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Webb discovers Herbig Halo objects with tornado-like characteristics

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Using Nircam and Miri instruments installed in the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers created high-resolution images Herbig-Haro Object 49/50 (HH 49/50) is located approximately 630 light years away from the constellation of Chamaleon.

Webb observed Herbig Halo 49/50 in high resolution near-infrared light with Nircam and Miri Instruments. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/STSCI.

The Herbig-Haro object is a small bright patch of nebula associated with protostals in the star-forming region.

These structures were first observed in the 19th century by American astronomer Sherburn Wesley Burnham, but were not recognized as a distinct type of ejection nebula until the 1940s.

The first astronomers to study them in detail were George Harbigue and Guillermo Halo, and they were later named.

Herbig Halo objects are formed in very specific circumstances. Hot gas discharged by the newborn star collides with the gas, hitting it at a speed of up to 250,000 kmh (155,000 mph), creating a bright shock wave.

They come in a wide range of shapes. The basic configuration is usually the same. Twin jets of hot gases are ejected in the opposite direction from the forming stars and flow through interstellar space.

“When NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope observed it in 2006, scientists called the HH 49/50 The Cosmic Tornado because of its helical appearance, but they were unsure about the nature of the fuzzy object at the tip of the “tornado.”

“Because of the high resolution of imaging, Webb provides a different visual impression of HH 49/50 by revealing fine features of impacted regions during the runoff, revealing fuzzy objects as distant spiral galaxies and displaying the oceans of distant background galaxies.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BDZS0IHK7Y

The HH 49/50 is part of the Chamaeleon I Cloud Complex, one of the closest active star-forming regions.

“This cloud complex is likely to resemble the environment our Sun formed,” the astronomer said.

“Previous observations of the region show that HH 49/50 runoff is away from us at a rate of 100-300 km per second, and is just one feature of the larger runoff.”

“Webb’s Nircam and Miri’s HH 49/50 observations lash out on the area with the locations of shining hydrogen molecules, carbon monoxide molecules, and dust particles represented by orange and red.”

New Webb observations probe small spatial scale details that help astronomers model the properties of jets and understand how they affect the surrounding materials.

“The arc-shaped feature of the HH 49/50 refers to the source of this spill, similar to the water wake created by speeding boats,” the researchers said.

“Based on past observations, scientists suspect that the Protostal, known as the Cederblad 110 IRS4, is a plausible driver of jet activity.”

“The CED 110 IRS4 is a Class I Protostal, located about 1.5 light years from HH 49/50.”

“Class I Protostals are young objects (tens of thousands to a million years ago) at primetime when earning Mass.”

“They usually have an identifiable disc of the material surrounding it.

“Scientists have recently studied this protostal and used Webb’s Nilkah and Milli observations to obtain inventory of the ice composition of its environment.”

“Those detailed webb images of the HH 49/50 arcs can more accurately identify the orientation to the jet source, but not all arcs return in the same direction.”

“There is an interesting outcrop feature (in the top right of the main runoff) that could be another accidental accident of another runoff associated with slow precession of intermittent jet sources, for example.”

“Or alternatively, this feature could be the result of a major spill breaking apart.”

“The accidental galaxy at the tip of HH 49/50 is a much more distant, troublesome spiral galaxy.”

“There is a prominent central bulge, represented in blue, indicating the position of the old stars.”

“The bulge also gives hints from the sidelobes that suggest this could be a thin group.”

“The reddish masses within the spiral arm indicate a warm dust location and a group of formed stars.”

“The galaxies will show sheltered bubbles in these dusty areas, similar to the nearby galaxies Webb observed as part of the Phangs programme.”

“Webb captured these two unrelated objects with a lucky alignment.”

“For thousands of years, the edge of the HH 49/50 has moved outwards, eventually appearing to hide a distant galaxy.”

Source: www.sci.news

Curiosity Rover Discovers Noctilucent Clouds in Mars Atmosphere

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New images and shows taken over 16 minutes by the Mastcam Instrument of NASA’s Curiosity Rover on January 17, 2025 Night or in twilight cloudsin the atmosphere of Mars. Sometimes these clouds create rainbows of color, creating rainbow clouds and mother clouds. If it is too faint to be visible in the daytime, the clouds will be particularly high and only visible when the evening falls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnaqwu1wzm4

Mars clouds are made of either water ice or carbon dioxide ice at higher altitudes and lower temperatures.

The latter is the only kind of cloud observed on the red planet, producing rainbow colors, and can be seen near the top of the new image at an altitude of 60-80 km (37-50 miles).

It also appears that white feathers fall into the atmosphere on a low ride 50 km (31 miles) from the surface before evaporating due to rising temperatures.

Temporarily visible at the bottom of the image are water ice clouds moving in the opposite direction about 50 km of the curiosity rover.

This Curiosity/Mastcam image shows simultaneous clouds in the atmosphere of Mars. Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/SSI.

“When I first saw these rainbow clouds, I always remember, but at first I was sure it was a few colour artifacts,” said the Atmospheric Scientist at the Institute of Space Science. said one Dr. Mark Lemon.

“It’s now predictable, so you can plan your shots ahead of time. Clouds appear at the exact same time.”

“Each sighting is an opportunity to learn more about the particle size and growth rates of Mars clouds, which will provide you with more information about the planet’s atmosphere.”

“The potential source of clouds can be gravitational waves, which can cool the atmosphere.”

“We weren’t expecting carbon dioxide to condense into ice here, so we’re cooling until something is likely to happen.”

“However, the gravitational waves on Mars are not fully understood, and we are not entirely aware of what the Twilight clouds are formed in one place and not elsewhere. “

Source: www.sci.news

XMM-Newton discovers two supernova remnants near the Milky Way satellite galaxy’s edge

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Named SNR J0614-7251 and SNR J0624-6948, the newly discovered supernova remains are located on the outskirts of the large Magelanic Cloud, the largest milky white satellite galaxy.

In the center of the image, stars cluster into a large Magellan cloud, a bright, dark green candy floss colored haze. Scattered in the center of the image are about 50 small yellow crosses, some of which are almost overlapping as they are very close to each other. SNR J0624-6948 (orange, high image) and SNR J0614-7251 (blue, bottom image) are seen in the lower left quarter of the image. Image credits: Eckhard Slawik/ESA/Xmm-Newton/Sasaki et al. / F. Zangrandi.

“Supranovae are stellar explosions, caused by massive star core collapse, neutron stars or black holes (core collapsing supernovae), or by thermonuclear destruction of white nuclei in binary systems. Friedrich- “We are a scientist at the same time,” said Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and colleague Dr. Manami Sasaki.

“Supranovae are important for galaxy material cycles and the formation of next-generation stars. Shockwave produces supernova debris that heats environmental or interstellar media to ionize, sweeping and compressing the environment, and making the environment more environmentally friendly and compressing. Enrich it. With chemical elements.”

use ESA's XMM-Newton Spaceshipastronomers discovered two supernova remnants, SNR J0614-7251 and SNR J0624-6948, in the large Magellan cloud.

“The big and small Magellan clouds are the largest satellite galaxies in the Milky Way and the closest ones,” they said.

“The Magellan Cloud is also the only satellite galaxy in the Milky Way with current active star formation.”

“A large Magellan cloud at a small distance (49,600 Parsec), its morphology is almost a hassle disk, and its low foreground absorption provides a detailed laboratory ideal for the study of large samples of the remaining supernovae. Masu.”

“Proximity allows for spatially resolved spectroscopic studies of supernova debris, and precisely known distances allow for the analysis of the energetics of each supernova debris.”

“In addition, the rich data of wide-field multi-wavelength data available provides information about the environment in which these supernova debris evolves.”

XMM-Newton observed SNR J0614-7251 and SNR J0624-6948 with three different types of X-ray light.

They show the most common chemical elements in various parts of the debris.

The center of SNR J0614-7251 is primarily made up of iron, according to the team.

This clue allowed researchers to classify this remnant for the first time as a result of a type IA supernova.

“The discovery of supernova remnants on the outskirts of the large Magellan cloud confirms that stellar explosions occur outside the galaxy and allows us to study their shocks, stellar ejectors and environment,” they said. I said that.

“It will help us to better understand the evolution of the Magellan cloud and the history of interacting galaxies and their surrounding star formation.”

“We hope that new multi-wavelength investigations will reveal more supernova remnants around the Magellan cloud.”

“This new supernova remnants allows us to study the supernova explosions and the rest of the supernova evolution in low density and low metallic environments, and better serve to better the effects of metallicity on star formation and star evolution. I can understand it.”

result It will be displayed in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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Manamisasaki et al. 2025. The remains of a supernova on the outskirts of the large Magellan cloud. A&A 693, L15; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202452178

Source: www.sci.news

Opponent of Biology Discovers Authentic Collagen in Edmontosaurus Fossil Bones

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The detection of soft tissues (such as proteins) in fossil bones is a growing research field, and new research, led by Liverpool University, has contributed to such discoveries. The authors use three independent analytical combinations to indicate that some dinosaur bones of collagen bones are the original fossils.

Tuinstra et al。 In order to replenish the two mass-specific (MS) technologies used, the total attenuation (ATR) -ftir and intersection polarized microscopes (Xpol), which replenish two mass spectrometics (MS) technologies. Edmont Saurus SP. Fossil bones. Image credit: Tuinstra et al。 , Doi: 10.1021/ACS.ANALCHEM.4C03115.

In their research, Professor Steve Taylor and his colleagues of Liverpool University examined the 22 kg hip bone of herbivorous dinosaurs that bred ducks. Edmont Saurus。

The specimen was excavated from the late Cretaceous band of the Helkleak layer in Harding County, South Dakota, USA.

Using advanced mass spectrometry and other technologies, old -life scholars have identified collagen remnants with fossil bones.

“This study shows that organic body molecules, such as collagen -like proteins, seem to be present in some fossils,” said Taylor.

“Our results have a wide range of meanings. First, the hypothesis that organic matters contained in fossils need to be caused from contamination.”

“Second, it suggests to reconsider the cross -polarized microscopes of fossil bones collected over the first century.”

“These images may clarify the intact patches of bone collagen, and may provide candidates for ready -made fossil candidates for further protein analysis.”

“This may release a new insight about dinosaurs. For example, we will clarify the connection between dinosaur species as it is.”

“Finally, the result of this survey tells you an interesting mystery about how these proteins have long lasted in fossils.”

“This study not only solves the scientific discussion for many years, but also has a further path to study ancient life, and can be seen on the biochemical preservation of the fossils of extinct creatures.”

Team result Published in the journal on January 17th Analytical chemistry。

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Lucien Tuinstra et al。 Evidence of endogenous collagen Edmont Saurus Fossil bones. anus. ChemistryReleased online on January 17, 2025. Doi: 10.1021/ACS.ANALCHEM.4C03115

Source: www.sci.news

Australia discovers new species of hermit crab

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Marine biologists from Queensland Museum Kurilpa have described a new species of hermit crab. Strigopagurus fragachela (Common name is Strawberry Claw Hermit) Lives from the continental shelf off the southeast coast of Queensland, Australia.

Strigopagurus fragachela. Image credit: Queensland Museum.

“A genus of digeneans from central India to the western Pacific strigopagurus It currently includes five species: Strigopagulus strigimanus, Strigopagulus bilineatus, Strigopagulus boreonotus, Strigopagulus elongatusand Strigopagulus pupini'' said Queensland Museum Kurilpa researchers Peter Davey and Marissa McNamara.

“Two of them are Strigopagulus strigimanus and Strigopagulus elongatuswhich is endemic to temperate southern Australia. Strigopagulus bilineatus It is currently known only off the coast of tropical Queensland. ”

“The remaining two species have not been recorded in Australian waters.”

“The known distribution is Strigopagulus pupini Although limited to French Polynesia, it is more widespread. Strigopagulus boreonotus It has been recorded in southeastern Indonesia, the eastern Coral Sea, and waters around New Caledonia, so it may occur in tropical Australian waters. ”

“Recent trawls of continental shelf waters off south-east Queensland have revealed a large number of large and strikingly colored marine species. strigopagurus This specimen represents a newer species endemic to Australia. ”

The new species is Strigopagurus fragachelafound in relatively deep waters (120-260 meters) off the coast of south-east Queensland.

“The new species has some very distinctive features,” Dr. McNamara said.

“While their bright red claws are most striking, they have also evolved a unique way of producing sound (strumming) underwater, much like cicadas do in the air.”

“We quickly learned that this was a special hermit crab and quickly nicknamed it Strawberry Claw.”

Identification of Strigopagurus fragachela An exciting addition to this genus, of which Australia seems to be its home. ”

“There are currently four endemic species, two of which are found only in Queensland.”

“As the new species of hermit crab has only been collected by trawlers, little is known about its ecology, but there is no doubt that it is an important member of the rich biological community of the continental shelf off south-east Queensland. there is no.”

“The work of Queensland Museum scientists and researchers will help provide a record of our state's biodiversity for future generations,” said Queensland Museum CEO Dr Jim Thompson.

“Our natural history collections are more than just preserved specimens; they are important tools for scientific discovery, conservation, and public education.”

Regarding this discovery, paper in Queensland Museum Reminiscences – Nature.

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PJF Davie and MKA McNamara. 2024. New species of hermit crab genus strigopagurus Forest, 1995 (Crustacea: Anomura: Diogenidae) from the continental shelf off southeastern Queensland, Australia. Queensland Museum Reminiscences – Nature 65: 110-123;doi: 10.17082/j.2204-1478.65.2024.2024-04

Source: www.sci.news

Chinese spacecraft discovers more evidence of ancient ocean on Mars

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Topographic map of Mars showing Utopian plains that may have once been an ocean

United States Geological Survey

Possible ancient coastlines have been discovered in a region of Mars explored by China’s Zhurong rover, adding further evidence that vast lowlands in Mars’ northern hemisphere may once have been covered by ocean. The evidence has been obtained.

The rover landed in the southern part of Utopia Plain in May 2021 and remained active for almost a year. Researchers studying data from the rover have found hints that there was an ancient ocean or liquid water 400,000 years ago.

now, Bo Woo Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and their colleagues conducted a comprehensive analysis of the topographical features of the landing area by combining remote sensing data from satellites and observations from the spacecraft.

They say they found features consistent with the presence of a southern Utopian coastline, including valleys and sediment channels. They also determined the dating and composition of surface sediments in the area. Based on this, the research team believes that the ocean existed 3.68 billion years ago, but froze and disappeared about 260 million years later.

“This discovery not only provides further evidence in support of the Martian ocean theory, but also perhaps presents for the first time a discussion of its evolutionary scenario,” Wu said.

This area can be divided into a shallow area to the south and a deep area to the north. Wu said shallower parts of the ocean may have been up to 600 meters deep, but there isn’t enough data to estimate the ocean’s maximum depth.

“Water is an important element for life, and the presence of oceans on Mars in the past raises the possibility that Mars may once have harbored early microbial life,” he says.

Mathieu Rapport Researchers at Stanford University in California say whether early Mars had an ocean is a highly debated question with significant implications for the planet’s past habitability. He said future missions will need to test the new findings.

“Utopia Plains may constitute a valuable record of early Martian near-shore and coastal environments,” Rapport says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Unearthed: Laser Technology Discovers Hidden Mayan City with Stone Pyramids in Mexico

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Archaeologists used a laser-based detection system to discover more than 6,500 Pre-Hispanic structures in Campeche, Mexico, including a previously unknown Mayan city named Valeriana.

Details of the main ruins of Valeriana in Campeche, Mexico. Image credit: Auld-Thomas others., doi: 10.15184/aqy.2024.148.

“Our analysis not only revealed a complete picture of densely populated areas, but also revealed a lot of variation,” said Tulane University doctoral student and Northern Arizona University professor. Lecturer Luke Old-Thomas said.

“What we found was not only rural areas and small settlements, but also a town where people had long been actively farming amidst the ruins, right next to the only main road in the area. We also found a large city with pyramids.”

“The government knew nothing about it. The scientific community knew nothing about it.”

“This is an exclamation point after the statement that, no, we haven't discovered everything. Yes, there's still a lot to discover.”

lidar technology It uses laser pulses to measure distance and create a 3D model of a specific area.

This allows scientists to scan vast tracts of land from the comfort of their computer labs, discovering anomalies in the landscape that turn out to be pyramids, family homes, and other examples of Mayan infrastructure. It's done.

“With LIDAR, we can map large areas very quickly and with very high accuracy and level of detail, so we can say, “Wow, there are so many buildings that we don't know about, and they must have a large population.'' ‘It's huge,’ said Old Thomas.

“The counterargument was that lidar surveys were still too constrained to known large sites like Tikal, thus creating a distorted picture of the Maya lowlands.”

“What if the rest of the Maya region is much more rural and what we've mapped so far is the exception rather than the rule?”

The team's results provide compelling evidence of a Maya landscape that was more complex and diverse than previously thought.

“Rider teaches us that, like many other ancient civilizations, the Lowland Maya built a diverse tapestry of towns and communities on a tropical landscape,” said Marcello Canuto, a professor at Tulane University. “I'm grateful for that,” he said.

“Some areas have vast expanses of farmland and are densely populated, while others have only small communities.”

“Nevertheless, we can now see how much the ancient Maya modified their environment to support a long-lasting and complex society.”

a paper The findings were published in the journal October 29, 2024. ancient.

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luke old-thomas others. 2024. Running out of space: Environmental riders and the crowded ancient landscape of Campeche, Mexico. ancient 98 (401): 1340-1358;doi: 10.15184/aqy.2024.148

Source: www.sci.news

Science discovers oldest known tadpole fossil dating back 161 million years.

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Scientists discovered fossils in Argentina’s Santa Cruz province

Mariana Chubar et al., Journal (2024)

The beautifully preserved fossilized tadpoles are the oldest discovered by science, dating back 161 million years, and their anatomy is strikingly similar to some of today’s species. I am.

Paleontologists discovered the fossil in January 2020 while searching for feathered dinosaurs in Argentina’s Santa Cruz province.

“They missed the mark,” says Mariana Churivar of Universidad Maimonides in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “But after many days of digging, one of our team members discovered a stone with a special signature: a fossilized tadpole.”

Chubar and her colleagues have now identified this tadpole as belonging to an extinct frog species. Notobatrachus degiustoiwas deciphered from hundreds of adult specimens discovered in the same fossil deposit since 1957.

Until now, scientists had never unearthed tadpole fossils from before the Cretaceous period, which began about 145 million years ago. This specimen is also the first fossil tadpole from an early frog lineage known as stalk anurans, which is older than modern species known as crown anurans.

This fossil is very well preserved, with eyes and nerves visible in the head, forelimbs, and part of the tail. The researchers estimate that it was about 16 centimeters long, comparable to the largest tadpole in existence today.

The part of the skeleton that supports the gills suggests that the specialized filter-feeding anatomy of modern tadpoles had already evolved in this fossilized tadpole, Chubar said.

The similarities between ancient and modern tadpoles are so great that the researchers were even able to determine the developmental stage in the fossils, concluding that they were just about to undergo metamorphosis into frogs.

Illustration of tadpoles and adults of the species Notabatrachus degiustoi

Gabriel Rio

Earth’s warm, humid climate in the past, combined with the lack of competition and predation from other frog species and fish, may have made it easier for tadpoles to grow large, Chubar said.

Jody Lowry The Australian Museum in Sydney said the discovery of the oldest known tadpole “confirms how successful and stable the ‘typical’ frog life cycle we all learn about in school is.”

The size of the tadpoles tells us a lot about the habitat in which frogs evolved more than 160 million years ago, a water-rich environment with few predators or competitors, she says. “This is something modern frog species can only dream of.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Australia discovers a new, complex Ediacaran animal species

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Questio Sympsonorum It is part of the Ediacaran biota and contains the oldest preserved evidence of complex macroscopic fauna.

close-up of Questio Sympsonorum Footprints. Image credit: Evans others., doi: 10.1111/ede.12491.

Questio Sympsonorum is one of more than 100 multicellular organisms during the Ediacaran period (635 to 538 million years ago), when the first complex macroscopic animals appeared on Earth.

The creature was up to 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) wide and likely moved along what was once the ocean floor.

Animals that burrowed into the sediment had not yet evolved, so this ocean floor was covered with a layer of microorganisms that formed a slimy organic mat.

“Questio Sympsonorum “It had some interesting characteristics that set it apart from other Ediacaran species,” said Mary Droser, a professor at the University of California.

“What's really interesting about this fossil is that it's essentially symmetrical, meaning the right side mirrors the left side, but there's also an asymmetrical element that forms an inverted question mark shape.”

“This kind of symmetry indicates some level of genetic complexity.”

“Humans are bilaterally symmetrical, but they have many asymmetries, such as the position of the heart and appendix.”

“Many other asymmetries like this have been found throughout the animal kingdom, and this appears to be one of the first organisms to organize it this way.”

Reconstructed by artists Questio Sympsonorum. Image credit: Walker C. Weiland.

more than a dozen specimens Questio Sympsonorum It was discovered in the Nilpena-Ediacaran National Park in South Australia.

“The unique trace evidence our team has discovered suggests that: Questio Sympsonorum “They ate ancient organic mats while on the move,” said Scott Evans, a professor at Florida State University.

“That the fossils are preserved directly alongside evidence of their behavior really speaks to the unprecedented nature of the fossil record at Nilpena. We can see how these animals got their food.”

“Nilpena is a site of great international importance, and there is no other place in the world like it,” said Stuart Paul, regional operations director for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

“In addition to learning about these amazing fossils located within the park, tourists can also visit a former blacksmith shop, where they learn what these creatures look like and how they were formed. One of the fossil beds is brought to life by an impressive audio-visual recreation of the story.

of findings Published in a magazine evolution and development.

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Scott D. Evans others. A new motile animal that influenced the evolution of axial polarity lived during the Ediacaran period of South Australia. evolution and developmentpublished online on September 3, 2024. doi: 10.1111/ede.12491

Source: www.sci.news

Webb discovers carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide found on Charon’s surface

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Using data from near infrared spectrometer (NIRSpec) Astronomers aboard the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have detected carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) The frozen surface of Pluto’s moon Charon. Their findings provide new insights into Charon’s chemical processes and surface composition, and could help understand the origin and evolution of icy objects in the outer solar system.

Protopapa others. Using Webb telescope observations (white), we detected spectral signatures of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Charon. This extends the wavelength range of previous New Horizons flyby measurements (pink). Image credit: S. Protopapa / SwRI / NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / JHUAPL.

Beyond Neptune, there is a collection of fascinating small objects known as trans-solar objects (TNOs) that orbit around the Sun.

These objects act as time capsules, giving planetary scientists a glimpse of the early solar system.

“Charon is unique in that it is the only medium-sized TNO for which geological maps are available, 500 km to 1700 km in diameter, thanks to measurements returned by NASA’s New Horizons mission,” said Sylvia of the Southwest Research Institute. Dr. Protopapa said. And her colleagues.

“Unlike larger TNOs (such as Pluto, Eris, and Makemake), Charon’s surface is not covered by supervolatile ices such as methane, with possible exceptions toward the poles.”

“As a result, Charon serves as an excellent candidate to gain valuable insights into processes such as differentiation, radiation exposure, and cratering within the Kuiper belt.”

“Although Charon has been extensively studied since its discovery in 1978, previous spectral data were limited to wavelengths below 2.5 μm, leaving gaps in our understanding of its surface composition. “

“The presence of water ice, ammonia-containing species, and organic compounds had been previously noted, but the spectral range used was insufficient to detect other compounds.”

Protopapa and his co-authors used Webb’s near-infrared spectrometer to observe Charon at wavelengths between 1.0 and 5.2 μm.

They conducted four observations at different longitudes, and together with laboratory experiments and spectral modeling, they confirmed the presence of crystalline water ice and ammonia, and also identified carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide.

“Thanks to Webb’s advanced observational capabilities, our team is able to explore the light scattered from Charon’s surface at longer wavelengths than previously possible, allowing us to explore the complexities of this fascinating object. “We were able to further deepen our understanding of human health,” said Dr. Ian Wong, a scientist at the institute. Space Telescope Science Institute.

The presence of hydrogen peroxide suggests active processing of water ice by irradiation and light at Charon’s surface, while carbon dioxide is present since its formation and is due to subsurface carbon dioxide exposed to the surface by impact events. It is thought to originate from carbon reservoirs.

The detection of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Charon represents a step forward in planetary science and provides insight into the moon’s surface chemistry.

This study could lay the foundation for future studies to investigate the dynamics of extrasolar objects, their surface compositions, and the effects of solar radiation.

“Our preferred interpretation is that the upper layer of carbon dioxide originated from within and was exposed to the surface through cratering events,” Dr Protopapa said.

“Carbon dioxide is known to exist in the region of the protoplanetary disk where the Pluto system formed.”

“New insights are made possible by the synergy of Webb observations, spectral modeling, and laboratory experiments, and may be applicable to similar medium-sized objects beyond Neptune.”

of result Posted in today’s diary nature communications.

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S. Protopapa others. 2024. Detection of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Charon’s layered surface using JWST. Nat Commune 15, 8247; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-51826-4

Source: www.sci.news

The Hubble Space Telescope Discovers a Spiral Galaxy Forming Stars

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of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope It has provided astronomers with a detailed new image of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 5668.

In this image of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 5668, the Hubble Space Telescope was used to survey the area surrounding a Type II supernova event called SN 2004G to study the types of stars that end their lives as supernovae. The color image is composed of near-infrared and visible light observations by the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). Two filters were used to sample different wavelengths. The colors are obtained by assigning a different color to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image courtesy of NASA / ESA / Hubble / C. Kilpatrick.

NGC 5668 It is located in the constellation Virgo and is about 90 million light years away from Earth.

This galaxy, also known as IRAS 14309+0440, LEDA 52018, and UGC 9363, Found It was discovered on April 29, 1786 by German-born British astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 5668 belongs to two galaxy groups: the NGC 5638 group and the NGC 5746 group.

“At first glance, NGC 5668 does not appear to be a remarkable galaxy,” the Hubble astronomers said.

“It has a diameter of about 90,000 light-years and is roughly the same size and mass as our own Milky Way galaxy. It faces almost head-on, revealing open spiral arms made up of irregular, cloud-like patches.”

“One striking difference between the Milky Way and NGC 5668 is that new stars are forming 60 percent faster in this galaxy.”

“This confirms a galaxy with swirling clouds and gas flows, and bad weather that creates the perfect conditions for new star formation.”

Astronomers have identified two main drivers of star formation in NGC 5668.

“First, this high-quality Hubble Space Telescope snapshot reveals a central bar,” the researchers said.

“Although it may appear slightly elliptical rather than truly bar-shaped, it is likely to influence the galaxy's star formation rate, similar to the bar-like structure at the centers of many spiral galaxies.”

“Second, a high-velocity hydrogen gas cloud has been tracked moving perpendicularly between the galaxy's disk and the faint, spherical halo that surrounds it.”

“They are produced by the powerful stellar winds of hot, massive stars, which feed gas into new star-forming regions.”

“The elevated star formation rate in NGC 5668 is accompanied by a corresponding abundance of supernova explosions,” the researchers said.

“It has been discovered three times in our galaxy, in 1952, 1954, and 2004.”

Source: www.sci.news

Venus Express discovers surprising rise in deuterium to hydrogen ratio in Venus’ mesosphere

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Venus is often called Earth's twin, but its current surface conditions are very different from Earth's and are not suitable for life to exist: not only cannot liquid water exist due to the extreme temperatures and pressures beneath the thick cloud layer, but more importantly, there is almost no water in Venus' atmosphere. Solar Occultation Observatory in Infrared (SOIR) On ESA's Venus Express spacecraftPlanetary researchers have discovered an unexpected increase in the abundance of two variants of the water molecule.2O and HDO, and their ratio HDO/H2O in Venus' mesosphere. This phenomenon calls into question our understanding of Venus' water history and its possible past habitability.

Venus in true colors, processed from Mariner 10 images. Image credit: Mattias Malmer / NASA.

Currently, the temperature on Venus is about 460 degrees Celsius and the pressure is almost 100 times that of Earth.

The atmosphere is extremely dry, covered with thick clouds of sulfuric acid and water droplets, and most of the water resides beneath and within these cloud layers.

However, it is possible that Venus once contained as much water as Earth does.

“Venus is often called Earth's twin planet because its size is similar to Earth's,” says Dr. Hiroki Kario of Tohoku University.

“Despite the similarities between the two planets, their evolutionary processes are different. Unlike Earth, the surface conditions on Venus are extreme.”

Survey of H abundance2O and its deuterated isotope HDO (isotope) reveal insights into the history of water on Venus.

It is generally accepted that Venus and Earth originally had similar HDO/H2O ratio.

However, the ratio observed in Venus' entire atmosphere (below altitude 70 km) was 120 times higher, indicating a significant increase in deuterium over time.

This enrichment occurs primarily when solar radiation breaks down isotopes of water in the upper atmosphere, producing hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D) atoms.

Hydrogen atoms have a small mass and are therefore prone to escaping into space, so HDO/H2The O ratio gradually increases.

To understand how much hydrogen and deuterium has been released into space, it is important to measure the amount of isotopes in water at altitudes where hydrogen and deuterium are broken down by sunlight (above the clouds at altitudes of 70 km or more).

Dr. Caryu et al.2O and HDO increase between 70 and 110 km altitude, and HDO/H2In this range, the O ratio increases by an order of magnitude, reaching levels more than 1,500 times higher than in Earth's oceans.

“The proposed mechanism to explain these findings is the reaction of hydrated sulfuric acid (H2So4) aerosols,” the researchers said.

“These aerosols form just above the clouds, where temperatures drop below the dew point of sulfuric acid water, leading to the formation of deuterium-rich aerosols.”

“These particles rise to high altitudes and evaporate due to rising temperatures, releasing a much higher proportion of HDO compared to non-HDO.2“oh.”

“The steam is then conveyed downwards and the cycle begins again.”

“This study highlights two important points,” they added.

“First, altitude changes play an important role in pinpointing the location of deuterium and hydrogen reservoirs.”

“Second, the increase in HDO/H2The O ratio ultimately increases the release of deuterium, influencing the long-term change in the D/H ratio.”

“These findings encourage us to incorporate highly dependent processes into models to make accurate predictions about the evolution of D/H.”

“Understanding the evolution of Venus' habitability and water history can help us understand what makes a planet habitable and inform how to ensure Earth doesn't follow in its twin's footsteps.”

of result Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Arnaud Mahieu others2024. Unexpected increase in deuterium to hydrogen ratio in the Venus mesosphere. PNAS 121 (34): e2401638121; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2401638121

Source: www.sci.news

Webb discovers unseen elements of Messier 106

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NASA has released a stunning new image of the active center of nearby spiral galaxy Messier 106, taken with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

This Webb image shows Messier 106, a spiral galaxy 20 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. Image courtesy of NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb / J. Glenn.

Located more than 20 million light years from Earth in the small northern constellation Canes Venatici, Messier 106 is one of the brightest spiral galaxies and closest to our Milky Way Galaxy.

Also known as M106 or NGC 4258, the galaxy was discovered in 1781 by Charles Messier's observational assistant, Pierre Méchain.

“Despite its name, Messier 106 was neither discovered nor catalogued by the famous 18th century astronomer Charles Messier,” astronomers Webb said in a statement.

“This galaxy was discovered by his assistant Pierre Méchain, but was not catalogued during his lifetime.”

“Messier 106, along with six other objects they discovered but did not record, Messier Catalogue In the 20th century.”

Messier 106 is similar in size and brightness to our galactic neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy.

Messier 106 measures more than 130,000 light-years from end to end, but because of its great distance from the Milky Way galaxy, it appears very small from Earth's perspective.

At the center of Messier 106 lies an extremely active supermassive black hole with a mass about 40 million times that of the Sun.

Unlike the black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, which only occasionally sucks in gas particles, Messier 106's black hole is actively consuming material.

“As the gas spirals toward Messier 106's black hole, it heats up and emits powerful radiation,” the astronomers said.

New images of Messier 106 Webb's near infrared camera (NIRCam).

“The observations were made as part of a dedicated program to study active galactic nuclei – luminous central regions of galaxies dominated by light emitted by dust and gas falling into a black hole,” the researchers said.

“The blue areas in this image reflect the distribution of stars throughout the central region of the galaxy.”

“Orange areas indicate warmer dust, while more intense reds represent cooler dust.”

“The blue-green, green and yellow tones near the center of the image represent the various gas distributions across the region.”

Messier 106 also has a notable feature: it has two “unusual” extra arms that are visible in radio and x-ray wavelengths, rather than visible light.

“Unlike normal arms, these are made up of hot gas rather than stars,” the scientists said.

“Astronomers think these extra arms are the result of black hole activity, a feedback effect that has been seen in other galaxies.”

“These could be caused by outflows of material produced by the violent churning of gas around the black hole, creating a phenomenon similar to waves rushing out of the ocean when they hit rocks near the shore.”

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble Space Telescope Discovers a Massive Binary Protostar within the RCW 7 Nebula

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RCW 7 is located in the constellation Puppis, about 5,300 light years from Earth.

This Hubble image shows the nebula RCW 7. Image courtesy of NASA/ESA/Hubble/J. Tan, Chalmers University, University of Virginia.

“Nebulae are regions of space that are rich in the raw materials needed to form new stars,” the Hubble astronomers said.

“Due to the effects of gravity, some of these molecular clouds collapse and merge into protostars surrounded by a rotating disk of remaining gas and dust.”

“In the case of RCW 7, the protostar forming here is particularly massive, emitting intense ionizing radiation and a powerful stellar wind that propelled the star into a “H II region“.

“The H II regions are filled with hydrogen ions. HI refers to regular hydrogen atoms, and H II is hydrogen that has lost an electron.”

“Ultraviolet rays from the massive protostar excite the hydrogen, which then emits light that gives the nebula its soft pink glow.”

In RCW 7, the researchers IRAS 07299-1651.

“IRAS 07299-1651 still resides within a cocoon of glowing gas, in clouds swirling towards the top of the nebula,” the researchers said.

To expose this star and its sibling, the new image was created from separate exposures taken in the near-infrared region of the spectrum. Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3).

“This massive protostar is most bright in ultraviolet light, but it also emits a lot of infrared light that penetrates much of the surrounding gas and dust and can be seen by the Hubble Telescope,” the scientists said.

“Many of the other large visible stars in this image are not part of the nebula, but are located between the nebula and the solar system.”

Assuming a circular orbit, IRAS 07299-1651 is estimated to have a minimum total mass of 18 times that of the Sun and a maximum period of 570 years.

“The formation of the H II region marks the beginning of the end of the molecular cloud,” the authors said.

“Over just a few million years, radiation and winds from the massive stars gradually disperse the gas, and this dispersion continues as the most massive stars end their lives in supernova explosions.”

“Only a small portion of this gas will be absorbed by new stars within the nebula, while the rest will spread throughout the galaxy and eventually form new molecular clouds.”

Team Investigation result Published in a journal Natural Astronomy.

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Y. Chan others2024. Dynamics of a giant binary star at birth. Nat Astron 3, 517-523; doi: 10.1038/s41550-019-0718-y

Source: www.sci.news

Webb discovers massive collision in Beta Pictoris star system

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Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope discovered a giant asteroid impact around Beta Gactris, the second brightest star in the constellation Scorpio.

Chen othersBeta Pictoris has a dynamic circumstellar environment, suggesting that periods of active collisions could produce large dust clouds that could blow through the planetary system and increase dust accretion to the giant planets Beta Pictoris b and c. Image credit: Roberto Molar Candanosa / Johns Hopkins University / Lynette Cook / NASA.

Beta Pictoris is an A5 type star located in the constellation Pictoris, approximately 63 light years from Earth.

The star has a mass about 1.8 times that of the Sun and is only 20 million years old.

It contains a circumstellar disk of gas and dust, numerous comet-like objects, and two giant planets, Beta Pictoris b and Beta Pictoris c.

Beta Pictoris b is a gas giant with a mass about 9-13 times that of Jupiter. It orbits its parent star at a distance of 9.8 astronomical units (AU) and completes one revolution around its parent star every 22 years.

Beta Pictoris c has a mass 8.2 times that of Jupiter and is located quite close to its star, orbiting it at a distance of 2.7 AU with an orbital period of about 1,200 days.

“Beta Pictoris is at an age where terrestrial planetary belt planet formation is still ongoing due to giant asteroid impacts, so what we're seeing here is essentially how rocky planets and other objects are forming in real time,” said Dr Christine Chen, an astronomer at Johns Hopkins University.

By comparing the new data with data from the Webb Space Telescope in 2004 and 2005, Dr Chen and his colleagues found a significant change in the energy characteristics emitted by the dust particles around Beta Pictoris.

Webb's detailed measurements allowed the researchers to track the composition and size of dust particles in the very region that Spitzer had previously analyzed.

The researchers focused on heat given off by crystalline silicates – minerals commonly found around young stars, on Earth and other celestial bodies – and found no trace of the particles observed in 2004 and 2005.

“This suggests that a catastrophic collision occurred between the asteroid and another object about 20 years ago, shattering the asteroid into microscopic dust particles smaller than pollen or powdered sugar,” Dr Chen said.

“We believe the dust is the same as that first observed in Spitzer data in 2004 and 2005.”

“The best explanation given by Webb's new data is that we have in fact witnessed the aftermath of a rare catastrophe between large, asteroid-sized objects, completely changing our understanding of this solar system.”

The new data suggests that dust dispersed outward by radiation from the system's central star can no longer be detected.

Initially, dust near the star heated up and emitted thermal radiation that Spitzer's instruments identified.

Now, as the dust cools away from the star, it no longer emits its thermal properties.

When Spitzer collected its previous data, scientists assumed that small objects abrading the ground would stir up the dust and steadily replenish it over time.

But Webb's new observations showed that the dust had disappeared and not been replaced.

“The amount of dust kicked up is about 100,000 times the size of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs,” Dr Chen said.

The authors, Investigation result this week's 244th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society In Madison, Wisconsin.

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Christine Chen others2024. Spectroscopic evidence of a recent giant impact around Beta. 224 AustraliaAbstract number 313

Source: www.sci.news

NILS discovers negative ions present on the moon’s surface

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of Negative Ion Laser Spectroscopy (NILS) Chinese Chang'e 6 Probe Negative ions have been detected on the surface of the moon. These ions are produced on the surface of the moon due to interactions with the solar wind.

The South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the Moon is one of the largest and oldest impact features in the Solar System. It's easy to see in the elevation data: the low central area is dark blue and purple. The mountains on its edges, remnants of the outer ring, are red and yellow. Image credit: NASA/GSFC/University of Arizona.

The solar wind is a constant stream of radiation and particles emanating from the Sun. The Earth's magnetic field acts as a shield.

In contrast, the Moon has no magnetic field and a very thin atmosphere called the exosphere.

When the solar wind hits the Moon, it reacts with the surface, sending up secondary particles.

These particles may be positively or negatively charged, or may not be charged at all.

Positively charged particles have been measured from orbit before, but measuring negatively charged particles has been difficult.

Negative ions are short-lived and cannot reach orbit, which is why ESA scientists had to operate their instruments closer to the lunar surface.

“This is ESA's first operation on the lunar surface, a world first for science and our first lunar collaboration with China,” said Neil Melville, ESA's technical lead for the NILS experiment.

“We collected data in quantity and quality far beyond our expectations.”

“These observations on the Moon will help us to better understand the surface environment and serve as a precursor to exploring the distribution of negative ions on other atmosphere-less bodies in the Solar System, from planets to asteroids and other moons,” said NILS principal investigator Dr Martin Wieser.

Chang'e-6 is scheduled to successfully land in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon on June 1, 2024.

NILS began collecting science data 280 minutes after landing. The first data collection period lasted 23 minutes, after which the instruments experienced a voltage drop. Several further data collection periods followed, during which communications were interrupted and restarted.

“The equipment was getting hot, so it was alternating between short periods of running at full power and longer periods of cooling down,” Melville said.

“The fact that we managed to stay within the thermal design limits and achieve a successful recovery in extremely hot conditions is testament to the quality of the research at the Swedish Institute of Astrophysics.”

Source: www.sci.news

‘Hubble Space Telescope Discovers Intricate Galaxy in Virgo Galaxy Cluster’

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The Hubble team has released a beautiful new image of the dwarf galaxy IC 776 in the constellation Virgo.

This Hubble image shows IC 776, a dwarf galaxy about 100 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / M. Sun.

IC776 It is located in the constellation Virgo, about 100 million light years away from Earth.

This galaxy, also known as ALFALFA 3-210, LEDA 39613, and UGC 7352, discovered It was announced by French astronomer Stéphane Javert on May 4, 1893.

IC 776 is Virgo Clusterthe nearest and best-studied large galaxy cluster.

It is a dwarf galaxy and is also classified as a dwarf galaxy. SAB type One study calls this the “complex case” in morphology.

“This extremely detailed observation from Hubble illustrates its complexity,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“IC 776 has a ragged and disorganized disk, but it still appears to spiral around a central core, creating an arc of star-forming regions.”

The color image of IC 776 was created from separate exposures taken in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum. Hubble's advanced survey camera (ACS).

Two filters were used to sample different wavelengths. Color is obtained by assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter.

“This image comes from an observational program dedicated to the study of dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster and searching for X-ray sources in such galaxies,” the researchers said.

“X-rays are often emitted from accretion disks, where matter pulled into a compact object by gravity collides, forming a hot, glowing disk.”

“This compact object could be a white dwarf or neutron star that steals material from its companion star, or it could be a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy that consumes its surroundings.”

“Dwarf galaxies like IC 776 passing through the Virgo cluster can experience pressure from intergalactic gas, stimulate star formation, and feed the black hole at the galaxy's center,” the study says. they added.

“It could produce a high-energy accretion disk that is hot enough to emit X-rays.”

“Hubble cannot see X-rays, but in conjunction with X-ray telescopes such as NASA's Chandra, it can use visible light to reveal the source of this radiation in high resolution.”

“Dwarf galaxies are thought to be of great importance for understanding cosmology and galaxy evolution.”

“As with many fields of astronomy, the ability to examine these galaxies across the electromagnetic spectrum is critical to research.”

Source: www.sci.news

Lab Discovers Simple Method to Evade AI Safety Features in Multi-shot Jailbreak

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A study shows that some of the most powerful AI tools meant to prevent cybercrime and terrorism can be bypassed simply by inundating them with fraudulent activities.

Researchers at Anthropic, the AI lab responsible for creating the large-scale language model (LLM) powering ChatGPT competitor Claude, detailed an attack called a “multi-shot jailbreak” in a recent paper. This attack was both simple and effective.

Claude, like many other commercial AI systems, contains safety features that block certain types of requests, such as generating violent content, hate speech, illegal instructions, deception, or discrimination. However, by providing enough examples of the “correct” responses to harmful questions like “How to create a bomb,” the system can be tricked into providing harmful responses despite being trained not to do so.

Anthropic stated, “By inputting large amounts of text in specific ways, this approach can lead the LLM to produce potentially harmful outputs even though it was trained to avoid doing so.” The company has shared its findings with industry peers and aims to address the issue promptly.

This jailbreak attack targets AI models with a large “context window” capable of processing lengthy queries. These advanced models are susceptible to such attacks as they can learn to circumvent their own safety measures faster.

Newer, more advanced AI systems are at greater risk of such attacks due to their ability to handle longer inputs and learn from examples quickly. Anthropic expressed concern over the effectiveness of this jailbreak attack on larger models.

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Anthropic has identified various strategies to mitigate this issue. One approach involves adding a mandatory warning to remind the system not to provide harmful responses, which has shown promise in reducing the likelihood of a successful jailbreak. However, this method may impact the system’s performance on other tasks.

Source: www.theguardian.com

ALMA discovers over 100 different molecules in a nearby starburst galaxy

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Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) have detected more than 100 molecular species at the center of starburst galaxy NGC 253. This is far more than anything previously observed in galaxies outside the Milky Way.

Artist's impression of the center of starburst galaxy NGC 253. Image credit: NRAO/AUI/NSF.

In the Universe, some galaxies form stars much faster than our Milky Way. These galaxies are called starburst galaxies.

Exactly how such extremely prolific star formation occurs and how it ends is still a mystery.

The probability of star formation is determined by the properties of the raw material from which stars are formed, such as molecular gas, which is a gaseous substance made up of various molecules.

For example, stars form in dense regions within molecular clouds where gravity can work more effectively.

Some time after a star has been actively forming, explosions from existing or dead stars can energize the surrounding material and prevent future star formation.

These physical processes affect the galaxy's chemistry and imprint signatures on the strength of the signals from its molecules.

Because each molecule emits light at a specific frequency, observations over a wide frequency range can analyze its physical properties and provide insight into the mechanism of starbursts.

It was observed by Dr. Nanase Harada of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan as part of the ALMA Comprehensive High-Resolution Extragalactic Molecular Inventory (ALCHEMI). NGC253 a starburst galaxy located 11.5 million light-years away in the constellation Corina.

They were able to detect more than 100 molecular species in the galaxy's central molecular belt.

This chemical raw material is most abundantly found outside the Milky Way, and includes molecules such as ethanol and the phosphorus-containing species PN, which were first detected beyond the Milky Way.

First, astronomers found that the dense molecular gas likely fuels active star formation in this galaxy.

Each molecule emits at multiple frequencies, and its relative and absolute signal strength varies with density and temperature.

Analysis of numerous signals from several molecular species revealed that the amount of dense gas at the center of NGC 253 is more than 10 times greater than the amount of gas at the center of the Milky Way. This could explain why NGC 253 forms about 30 stars. With the same amount of molecular gas, you can get many times more efficiency.

One mechanism by which molecular clouds compress and become denser is through collisions between them.

At the center of NGC 253, cloud collisions occur where gas streams and stars intersect, creating shock waves that travel at supersonic speeds.

These shock waves vaporize molecules such as methanol and HNCO and freeze them onto ice dust particles.

Once the molecules evaporate as a gas, they can be observed with radio telescopes such as ALMA.

Certain molecules also track ongoing star formation. It is known that complex organic molecules exist in abundance around young stars.

Schematic image of the center of NGC 253. Spectra from the ALCHEMI survey are shown where different tracer species are enriched.Image credits: ALMA / ESO / National Astronomical Observatory of Japan / NRAO / Harada other.

The study suggests that in NGC 253, active star formation creates a hot, dense environment similar to that found around individual protostars in the Milky Way.

The amount of complex organic molecules at the center of NGC 253 is similar to that found around galactic protostars.

In addition to the physical conditions that can promote star formation, the study also uncovered harsh environments left behind by previous generations of stars that could slow the formation of future stars.

When a massive star dies, a massive explosion known as a supernova occurs, releasing energetic particles called cosmic rays.

Molecular composition of NGC 253 revealed by enhancement of species such as H3○+ and HOC+ Molecules in this region are stripped of some of their electrons by cosmic rays at least 1,000 times faster than molecules near the solar system.

This suggests that there is a significant energy input from the supernova, making it difficult for the gas to condense and form a star.

Finally, the ALCHEMI survey provided an atlas of 44 molecular species, double the number obtained in previous studies outside the Milky Way.

By applying machine learning techniques to this atlas, the researchers were able to identify which molecules can most effectively track the star formation story described above from beginning to end.

As explained above with some examples, certain molecular species track phenomena such as shock waves and dense gas that can help star formation.

Young star-forming regions are rich in chemicals, including complex organic molecules.

On the other hand, the developed starbursts show an enhancement of cyanogen radicals, which indicate an energy output in the form of ultraviolet photons from massive stars, which could also hinder future star formation.

“Finding these tracers may help plan future observations to take advantage of the broadband sensitivity improvements expected over this decade as part of the ALMA 2030 development roadmap. “Simultaneous observation of molecular transitions will become more manageable,” the scientists said.

Their paper will appear in Astrophysical Journal Appendix Series.

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Nanase Harada other. 2024. ALCHEMI Atlas: Principal component analysis reveals starburst evolution of NGC 253. APJS 271, 38; doi: 10.3847/1538-4365/ad1937

Source: www.sci.news

Webb discovers complex organic compounds in interstellar ice approaching dual protostars

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astronomer using Mid-infrared measuring instrument The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope's (MIRI) detected molecules ranging from relatively simple ones like methane to complex compounds like ethanol (alcohol) and acetic acid. interstellar ice One low-mass protostar and one high-mass protostar: toward NGC 1333 IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385+6053, respectively.

This image taken by Webb's MIRI instrument shows the region near the IRAS 23385+6053 protostar. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/WRM Rocha, LEI.

Complex organic molecules (COM) are molecules with six or more atoms, including at least one carbon atom.

These materials are the raw material for future exoplanetary systems and are therefore of essential importance in understanding the chemical complexity developed in star-forming regions.

If this material becomes available in a primitive planetary system, it could facilitate the planet's habitability.

In a new study, astronomers Will Rocha, Harold Linnaerts and colleagues at Leiden University used Webb's mid-infrared instrument to determine the extent of COM ice in two protostars, NGC 1333 IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385+6053. We investigated the characteristics.

They were able to identify a variety of COMs, including ethanol (alcohol) and perhaps acetic acid (a component of vinegar).

“Our discovery contributes to one of the long-standing questions in astrochemistry,” Dr. Rocha said.

“What is the origin of COM in the Universe?” Are they created in the gas phase or in ice? Detection of COM in ice is based on the solid phase at the surface of cold dust particles It suggests that chemical reactions can build complex types of molecules. ”

“Some COMs, including those detected in the solid phase in our study, were previously detected in the warm gas phase, so they are now thought to originate from ice sublimation.”

“Sublimation is the change from a solid directly to a gas without becoming a liquid.”

“Therefore, we have hope that detecting COM in ice will improve our understanding of the origins of other, larger molecules in the universe.”

This figure shows the spectrum of the NGC 1333 IRAS 2A protostar. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/Leah Hustak, STScI.

The researchers also detected simpler molecules such as formic acid, methane, formaldehyde, and sulfur dioxide.

“Sulfur-containing compounds, such as sulfur dioxide, played an important role in promoting metabolic reactions on early Earth,” the researchers said.

“Of particular interest is that one of the investigated origins, NGC 1333 IRAS 2A, is characterized as a low-mass protostar.”

“NGC 1333 IRAS 2A may resemble the early stages of our solar system.”

“Therefore, the chemicals identified around this protostar may have been present during the earliest stages of the development of the solar system and were later delivered to the proto-Earth.”

“All of these molecules could become part of comets, asteroids, and ultimately new planetary systems as icy material is transported inside planet-forming disks as protostar systems evolve.” '' said Dr. Ewain van Dyschoek, an astronomer at Leiden University.

“We look forward to using more web data in the coming years to follow this astrochemical trajectory step by step.”

of the team paper It was published in the magazine astronomy and astrophysics.

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WRM Rocha other. 2024. JWST Young Protostar Observation (JOYS+): Detection of icy complex organic molecules and ions. I.CH.FourSo2,HCOO−,OCN−,H2Colorado, Cooh, Switzerland3CH2Oh, CH3Cho, channel3Ocho and CH3Coo. A&A 683, A124; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202348427

Source: www.sci.news

Webb discovers unique helium cloud surrounding GN-z11 in its Halo

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GN-z11 is an extremely bright galaxy that existed just 420 million years ago, making it one of the oldest and most distant galaxies ever observed.

This two-part diagram shows evidence of a gaseous mass of helium in the halo surrounding galaxy GN-z11. The small box at the top right corner shows her GN-z11 in the galaxy. The box in the center shows a magnified image of the galaxy. The left-most box shows a map of helium gas in GN-z11's halo. This also includes clumps that are not visible in the infrared colors shown in the center panel. The spectrum in the bottom half of the graphic shows a distinct “fingerprint” of helium within the halo. The full spectrum shows no evidence of other elements, so the helium blob must be fairly pure, made from leftover hydrogen and helium gas from the Big Bang, with little contamination from heavier elements produced by stars. It suggests that there is no. Theory and simulations near particularly massive galaxies of these epochs predict that pockets of primordial gas must remain within the halo, and that these may collapse to form Population III clusters. doing. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/Ralf Crawford, STScI.

GN-z11 is an early but moderately massive galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major.

First discovered by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in 2016, the galaxy is estimated to be just 420 million years old, or 3% of its current age.

GN-z11 is about 25 times smaller than the Milky Way, with only 1% of the mass of stars in our galaxy.

Remarkably, this galaxy is home to a supermassive black hole of approximately 1.6 million solar masses that is rapidly accreting matter.

using, near infrared spectrometer Astronomer Roberto Maiorino of the University of Cambridge and colleagues detected gaseous clumps of helium in the halo surrounding GN-z11 using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope's (NIRSpec) instrument.

“The fact that we don't see anything but helium suggests that this mass must be fairly pure,” Maiorino said.

“This is what was predicted by theory and simulations near particularly massive galaxies of these times. There should be pockets of primordial gas left in the halo, and these collapse into population III. They may form star clusters.”

Finding never-before-seen “Population III stars” (first generation stars formed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium) is one of the most important goals of modern astrophysics.

These stars are expected to be very massive, very bright, and very hot.

Their expected characteristics are the presence of ionized helium and the absence of chemical elements heavier than helium.

The formation of the first stars and galaxies marked a fundamental change in the history of the universe, during which the universe went from a dark and relatively simple state to the highly structured and complex state we see today. It has evolved into an environment.

“In future Webb observations, we hope to probe GN-z11 more deeply and strengthen our case for Population III stars potentially forming within the halo,” the astronomers said.

The survey results are journal astronomy and astrophysics.

Source: www.sci.news

China discovers new species of titanosaurus

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Chinese paleontologists have discovered fossil fragments of a new genus and species of titanosaurus, a sauropod dinosaur that walked the Earth during the Cretaceous period.

rebuilding the life of Jancitan ganjouensis. Image credit: UnexpectedDinoLesson / Sci.News.

Muttjac titanum ganjoensis They lived in what is now China from 72 million years ago to 66 million years ago (late Cretaceous period).

The partial skeleton of this dinosaur was discovered in the Nanxiong Formation near Tankou Town, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China.

The specimen consists of seven cervical and anterior dorsal vertebrae, and several cervical and dorsal ribs.

Muttjac titanum ganjoensis belongs to the sauropod dinosaur group titanosauridae.

“Muttjac titanum ganjoensis It is unique among Asian titanosaurids in that it has a deeply bifurcated dorsal neck and anterodorsal neural spines, and a dorsoventrally compressed dorsal neck and anterodorsal center. Lead author Jin Yu Mo of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Natural History Museum and colleagues state in the paper. .

Muttjac titanum ganjoensis represents the second sauropod species. Nanyu Formation.

“The Late Cretaceous Nanxiong Formation is represented by an extensive succession of red mudstones, sandstones, and conglomerates,” the paleontologists wrote.

“Recent years have produced a wide variety of vertebrates, including theropods, ornithopods, crocodiles, turtles, lizards, and mammals, as well as vast numbers of dinosaur eggs.”

“There is only one species of sauropod, Ganansaurus sinensisrecorded in this area.

Team analysis points Muttjac titanum ganjoensis Within a group of deeply nested titanosaurs Rogoncosauria.

“Muttjac titanum ganjoensis Display features that indicate branch locations later than Ganansaurus sinensismore specifically, Muttjac titanum ganjoensis It was recovered as Rogoncosaurus, but Ganansaurus sinensis as titanosaurs outside of a late-branching clade containing Diamantina Sauria and lithostorozia” the researchers wrote.

“As a result, Muttjac titanum ganjoensis There are no duplicate elements with Ganansaurus sinensiswe are confident. Muttjac titanum ganjoensis is a different species from Ganansaurus sinensis”

The discovery of Muttjac titanum ganjoensis “This indicates the presence of both early-divergent and late-divergent titanosauroid sauropods in the Late Cretaceous Ganzhou dinosaur fauna,” the researchers added.

“This discovery also increases the diversity of titanosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Asia.”

of the team paper It was published in the magazine historical biology.

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Mo Jin Yoo other. A new species of titanosaur sauropod excavated from the Late Cretaceous period in Jiangxi Province, southern China. historical biology, published online on September 23, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2259413

Source: www.sci.news

Webb discovers evidence of hydrothermal activity within Ellis and Makemake

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Methane ice of unknown origin exists on the surfaces of the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake. Analysis of data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope shows that Ellis and Makemake have rocky cores that have undergone significant radiation heating and are still hot/hot enough to produce methane. There is a possibility.

grain other. Researchers have discovered evidence of hydrothermal or metamorphic activity deep within the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake. Image courtesy of Southwest Research Institute.

“We're seeing some interesting signs of a hot period in a cool place,” said Dr. Christopher Grein, a planetary researcher at the Southwest Research Institute.

“I approached this project thinking that because the cold surfaces of large Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) can store volatile materials like methane, they should have ancient surfaces with material inherited from the proto-solar nebula. I participated.”

“Instead, Webb had a surprise for us! We found evidence of a thermal process producing methane from inside Ellis and Makemake.”

Dr. Grein and his colleagues used the Webb to observe isotope molecules on the surfaces of Ellis and Makemake for the first time.

These so-called isotopologues are molecules containing atoms with different numbers of neutrons. These provide data that helps us understand the evolution of planets.

The astronomers measured the composition of the dwarf planet's surface, specifically the ratio of deuterium (deuterium, D) to hydrogen (H) in methane.

Deuterium is thought to have formed in the Big Bang, and hydrogen is the most abundant atomic nucleus in the universe.

The D/H ratio of planetary bodies provides information about the origin, geological history, and formation routes of hydrogen-containing compounds.

“The moderate D/H ratio observed by Mr. Webb discredits the existence of primordial methane on the ancient Earth's surface. The D/H ratio of primordial methane would be much higher,” Dr. Grein said. I did.

“Instead, the D/H ratio indicates the geochemical origin of the methane produced deep inside. The D/H ratio is like a window. You can use it to look into the subsurface.”

“Our data suggest that temperatures in the cores of these world rocks could increase and methane could be cooked.”

“Nitrogen molecule (N2) may be generated as well, and this has also been confirmed in Eris. ”

“Hot cores may also indicate a potential source of liquid water beneath the surface of the ice.”

“If Eris and Makemake harbored, or perhaps still harbor, warm or hot geochemistry in their rocky cores, then the surface of these planets is probably geologically recent, due to cryogenic volcanic activity. could be supplied with methane,” said Dr. Will Grundy. Astronomer at Lowell Observatory.

“We discovered the carbon isotope ratio (13C/12C) suggests that the surface has been resurfaced relatively recently. ”

“Following NASA's New Horizons flyby of the Pluto system, and with this discovery, the Kuiper Belt turns out to be much more alive than we imagined in terms of hosting a dynamic world.” said Dr. Grein.

“It's not too early to start thinking about sending spacecraft to fly close to other of these objects to put Webb's data into geological context. I'm sure we'll see the surprises that lie ahead. I think you’ll be surprised!”

of study It was published in the magazine Icarus.

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Christopher R. Grein other. 2024. Moderate D/H ratios in the Ellis and Makemake methane ices indicate evidence of hydrothermal or metamorphic processes in the interior: a geochemical analysis. Icarus 412: 115999; doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2024.115999

Source: www.sci.news

XMM-Newton discovers ultrafast black hole wind in Markarian 817

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Markarian 817 is the Seyfert 1 galaxy located 430 million light-years away in the constellation Draco. Also known as Mrk 817 or QSO J1436+5847, it hosts an active supermassive black hole of 81 million solar masses.

This artist's impression shows super-fast winds blowing from the center of the galaxy Markarian 817. These winds travel at millions of kilometers per hour and remove interstellar gas from vast regions of space. Without this gas, galaxies cannot form new stars, and the black holes at the galaxies' centers have little left to eat. The inset shows what is happening at the center of the galaxy. A supermassive black hole draws in gas from its surroundings to form a hot, brightly lit accretion disk (orange). The wind (white) is caused by a magnetic field within the disk, which causes particles to fly in all directions at incredibly high speeds. These winds effectively block the X-rays (blue) emitted by the extremely hot plasma surrounding the black hole, called the corona.Zack other. Using his X-ray telescope XMM-Newton at ESA, he captured Markarian 817 blowing out super-fast winds. This wind, which lasts for about a year, will have a major impact on star formation in the galaxy. The fact that black holes at the centers of galaxies exhibited fairly average activity levels before generating winds suggests that supervelocity black hole winds are much more common than previously thought. doing. In other words, black holes and their host galaxies strongly influence each other's evolution. Image credit: ESA / CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.

At the center of every large galaxy is a supermassive black hole whose enormous gravitational pull pulls in gas from its surroundings.

As the gas spirals inward, it collects in a flat accretion disk around the black hole, where it heats up and glows.

Over time, the gas closest to the black hole passes the point of no return and gets swallowed up.

But black holes consume only a portion of the gas that swirls toward them.

While surrounding the black hole, some matter is bounced back into space, much like a messy toddler spilling everything on his plate.

In a more dramatic episode, a black hole turns the entire table upside down. The gas in the accretion disk is thrown off in all directions at such high velocities that it wipes out the surrounding interstellar gas.

This not only deprives the black hole of food, but also means that new stars cannot form over large areas and the structure of the galaxy changes.

Until now, this ultrafast black hole wind had only been detected as coming from a very bright accretion disk at the limit of its ability to pull in matter.

At this time, ESA's XMM-Newton spacecraft detected superfast winds in Markarian 817, a decidedly average galaxy that could be described as “just having a snack.”

“With the fans on the highest setting, we would expect very fast winds,” said Dr. Miranda Zak, an astronomer at the University of Michigan.

“In the galaxy we studied called Markarian 817, the fans were turned on at a lower power setting, but still produced incredibly energetic winds.”

“It is very rare to observe ultrafast winds, and even rarer to detect winds with enough energy to change the properties of the host galaxy.”

“The fact that Markarian 817 produced these winds for about a year, even though it was not particularly active, suggests that the black hole may have changed the shape of its host galaxy much more than previously thought. “This suggests that there is a sex,” said Roman astronomer Elias Cammun. Tre University.

Active galactic nuclei emit high-energy light, including X-rays. Markarian 817 stood out to astronomers because it was extremely quiet.

“The X-ray signal was so weak that I knew I was doing something wrong,” Zak said.

Follow-up observations using ESA's XMM Newton revealed what was actually happening. The superfast winds from the accretion disk acted like a shroud, blocking the X-rays emitted from the black hole's immediate surroundings.

These measurements were supported by observations made with NASA's NuSTAR telescope.

Detailed analysis of X-ray measurements revealed that Markarian 817's center did not send out a single puff of gas, but instead created a gust of wind storm over a wide area of ​​the accretion disk.

The winds lasted for hundreds of days and consisted of at least three distinct components, each traveling at a few percent of the speed of light.

This solves an unsolved puzzle in understanding how black holes and their surrounding galaxies interact with each other.

Many galaxies, including the Milky Way, appear to have large regions around their centers where few new stars form.

This could be explained by black hole winds sweeping away star-forming gas, but this works only if the winds are fast enough, persist long enough, and are produced by black holes at typical activity levels. limited to cases where

“One of the many unresolved problems in black hole research is the problem of achieving detection through long-term observations over many hours to capture important events,” said Dr. Norbert Schartel, a scientist on the XMM-Newton project. says.

“This highlights the paramount importance of the XMM-Newton mission into the future.”

“No other mission can achieve that combination of high sensitivity and the ability to make long, uninterrupted observations.”

a paper Regarding the survey results, Astrophysics Journal Letter.

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Miranda K. Zackother. 2024. Seyfert 1.2 Markarian 817 Hidden Sub-Eddington Feedback Intense Feedback.APJL 962, L1; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad1407

Source: www.sci.news

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

Deep-sea Submersible Discovers Four New Species of Octopus

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A female octopus lays her eggs near a small rock outcrop, informally known as El Dorado Hill.

ROV Subastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute

Four new species of deep-sea octopus have been discovered in an underwater mountain range about two miles downstream in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Costa Rica, according to the Schmidt Institute of Oceanography.

During expeditions in June and December 2023, researchers on the US nonprofit research vessel Falkor also used a remote-controlled vehicle to explore two low-temperature hydrothermal springs, two octopuses, and more. found a nursery, and one skate nursery. Subastian.

Previous research has found areas where octopuses live near low-temperature springs, but these environments have been difficult to find.

Typical 350°C hot hydrothermal vents are easy to spot thanks to smoke rising from the ocean floor. However, the cold spring's water temperature is only about 10 degrees Celsius higher than the average 2 degrees Celsius at the ocean floor, and is only visible through slight diffraction of light.

“It looks like it’s sparkling,” says expedition co-leader. Beth Orcutt at the Bigelow Marine Science Institute, another nonprofit in Maine.

Finding this subtle sign in the dark required multiple dives in different locations. “It's like walking through a forest you've never been in before with a flashlight looking for hot springs,” Orcutt said. “We were kind of making a bet.”

The four new species have not yet been officially described, but one has been named the dorado octopus, after the rock where it was discovered, known as El Dorado Hill.some kind of Muusocopsfemales gather to incubate eggs in warm water.

Orcutt said researchers believe the other species are new based on their appearance. They appear to be solitary, which is common among deep-sea octopuses. “They don't like having their neighbors close,” she says.

These insights into Costa Rica's unique biodiversity could inform regional conservation policy. “It is difficult [protect deep-sea wildlife] That’s when you don’t know it’s underground,” Orcutt says.

Undersea octopus farm

ROV Subastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute

These missions also help inspire and develop local scientific talent through training for early career researchers on how to lead deep-sea explorations, she says. The 310 specimens collected, which also include starfish, spider stars and sea cucumbers, will be kept at the Zoological Museum at the University of Costa Rica, rather than in the United States, where they are not easily accessible to local researchers.

More exploration is needed because the deep sea faces many threats, including mining, Orcutt said. “We're just scratching the surface.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

AI Discovers that Your Fingerprint is Not Actually Unique

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New AI has revealed unexpected discoveries. Surprisingly, your fingerprints aren’t as unique as previously thought.

Well, at least when compared to each other. It has long been believed that fingerprints on different fingers of the same person are unique. In other words, the fingerprint on your index finger bears little resemblance to the fingerprint on your thumb.

This belief that “intrapersonal fingerprints” are unique has had a major impact on forensic science. For example, if a criminal leaves different finger prints at different crime scenes, it is difficult for police to link them to one person.

But a new “deep contrast network” artificial intelligence built by scientists at Columbia University could leave a big mark on future crime scenes. The researchers found that they could make predictions after training on a database of 60,000 fingerprints. Two prints are from the same person with 77% accuracy.

This number would rise even more if the AI was fed other fingerprints from the same hand. Researchers say this breakthrough could improve current forensic efficiency by more than 10 times.

“Imagine how well this would work [AI] “If it’s trained on millions of fingerprints instead of thousands, it will work,” said Anib Ray, engineering senior at Columbia.

Dr. Hod Lipson“If this information tipped the balance, I imagine there would be a resurgence of cold cases and even innocent people could be exonerated,” said the author, who oversaw the study.

So what has AI discovered that forensic scientists have missed for decades? Unlike traditional fingerprint comparisons, AI detects “minutiae,” or similarities between the branches and ends of fingerprint ridges. was not focused on. Instead, they focused on the angles and curvature of the whorls and loops at the center of the fingerprint.

Fingerprints are examined by minutiae (L) and central ridge angle (R). – Photo credit: Columbia University.

“Many people think that AI can’t actually make new discoveries, it just regurgitates knowledge,” Lipson says. “However, this study shows that even very simple AI, based on very simple datasets that the research community has had lying around for years, provides insights that have eluded experts for decades. This is an example of how we can deliver.”

After all, the fingerprints on your fingers may not be that different from each other, but it is unlikely to be shared with others. In fact, the chances that two people share the same fingerprint are estimated to be less than 1 in 64 billion. This means that probably more than 1 million years two people with identical fingerprints happen to appear in Scotland Yard’s fingerprint database.

Identical twins also have unique patterns. This is because the bumps on your fingers are determined not only by your DNA, but also by how you developed as a fetus. The length of the umbilical cord, its position in the uterus, blood pressure, nutrition, and rate of finger growth all play a role.

Gorillas, chimpanzees, and koalas are some of the animals that have been found to have unique markings.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Study discovers that hearing aids could extend lifespan

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Are hearing aids really worth the investment? Recent research suggests that they may be more beneficial than previously thought. In fact, a new study indicates that using hearing aids can decrease the risk of premature death by about 25%. Despite this, a large portion of adults with hearing loss in the US and UK do not use hearing aids, even though they could greatly benefit from them.

Researchers at the University of South Carolina conducted the study and are hoping that their findings will encourage more people with hearing loss to utilize hearing aids. Dr. Janet Choi, the study’s principal investigator, stated that the results are particularly interesting as they point to the possibility that hearing aids can contribute to overall health and longevity.

The study, which was published in the Lancet Health and Longevity journal and involved 10,000 participants, found that regular users of hearing aids had a considerably lower risk of death compared to non-users. The research also suggested that consistent use of hearing aids, rather than occasional use, was key to reaping the benefits for longevity.

This research indicates that hearing aids can lead to improved mental health and cognitive function, ultimately contributing to a longer and healthier life. Interestingly, the study found that factors such as degree of hearing loss, age, ethnicity, and income did not impact the benefits of hearing aids on lifespan.

These findings suggest that the benefits of using hearing aids go beyond improved hearing and may actually play a crucial role in promoting overall health and well-being.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

ALMA discovers earthquake-like ripples in the disk of an old barred spiral galaxy

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astronomer using Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array ALMA observed disk bending waves in BRI 1335-0417, the oldest known spiral galaxy, more than 12 billion years old. This unprecedented observation reveals the galaxy’s dynamic growth pattern, showing the motion of a vertically oscillating disk similar to ripples in a pond. This study is the first time such a phenomenon has been detected in an early galaxy.

This simulation shows how the galactic disk is disturbed and seismic ripples propagate throughout the disk. Image credit: Brand-Hawthorne & Tepper-Garcia, University of Sydney.

Bar structures play an important role in driving galaxy evolution and forming disk structures.

In galaxies, axisymmetric stellar bars exert a gravitational torque on the gas, driving it toward the galactic center and forming concentrated stellar structures such as bulges and core disks.

This process may also promote the accretion of gas onto black holes, which are observed as active galactic nuclei.

Bars can also cause radial migration of gas and stars, which is essential for explaining the stellar kinematics observed in galaxies similar to the Milky Way.

“Thanks to a cutting-edge telescope called ALMA, we have been able to observe the ancient galaxy BRI 1335-0417 in greater detail,” said lead author Dr Takafumi Tsukui, an astronomer at the Australian National University.

“In particular, we were interested in how gas moves within and across galaxies.”

“Gas is a key component for star formation and provides important clues about how galaxies actually drive star formation.”

In this case, Dr. Tsukui and his colleagues were not only able to capture the movement of gas around BRI 1335-0417, but also revealed the formation of seismic waves, a first for this type of early galaxy.

The galaxy’s disk moves similar to the ripples in a pond after a stone is thrown into it.

ALMA detected emission from carbon ions in the galaxy BRI 1335-0417. Image credit: ALMA / ESO / NAOJ / NRAO / T. Tsukui & S. Iguchi, doi: 10.1126/science.abe9680.

“The vertical oscillatory motion of the disk is due to external factors, such as new gas flowing into the galaxy or contact with other small galaxies,” Tsukui said.

“Both possibilities would bombard the galaxy with new fuel for star formation.”

“Furthermore, our study revealed rod-like structures within the disk.”

“The galactic rods can destroy gas and transport it towards the center of the galaxy.”

“The bar discovered at BRI 1335-0417 is the most remote known structure of its kind.”

“Taken together, these results point to the dynamic growth of young galaxies.”

“We know that early galaxies formed stars at much faster rates than modern galaxies,” said co-author Dr Emily Wisnioski, also from the Australian National University.

“This is also true for BRI 1335-0417, which has a similar mass to our Milky Way galaxy but forms stars hundreds of times faster.”

“We wanted to understand how gas is supplied to keep up with this rapid rate of star formation.”

“Spiral structures are rare in the early Universe, and exactly how they form remains unknown.”

“This study also provides important information about the most likely scenario.”

“While it is impossible to directly observe the evolution of galaxies, our observations only provide snapshots, so computer simulations can help piece together the story.”

of findings will appear in Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices.

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Takafumi Tsukui other. 2024. Disk bending waves detected in a barred spiral galaxy at redshift 4.4. MNRAS 527 (3): 8941-8949; doi: 10.1093/mnras/stad3588

Source: www.sci.news

‘Saturn’s Rings Revealed: Hubble Space Telescope Discovers Intriguing ‘Spokes’ within’

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Saturn, a gas giant, is known for its iconic ring system. But its B ring may have spots or streaks of denser or brighter material known as spokes, which may be related to the dust’s interaction with the planet’s magnetic field. A new image of Saturn taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope on October 22, 2023 reveals the spokes of its rings.

This Hubble image shows Saturn, its bright white rings, and its three moons: Mimas, Dione, and Enceladus. Features on the left and right spokes of the ring appear as faint gray smudges against the ring’s bright background, approximately halfway from the planet to the ring’s outer edge. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / STScI / Amy Simon, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Saturn’s spokes (so named because they resemble bicycle spokes) are temporary features that rotate with the rings.

Their ghostly appearance only lasts for two or three revolutions around the giant planet.

During the active period, newly formed spokes continually add to the pattern.

ring spokes first photographed by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1981.

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft also discovered Spoke during its 13-year mission that ended in 2017.

Hubble continues to observe Saturn every year as its spokes come and go. This cycle is captured by Hubble’s Outer Planet Atmospheric Legacy (OPAL) program, which was launched nearly a decade ago to annually monitor weather changes on all four gas giants.

Hubble’s clear images show that the frequency of the spokes’ appearance is seasonal, and they appeared in the OPAL data for the first time in 2021, but only on the morning side of the ring.

Long-term monitoring has shown that both the number and contrast of spokes change with Saturn’s seasons.

“We’re heading towards the Saturn equinox, when the spoke activity is expected to be at its peak, and we’re going to have a lot of activity in the coming months,” said Dr. Amy Simon, an astronomer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and chief scientist at the space flight center. “Over the years we will see higher frequencies and darker spokes.” opal program.

“This year, these ephemeral structures will appear on both sides of the Earth simultaneously, rotating around the giant world.”

“Although it appears small compared to Saturn, its length and width could extend beyond the diameter of Earth.”

“The leading theory is that the spokes are connected to Saturn’s strong magnetic field, and that the sun has some kind of interaction with that field that creates the spokes.”

“As we approach Saturn’s vernal equinox, Saturn and its rings tilt less away from the Sun.”

“In this configuration, the solar wind could hit Saturn’s massive magnetic field even harder, promoting spoke formation.”

“Planetary scientists believe that the electrostatic forces generated by this interaction cause the dust and ice to float above the ring, forming the spokes, but even after decades, no theory has been able to fully predict the formation of the spokes. I won’t.”

“Continuing Hubble observations may ultimately help solve the mystery.”

Source: www.sci.news