (GDF). Finding a suitable location involves not just solid rock but also a willing community.

Three communities are currently in discussion about building a GDF facility, with experts believing it to be the best option. Several countries are also working on similar facilities.

The complexity of site selection may delay the facility’s opening until the 2040s or 2050s, amidst a push for new nuclear power to reduce emissions and reach net zero.

As we navigate through the challenges of nuclear waste management, experts like Professor Claire Corkhill from the University of Bristol play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of radioactive waste.

About our expert Professor Claire Corkhill

Claire is Professor of Mineralogy and Radioactive Waste Management in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol.

Her work has been published in magazines material, nature, and ceramics.

Read More:

  • Nuclear fusion: Inside the construction of the world’s largest tokamak
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  • Sticky atoms and devastating iron: The strange science behind nuclear fusion

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New: Groundbreaking drill core penetrates 1.2 kilometers into Earth’s mantle

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A rock sample from Earth’s mantle viewed under a microscope

Johan Lissenberg

In the middle of the North Atlantic, geologists have drilled 1,268 metres below the seafloor – the deepest hole ever drilled into Earth’s mantle – and analysis of the resulting rock core may provide new clues about the evolution of the planet’s outermost layers and even the origin of life.

The Earth is generally made up of several different layers, including the solid outer crust, the upper and lower mantle, and the core. The upper mantle, located just below the crust, is made up primarily of magnesium-rich rocks called peridotites. This layer drives important planetary processes such as earthquakes, the hydrological cycle, and the formation of volcanoes and mountain ranges.

“Until now, we’ve only been able to see fragments of the mantle,” Johan Lissenberg “However, there are many places on the seafloor where the mantle is exposed,” said researchers from Cardiff University in the UK.

One such region is an underwater mountain called Atlantis Mountains, located near a volcanically active area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Pieces of the mantle constantly come to the surface and melt, giving rise to the region’s many volcanoes. Meanwhile, as seawater seeps deeper into the mantle, it is heated by higher temperatures, producing compounds such as methane, which bubbles up from hydrothermal vents and serves as fuel for microorganisms.

“There’s a kind of chemical kitchen beneath the Atlantis massif,” Lisenberg says.

To learn more about this dynamic region, he and his colleagues initially planned to use the drilling ship JOIDES Resolution to drill 200 meters into the mantle, deeper than researchers had gone before.

“We then started drilling and it went surprisingly well,” a team member said. Andrew McCaig “We retrieved a very long continuous fragment of rock and decided to go for it and go as deep as we could,” said researchers from the University of Leeds in the UK.

Ultimately, the team succeeded in drilling to a depth of 1,268 metres into the mantle.

When the researchers analyzed the drill core samples, they found that they had a much lower content of a mineral called pyroxene compared to other mantle samples from around the world, suggesting that this particular part of the mantle underwent significant melting in the past, depleting it of pyroxene, Lisenberg said.

In the future, he hopes to recreate this melting process, which will allow him to understand how the mantle melts and how that molten rock travels to the surface to feed oceanic volcanoes.

Some scientists believe life on Earth began deep in the ocean near hydrothermal vents, so by studying the chemicals that show up along the cylindrical rock cores, microbiologists hope to determine the conditions that may have led to the emergence of life, and at what depths below the ocean floor.

“This is a very important borehole because it will provide a reference point for scientists across many scientific disciplines,” McCaig says.

“While a one-dimensional sample from Earth cannot provide complete information about the three-dimensional migration paths of melt and water, it is still a major achievement,” he said. John Wheeler At the University of Liverpool, UK.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists May Have Finally Discovered the Cause of Strange Occurrences at Earth’s Core

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You may be surprised by how little we actually know about the inner workings of the Earth. While we have a good grasp of how the Earth’s surface moves to create mountains and trigger earthquakes, the deeper we delve, the more mysterious it becomes.

One highly debated topic for years has been the movement of the Earth’s inner core. Does it move forward, backward, left, right? The truth is, nobody really knows. However, recent research published in Nature suggests that the core is receding relative to the surface, potentially putting an end to the long-standing debate.

This study confirms a controversial paper from the previous year by researchers at Peking University, as detailed in Nature Chemistry.

The inner core of the Earth is a solid, crystallized sphere of iron, approximately the size of the Moon, situated around 5,000 km beneath us in a liquid metal sea known as the outer core comprised of iron, nickel, and other metals.

“The inner core is a solid entity that floats within the outer core, lacking any anchorage,” explained Professor John Vidal, co-author of the study, a researcher at the University of Southern California (USC), in an interview with BBC Science Focus.

According to a press release from USC, the study presents “unequivocal evidence” that the movement of the inner core slowed around 2010 and is now lagging behind the surface movement. This new motion pattern makes the core appear to move backward compared to the surface, akin to how a slowing car seems to move in reverse to a steady-speed driver.

If the findings are accurate, this marks the initial detection of a slowdown in 40 years and supports the notion that the core’s velocity fluctuates in a 70-year cycle.

The research team utilized seismometers in Canada and Alaska to analyze repeated earthquakes, focusing on 121 events in the South Sandwich Islands between 1991 and 2023, along with data from past nuclear tests conducted by the Soviets.

By examining matching seismic waveforms from various time periods, the team sought to determine if the inner core rotates independently from the rest of the Earth. Discrepancies in wave patterns indicated changes in the core’s rotation, with some signals aligning pre and post-shift, implying a realignment of the core.

Bidart, one of the researchers, expressed initial confusion upon seeing seismic records suggesting a change but became convinced upon discovering more consistent observations. The slowdown in the inner core’s movement, unseen for decades, aligns with their latest findings, offering a plausible resolution to the ongoing debate.

Despite uncertainties regarding surface impacts, Bidale acknowledged a slight potential change in the length of a day, barely perceptible amid the Earth’s bustling activity of oceanic and atmospheric movements.

Future research aims to gather additional waveform data from diverse global locations and pathways. Vidar highlighted a wait-and-see approach, anticipating unusual core movements around 2001 and further exploration to elucidate these occurrences.

About our experts

John Vidale Dr. Schneider currently chairs the Department of Geosciences at the University of Southern California. His research covers earthquakes, Earth structure, volcanoes, and seismic hazards. At USC since 2017, Dr. Schneider previously directed the Southern California Earthquake Center and contributed to earthquake-related committees and working groups.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Study indicates that Earth’s inner core started decelerating in 2010

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The movement of Earth’s inner core has been a topic of debate in the scientific community for the past 20 years, with some studies suggesting that the inner core rotates faster than the Earth’s surface. However, a new study has presented clear evidence that the inner core started to slow down around 2010 and is now moving at a slower pace compared to the Earth’s surface.

king othersIt shows that Earth’s inner core gradually super-rotated from 2003 to 2008, then repeated a slower rotation 2-3 times along the same path from 2008 to 2023. Image by USC Graphic/Edward Sotelo.

“When I first saw the earthquake records suggesting this change, I was puzzled,” said John Bedale, a professor at the University of Southern California.

“But when we found 24 more observations showing the same pattern, the result was inevitable.”

“The inner core is slowing down for the first time in decades.”

“Other scientists have recently proposed similar or different models, but our latest work offers the most plausible solution.”

The inner core is believed to be rotating and moving relative to the Earth’s surface, as it is now moving slightly slower than Earth’s mantle after about 40 years of moving faster.

Compared to the rates observed over the past few decades, the inner core is now slowing down.

The inner core is a solid iron-nickel sphere surrounded by a liquid iron-nickel outer core.

Located more than 4,828 km (3,000 miles) beneath the Earth’s surface, the inner core is roughly the size of the Moon and poses a challenge for researchers as it cannot be visited or directly observed.

Scientists rely on seismic waves from earthquakes to study the movement of the inner core.

In contrast to previous studies, Professor Vidale and his team used waveforms and repeating earthquakes in their research.

Repeating earthquakes are seismic events that occur in the same location and produce identical earthquake records.

The study analyzed recorded seismic data from 121 repeating earthquakes around the South Sandwich Islands between 1991 and 2023, as well as data from Soviet and nuclear tests from the early 1970s and other studies on the inner core.

“The slowing down of the inner core is attributed to the churning of the liquid iron outer core that surrounds it. This churning creates a gravitational pull from the Earth’s magnetic field and the dense region of the rocky mantle above,” Prof Vidale explained.

“We can only speculate on how these changes in the inner core’s movement will impact the Earth’s surface.”

“The retreat of the inner core could briefly alter the length of the day. This alteration lasts for milliseconds and is almost imperceptible amid the noise of the ocean and atmosphere,” he added.

The study was published in the journal Nature.

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Wang others Retrograde motion of the inner core due to reversal of seismic waveform changes. Nature. Published online June 12, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07536-4

Source: www.sci.news

Is it Possible that Quantum Clues in the Brain could Resurrect a Core Theory of Consciousness?

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Two weeks before the pandemic lockdown in March 2020, I flew to Tucson, Arizona, and knocked on the door of a suburban ranch-style home. I was there to visit Stuart Hammeroff. He is an anesthesiologist and co-inventor with Nobel Prize-winning physicist Roger Penrose of a radical proposal for how conscious experience arises: that it has its origins in quantum phenomena in the brain.

Such ideas, in one form or another, have existed on the fringes of mainstream consciousness research for decades. There is no solid experimental evidence that quantum effects occur in the brain, as critics claim, and aside from a clear idea of ​​how quantum effects produce consciousness, they come in from the cold. Not that it was. “It was very popular to bash us,” Hammeroff told me.

But after a week of questioning him about the concept, I realized that at least his version of quantum consciousness is widely misunderstood. Partly, I think it’s Hammeroff’s fault. He gives the impression of a single package. In fact, his ideas are a series of independent proposals, each forcing us to confront important questions about the relationship between fundamental physics, biology, and the indescribable thing called consciousness. I am.

Furthermore, during my visit I saw several experiments that Hammeroff had proposed come to fruition, and it became clear that his ideas could be applied to experimental research. Researchers have now provided preliminary evidence suggesting that fragile quantum states can persist in the brain and that anesthetics can influence those states.

Now is the time to start taking it…

Source: www.newscientist.com

ATCA discovers tiny radio sources in the core of 47 Tucanae

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used by astronomers CSIRO's Australian Telescope Compact Array captured the most detailed radio images ever seen of the 47-member Tukanae star cluster, the second brightest globular cluster in the night sky.

paduano other. identified new radio sources (white squares) at the center of 47 Tucanae (red circles).Image credit: Paduano other., doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad0e68.

Tucanae 47, also known as NGC 104, is a massive ancient globular cluster located approximately 15,300 light-years south of the constellation Tucanae.

At about 120 light-years in diameter, this cluster is so large that despite its distance, it appears to be about the same size as the full moon.

Home to millions of stars, 47 Tucanae is one of the brightest and most massive globular clusters known and is visible to the naked eye.

“Globular clusters are very old, gigantic balls of stars found around the Milky Way. They are incredibly dense, with tens to millions of stars packed together inside the ball.” said Dr. Arash Bahramian, astronomer at the Curtin University Node of the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR).

“Our images are of 47 Tucanae, one of the most massive globular clusters in the galaxy. It has more than a million stars and a very bright, very dense core.”

The ultra-high-sensitivity radio images of 47 species of Tucanidae were created from more than 450 hours of observations with CSIRO's Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA).

“The 47 Tukanae are visible to the naked eye and were first cataloged in the 1700s,” Dr. Bahramian said.

“By imaging in great detail, we were able to discover an incredibly faint radio signal at the center of the cluster that was previously undetectable.”

“The detection of the signal is an exciting discovery and can be attributed to one of two possibilities,” said Dr. Alessandro Paduano, also from ICRAR's Curtin University Node.

“First, the 47 Tukanae may contain black holes with masses between the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies and the stellar black holes created by collapsing stars. .”

“Intermediate-mass black holes are thought to exist within globular clusters, but they have not yet been clearly detected.”

“If this signal turns out to be a black hole, it would be a very important discovery and the first radio detection of a black hole in a star cluster.”

The second possible source is a pulsar. This is a rotating neutron star that emits radio waves.

“This is an interesting discovery scientifically, as a pulsar so close to the center of a cluster could be used to search for as yet undetected central black holes,” Paduano said.

of result Published in astrophysical journal.

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Alessandro Paduano other. 2024. Ultra-deep ATCA imaging of 47 Tucanae reveals a central, compact radio source. APJ 961, 54; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad0e68

Source: www.sci.news

National Laboratory Simulates Core Deflection of Armageddon-Type Asteroid

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Last year’s successful double asteroid redirection experiment, which involved firing a satellite bomb into an asteroid, has been followed by a detailed simulation of a nuclear deflection scenario, similar to the plot of the 1998 space disaster movie Armageddon.

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, led by Mary Varkey, have published a paper advancing the active field of research on planetary defense against asteroid threats. They propose that detonating a nuclear explosive device as close as possible to an incoming asteroid may be the best strategy, considering that using satellites as missiles is not always practical.

The challenge, however, lies in precisely deflecting the asteroid’s nucleus to avoid potential impact with Earth, as depicted in the movie Armageddon, or the widespread destruction scenario depicted in the film Deep Impact.

In their paper published in the Planetary Science Journal, Burkey et al. explain the complexities involved in simulating the energy storage and the interaction of X-rays from a nuclear explosion with the asteroid’s surface, emphasizing the high computational cost and the need to break down the problem into stages for accurate modeling.

The team’s efforts have resulted in a comprehensive simulation of the nuclear deflection scenario, offering insight into the potential outcomes of such an event. The team also highlights the need for faster simulations, potentially utilizing machine learning to optimize response times for specific threats.

Image credits: Varkey et al.

By simulating the nuclear deflection scenario, the team aims to further advance the understanding of potential strategies for planetary defense against asteroid threats and minimize response times for future events.

Source: techcrunch.com