Tag Archives: distant

Webb Telescope Uncovers Most Distant Galaxy Yet: Meet MoM-z14

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New research led by Rohan Naidu from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Studies reveals that the galaxy MoM-z14 existed a mere 280 million years after the Big Bang.

This image depicts MoM-z14, a galaxy that emerged shortly after the Big Bang. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Rohan Naidu, MIT/Joseph DePasquale, STScI.

“Thanks to the Webb Space Telescope, humanity can now explore deeper into the universe than ever before, challenging our previous predictions,” stated Dr. Naidu.

Using Webb’s NIRSpec instrument, Dr. Naidu and colleagues confirmed that MoM-z14 possesses a cosmological redshift of 14.44. This indicates that for approximately 13.5 billion years—out of the universe’s estimated age of 13.8 billion years—the light has been elongated and “shifted” to red wavelengths as it travels through space.

Dr. Pascal Oesch from the University of Geneva emphasized, “While we can estimate a galaxy’s distance from images, it’s crucial to follow up with detailed spectroscopy to accurately understand what we are observing.”

MoM-z14 is part of an increasing number of unexpectedly bright galaxies in the early universe, outnumbering theoretical predictions before the Webb’s launch by 100 times.

“The disparity between theoretical models and observational data regarding the early universe is expanding, prompting intriguing questions for future exploration,” said Dr. Jacob Shen, a postdoctoral researcher at MIT.

One potential avenue for research lies in the oldest stars within the Milky Way, where a small number exhibit high nitrogen levels, mirroring some of Webb’s observations of early galaxies, including MoM-z14.

“We can examine ancient stars in our galaxy like fossils from the early universe, and thanks to Webb, we have direct insights into galaxies at that epoch, revealing shared features such as unusual nitrogen enrichment,” remarked Dr. Naidu.

Interestingly, MoM-z14 emerged only 280 million years post-Big Bang, a brief time span that shouldn’t have allowed for ample nitrogen production from stellar generations.

Researchers propose that the dense early universe environment might have facilitated the formation of supermassive stars, capable of producing more nitrogen than any stars observed nearby.

Additionally, MoM-z14 appears to be clearing the surrounding universe of the dense primordial hydrogen fog characteristic of early cosmic history.

The Webb was designed to chart this cleansing period known as reionization, where early stars broke through dense hydrogen gas and emitted enough high-energy light to reach us today.

MoM-z14 serves as a key clue in mapping the reionization timeline, a task previously unattainable before Webb unveiled this epoch of the universe.

“We require further information to understand the early universe better. More detailed observations from Webb and additional galaxies will help identify common features, and NASA’s next Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is expected to contribute significantly,” noted Yijia Li, a graduate student at Penn State.

“This is an exhilarating time as the Webb reveals the universe’s earliest epochs, showcasing the vastness of uncharted territory still to explore.”

For more details on the discovery of MoM-z14, refer to the upcoming publication in Open Astrophysics Journal.

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Rohan P. Naidu et al. 2026. Cosmic Miracle: Confirmed in JWST, an extremely bright galaxy with zspec=14.44. Open Astrophysics Journal in press. arXiv: 2505.11263

Source: www.sci.news

Exploring the Distant ‘Little Red Dot’ Galaxy: Possible Discovery of a Baby Black Hole

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James Webb Space Telescope red galaxy discovery

Exploring ‘Small Red Dots’ Unveiled by the James Webb Space Telescope

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and D. Kocevski (Colby U.)/Space Telescope Science Institute Public Extension Office

The remarkable bright galaxies uncovered by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) may not be as brilliant as initially thought. These celestial bodies once posed a challenge to our cosmic understanding, implying they were home to supermassive black holes and an unexpected abundance of stars. However, new insights suggest these galaxies may harbor “baby” black holes.

During its initial years surveying the early Universe, JWST serendipitously discovered numerous bright and red galaxies, referred to as “little red dots” (LRDs).

The light emitted by these galaxies indicates the presence of far more mass than previously recognized in any other galaxy. They exhibit star densities that challenge existing models or host black holes larger than expected considering the size of their parent galaxies.

Both scenarios would necessitate a substantial overhaul of our galaxy formation and black hole growth theories in the early Universe.

Initial assumptions posited that the red hue of LRDs was due to copious dust surrounding the black holes or stars. This notion has come under scrutiny, as researchers find little evidence of dust in these extraordinary galaxies.

Jenny Green, a researcher at Princeton University, posits that this discovery warrants a reevaluation of LRD characteristics. “We were confident that if red coloration was due to dust, we’d detect dust emissions. However, we found none,” Green stated. “This suggests our initial assumption about their dust content was flawed.”

Previous analyses gauged the total brightness of the LRDs by assessing specific wavelengths of light linked to hydrogen, calibrated against a model of how dust impacts this light.

In their recent study, Green and her team measured the total light output from two LRD galaxies across various light frequencies, including X-rays and infrared. They discovered that, except for visible light, these galaxies emitted significantly less light than the typical galaxy—implying that LRDs are at least ten times dimmer than earlier estimates. This revelation holds critical implications for the nature of black holes within LRDs.

“If the emitted light is substantially less than we’ve believed, the mass of the black holes is likely much more modest,” Green remarked. “This reduces the tensions that have perplexed us since the black holes no longer need to be exceedingly massive or possess substantial mass initially.”

The new emission patterns imply the black holes may harbor less mass compared to standard black holes. Rohan Naidu from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology describes them as “baby black holes.” He further noted these findings align with the emerging perspective that LRD black holes could be categorized as black hole stars—a unique type of black hole encased in gas.

“In a typical black hole, what we observe is merely a fraction of the total energy emitted by the system. However, we should reconsider the little red dots as bulging black hole stars,” Naidu explained. “Most of their energy appears to be emitted at wavelengths we can detect, suggesting that what we see accurately reflects their output.”

Conversely, Roberto Maiorino from the University of Cambridge emphasizes that one cannot definitively ascertain the black hole’s mass within an LRD, as the emitted light reveals its growth rate rather than its total mass.

Green asserts that the notion of baby black holes holds merit. “If the photon count is significantly lower,” she noted, “this indicates a downward shift in the entire mass scale. On average, they possess lesser masses than previously assumed when we incorrectly categorized them as regular accreting black holes enshrouded in dust.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

ALMA Discovers Superheated Gas in Distant Galaxy Protocluster

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Revolutionary findings from the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) have uncovered scorching intracluster gas in the young galaxy cluster SPT2349-56, just 1.4 billion years post-Big Bang. This groundbreaking discovery challenges existing models of galaxy cluster evolution.

Artist’s impression of the forming galaxy cluster SPT2349-56, showcasing radio jets from active galaxies within a hot intracluster atmosphere. Image credit: Lingxiao Yuan.

The SPT2349-56 galaxy cluster is located approximately 12.4 billion light-years away, providing a glimpse into the universe when it was only 1.4 billion years old, or about ten percent of its current age.

This compact protocluster hosts multiple actively growing supermassive black holes and over 30 starburst galaxies.

These starburst galaxies are forming stars at a staggering rate—1,000 times faster than the Milky Way—and are densely packed within a space only three times larger than the Milky Way itself.

“We were not prepared to discover such a hot stellar atmosphere at this early stage in the universe’s history,” remarked Dazhi Zhou, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of British Columbia.

Astronomers utilized a unique observation methodology known as thermal observation, particularly employing the Sunyaev Zeldovich (tSZ) Effect.

This approach identifies faint shadows cast by hot electrons in galaxy clusters against the faint cosmic microwave background, rather than the light emitted directly by the gas.

Previously, astronomers believed that galaxy clusters lacked the maturity required for their gas to heat up and evolve during the early cosmic era.

The discovery of hot cluster atmospheres had never been recorded within the initial 3 billion years following the Big Bang.

“SPT2349-56 reshapes our understanding,” stated Professor Scott Chapman, a researcher at Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia.

“Our findings indicate that the cluster’s atmosphere is superheating remarkably early—just 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang—during a period when we anticipated the gas to be cooler and accumulating slowly.”

“This raises the possibility that the formation of large clusters could heat their gas much more efficiently and intensely than our current models suggest.”

The intense explosion from SPT2349-56’s supermassive black hole, identified as a bright radio galaxy, may be an efficient mechanism for superheating the surrounding gas, according to the study.

This discovery implies that energetic phenomena, such as outbursts from supermassive black holes or violent starbursts, might have played significant roles in rapidly heating the gas in early galaxy clusters within the first billion years of the universe.

This superheating may be crucial for transforming these young, cold galaxy clusters into the vast, hot galaxy clusters observed today.

Current models may require reassessment regarding our understanding of how galaxies and their environments evolve.

This finding marks the earliest direct detection of hot cluster gases, pushing the boundaries of astronomical research into these environments.

The identification of a significant reservoir of hot plasma at such an early cosmic epoch forces scientists to reconsider the sequence and pace of galaxy cluster evolution.

It also generates new inquiries about the interplay between supermassive black holes and galaxy formation in shaping the universe.

“SPT2349-56 serves as an intriguing laboratory,” Zhou commented.

“We are witnessing intense star formation, energetic supermassive black holes, and this superheated atmosphere all confined within young, dense star clusters.”

“There remains a considerable observational gap between this chaotic initial phase and the more tranquil clusters observed later in cosmic history.”

“Mapping the evolution of the universe’s atmosphere over time will be a compelling avenue for future exploration.”

For further reading, see the published results in the journal Nature dated January 5, 2026.

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Zhou D. et al. Detection of hot intracluster gas at redshift 4.3 via Sunyaev Zeldovich. Nature, published online January 5, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09901-3

Source: www.sci.news

ALMA Discovers Heavy Water in Planet-Forming Disk Surrounding Distant Protostar

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An astronomer utilizing the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) has discovered double deuterated water (D2O), commonly known as “heavy water,” in the protoplanetary disk surrounding the protostar V883 Orionis, situated 1,300 light-years away in the Orion constellation. This finding indicates that some of the water found in comets—and even on Earth—might predate the stars themselves, offering transformative insights into the history of water in our solar system.

This artist’s impression illustrates the evolution of heavy water molecules, previously detected in giant molecular clouds, planet-forming disks, and comets, before ultimately reaching Earth. Image credit: NSF / AUI / NRAO of NSF / P. Vosteen / B. Saxton.

Investigating the primordial material from the protoplanetary disk that gave rise to our solar system suggests that water may have been transported to Earth via comet or asteroid impacts.

However, it remains uncertain whether the water ice present on these celestial objects formed primarily during the protoplanetary disk phase or if it is considerably older, originating from parent molecular clouds.

“This detection clearly demonstrates that the water found in the planet-forming disk around V883 Orionis predates the central star and must have formed during the early phases of star and planet formation,” stated Dr. Margot Rehmker, an astronomer at the University of Milan.

“This marks a significant leap in our understanding of the journey of water throughout planet formation and how this water potentially reached the solar system, including Earth, through similar mechanisms.”

The chemical fingerprinting of heavy water indicates that these molecules have withstood the turbulent processes of star and planet formation, traversing billions of kilometers through the cosmos and ending up in planetary systems like ours.

Rather than being completely destroyed and reformed within the disk, a significant portion of this water is inherited from the earliest, most frigid stages of star formation, serving as a cosmic remnant that may still exist on Earth today.

“Until now, it was uncertain whether most of the water in comets and planets was newly formed in young disks such as Orionis V883 or whether it was ‘pure’ from ancient interstellar clouds,” remarked Dr. John Tobin, an astronomer at the NSF National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

“The detection of heavy water using sensitive isotopic isomer ratios (D2oh2O) validates that this water is an ancient relic, forming a crucial link between clouds, disks, comets, and planets.”

“This finding is the first direct evidence that water can traverse through stars unaltered and intact, moving from clouds to the materials that constitute planetary systems.”

The team’s paper is published in this week’s edition of Nature Astronomy.

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M. Riemker et al. Primitive ice within a planet-forming disk identified by heavy water. Nat Astron published online October 15, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41550-025-02663-y

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Uncover the Most Distant Black Hole Ever Detected

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A newly identified supermassive black hole resides in the center of the “Little Red Dot” galaxy, known as Capers-LRD-Z9, existing merely 500 million years after the Big Bang.

Artistic impressions of Capers-Lrd-Z9. Image credit: Erik Zumalt, University of Texas, Austin.

“Finding a black hole like this pushes the limits of what we can currently detect,” remarked Dr. Anthony Taylor, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin.

“We’re truly expanding the boundaries of technological capability today.”

“While astronomers have identified more distant candidates, clear spectroscopic signatures for black holes have yet to be found,” noted Dr. Stephen Finkelstein from the University of Texas at Austin.

The astronomers conducted their research using data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, as part of the CAPERS (Candels-Area Prism Epoch of Reionization Survey) program.

Initially regarded as a mere speck in the program images, Capers-LRD-Z9 is now recognized as part of a newly classified category of galaxies called Little Red Dots.

“The find of the Little Red Dot was a surprising revelation from initial Webb data. It did not resemble the galaxies captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope,” Dr. Finkelstein explained.

“We are currently working to understand what they are and how they formed.”

Capers-Lrd-Z9 contributes to the growing evidence that the ultra-large black hole plays a critical role in the unusual luminosity of small red dots.

Typically, such brightness signifies a galaxy teeming with stars. However, in the absence of substantial stellar mass, these small red dots cease to exist.

These galaxies may also help clarify what causes the distinct red hue observed in small red dots, which is altered to a red wavelength as it passes through surrounding gas clouds encircling the black hole.

“I’ve observed these clouds in other galaxies,” Dr. Taylor stated.

“When I compared this object to others, it was unmistakable.”

Capers-LRD-Z9 merits attention due to the immense size of its black hole.

It’s estimated to be as massive as 300 million solar masses, equating to half the total star mass within the galaxy. This size is notably large, even among supermassive black holes.

By discovering such massive black holes early on, astronomers provide a unique opportunity to investigate the growth and evolution of these entities.

Black holes existing in later epochs had diverse opportunities for growth over their lifetimes, yet this was not the case during the initial hundreds of millions of years.

“This reinforces the increasing evidence that early black holes grew much faster than previously believed,” Dr. Finkelstein mentioned.

“Or they might have originated much larger than our models suggested.”

These findings are detailed in a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal.

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Anthony J. Taylor et al. 2025. Capers-Lrd-Z9: Gasensing Little Dot hosts Broadline’s active galactic nucleus at z = 9.288. apjl 989, L7; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ade789

Source: www.sci.news

20 Million Clouds of Energy Particles Found Surrounding Distant Galaxy Clusters

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Astronomers have identified the largest known cloud of energy particles encircling galaxy clusters, with around 20 million annual clouds around the galaxy cluster PLCK G287.0+32.9.

This new composite image, created using X-rays from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory (blue and purple), radio data from Meerkat Radio Telescope (orange and yellow), and optical images from Panstarrs (red, green, and blue), illustrates the giant galaxy cluster PLCK G287.0+32.9. Image credit: NASA/CXC/CFA/Rajpurohit et al. / panstarrs / sarao / meerkat / sao / n. wolk.

Located 5 billion light years from Earth in the Hydra constellation, PLCK G287.0+32.9 has garnered astronomers’ attention since its initial detection in 2011.

Prior research uncovered two bright relics, revealing a massive shock wave illuminating the cluster’s edges. However, the extensive, faint radio emissions filling the space between them went unnoticed.

Recent radio images have shown that the entire cluster is enveloped in a faint radio glow that is nearly 20 times the diameter of the Milky Way, suggesting an extraordinary and powerful phenomenon at play.

“We anticipated finding a bright pair of relics at the cluster’s edge. Found “The Harvard & Smithsonian Astrophysics Center” mentioned: “The Harvard & Smithsonian’s Astrophysics Center is a great way to help you get started,” Dr. Kamursh Rajprohit, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, noted.

“No energy particle clouds of this magnitude have been spotted in such galaxy clusters or anything comparable.”

Previous record holders, located around Abel 2255 in the Galaxy Cluster, spanned about 16.3 million light years.

In the central region of the cluster, Dr. Rajprohit and his team identified radio halos where frequencies of this scale are typically undetectable, marking the first discovery of size at 114 million light years at 2.4 GHz.

The findings posed questions for the team, providing compelling evidence of magnetic fields where cosmic ray electrons and magnetic fields extend throughout the cluster.

However, it remains uncertain how these electrons can accelerate over such vast distances.

“Very extended radio halos are seldom visible across most frequencies, as the electrons responsible for them tend to lose energy. They are aged and have cooled over time,” Dr. Rajpurohit stated.

“The discovery of this colossal halo has now led to a significant increase in radio emissions between the catastrophic impact and the rest of the cluster.”

“This suggests something is actively accelerating or re-accelerating the electrons, yet none of the usual explanations apply.”

“We suspect that extensive shock waves and turbulence may be contributing factors, but additional theoretical models are needed to arrive at a definitive conclusion.”

This discovery offers researchers a new pathway to investigate cosmic magnetic fields—one of the primary unanswered questions in astrophysics—helping to elucidate how magnetic fields shape the universe on the largest scales.

“We’re beginning to perceive space in ways we have never imagined,” Dr. Rajprohit emphasized.

“This necessitates a reevaluation of how energy and matter traverse through its grandest structures.”

“Observations from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, managed by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, reveal boxy structures, comet-like tails, and several other distinct features of the cluster’s hot gas, indicating that the cluster is highly disturbed.”

“Some of these X-ray features correspond with radio-detected structures, pointing to substantial shocks and turbulence driven by merging events, facilitating electron acceleration or re-acceleration.”

“In the core of a cluster, some of these features may arise from the merger of two smaller galaxy clusters, or an explosion triggered by an exceptionally large black hole, or a combination of both.”

Source: www.sci.news

New research suggests that the powerful Marzcake shock can travel to even more distant red planets than believed.

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In new research, researchers on the planetary Used Global and high -resolution orbital images to discover fresh 21.5 m (71 feet) impact craters that appeared at the same time as one of the Marsquakes detected by NASA's Insight Lander. This means that the seismometer detected a meteor strike, not a geological activity in the planet. In the related research, they scan Through a large number of orbital image data, the 123 shock crater was formed from December 2018 to December 2022.

Calambus et al。 Textonically Active Cerberus Fossae A new 21.5-m MARS Impact Crater is associated with the Insight earthquake event S0794A. Image credit: NASA / JPL-CALTECH / Arizona University.

NASA's Insight Lander set the first seismometer on Mars and detected more than 1,300 Marsquakes. This is generated by the shaking deep of the planet (caused by a rock broken under heat and pressure) and a cosmic rock that collides with the surface.

Scientists not only glimpse the inside of Mars, as science glimpses how the waves of the earthquake change from these earthquakes when passing through the earth's crust, mantle, and core. I understand how all the rocky world, including the month, is formed.

In the past, researchers shot new shock craters images and found seismic data that matched the date and location of the crater layer.

However, two new studies indicate that the shaking and the new effects detected in Cerberus Fossae, which are particularly prone to earthquakes of 1,640 km (1,019 miles) of 1,640 km (1,019 miles) from insights, are the first correlation. Masu.

The diameter of the shock crater is 21.5 m, which is far from the insight than the scientist expected, based on earthquake energy.

Mars crusts have unique characteristics that are considered to suppress seismic waves generated by impact. The new analysis of Cerberusfossae concluded that the generated waves take more direct routes than the planet mantle.

The Insight team needs to re -evaluate the internal configuration and structural models of Mars, and explain how to make the impact -generated earthquake signals so deep.

“We thought that the energy detected from most of the earthquake events was moving through the crust of Mars,” said Dr. Constantinoscharamanbus, a researcher of Imperial College London. Masu.

“This discovery shows a deeper and faster path -it is called an earthquake highway, so that the earthquake can reach the farthest of the earth through the mantle.”

Researchers also wanted to find a crater within the location of about 3,000 km (1,864 miles) and find something that was formed while the Lander seismometer was recorded.

By comparing images before and after the context camera mounted on NASA's Mars Reconnasance Orbiter (MRO), I found 123 fresh craters to interact with INSIGHT data. Of these, 49 was a potential agreement with the earthquake detected by the Lander seismometer.

“I thought that CERBERUS FOSSAE has generated many high -frequency earthquake signals related to internal generated earthquakes, which suggests that some activities are not born there, and actually from the impact. Dr. Charalambous said.

The results of the survey also emphasize how researchers use AI to improve planetary science by using all data collected by NASA and ESA missions.

“Now, we have a lot of images from the moon and Mars, so the struggle is to process and analyze data,” said Dr. Dr., a member of the Bern University researcher. I mentioned it.

“We have finally arrived in the big data era of planetary science.”

Two new papers are posted journal Global physics research book。

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VT BICKEL et al。 2025. New impact on Mars: Related to systematic identification and insight earthquake events. Global physics research book 52 (3): E2024GL109133; DOI: 10.1029/2024GL109133

Constantinos Chara Ranboo et al。 2025. New impact on Mars: Unleash CERBERUS FOSSAE's shock detection. Global physics research book 52 (3): E2024GL110159; DOI: 10.1029/2024GL110159

Source: www.sci.news

145 million years ago in Thailand, a distant relative of T. rex roamed the land

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A team of paleontologists from Kasetsart University, Mahasarakham University and Sirindhorn Museum have unearthed three fossilized teeth from a previously unknown non-tyrannosaurid tyrannosauroid dinosaur in northeastern Thailand.

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Late Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation, northeastern Thailand. Image courtesy of Chacharin Somboon.

“Tyrannosauroidea is a lineage of theropods, which includes some of the best-known carnivorous dinosaurs. Tyrannosaurus Rex “From the Late Cretaceous of North America.” Dr. Chacharam Ketwetulya Kasetsart University and colleagues.

“They lived primarily on the supercontinent of Laurasia from the Middle Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous.”

“The oldest known species of tyrannosauroids are found in the Middle Jurassic of Europe and Asia, suggesting that this group of theropods originated within Eurasia.”

“Tyrannosauroidea ranged across Asia from the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous, with most Asian tyrannosaurids found in China and Mongolia.”

The three tyrannosauroid teeth examined by the research team were discovered in the Phu Noi area of ​​Khammuang district, Kalasin province, northeastern Thailand.

The specimen dates back to the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period, approximately 145 million years ago.

A basal tyrannosauroid tooth from the Phu Noi region of Thailand. Image courtesy of Chowchuvech others.

“The Phu Noi area is known to be one of the richest sources of Mesozoic vertebrate fossils in Southeast Asia,” the paleontologists said.

“Many species have been unearthed from the site, including freshwater sharks, ray-finned fish, lungfish, amphibians, turtles, crocodylomorphs, pterosaurs and dinosaurs.”

“Three species of dinosaurs have been identified in the Phu Noi area: a metriacanthosaurid theropod, a mamenchisaurid sauropod and a basal neoornithischian. Minimo Cursor.”

“Three of the theropod teeth from the Phu Noi area display unique dental features that distinguish them from previously discovered metriacanthosaurid theropods, including lateral teeth with twisted mesial ridges on the proximal lingual side that extend above the cervical line and interwoven enamel surface textures,” the researchers added.

“Morphological examination and systematic and morphometric analyses reveal that these isolated teeth indicate basal tyrannosauroid relationships, Five colors of the dragon and Proceratosaurus bradleyi From the Jurassic Period.”

“This discovery marks the first report of a tyrannosauroid from the Jurassic of Southeast Asia and contributes to our knowledge of the paleoecology of the lower continent.” Phu Kradung Formation“Our results shed light on the morphological and morphological distribution of tyrannosauroids during the Late Jurassic, and on the paleobiogeographic distribution of tyrannosauroids during the Late Jurassic,” the researchers concluded.

“Furthermore, this study sheds light on the possibility that future excavations and research may uncover new species of dinosaurs in Thailand.”

of study Published in the journal Tropical Natural History.

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W. Chochubek others2024. First discovery of a basal tyrannosauroid in Southeast Asia: dental evidence from the Late Jurassic of northeastern Thailand. Tropical Natural History 24（1） : 84-95

Source: www.sci.news

Searching for the exomoon: Investigating a moon orbiting a distant planet

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Many years ago, at that time david kipping When he lived in London, he would walk home through the city and look up at the moon. For astronomers, its dimly glowing presence was a nightly source of inspiration. “It reminded us that satellites are waiting for us around exoplanets,” he says. “It made sense that we should look for them.”

It would be exciting to discover an exomoon, a natural satellite of a world outside our solar system. First, the moon may play a key role in determining the habitability of its host planet by dampening its wobble and promoting a stable climate, in the same way it did for Earth. there is. There may also be strange and wonderful configurations, such as a lunar ring or a moon with its own moon. But the most interesting thing is that some of them may be more suitable for life than exoplanets.

Kipping, now at Cornell University in New York, is part of a small community of astronomers exploring solar moons. At least statistics are on your side. About 5,500 exoplanets have been discovered so far, some of which may have dozens of moons. The problem is that it’s not easy to prove its existence. Two previous sightings of Kipping have been hotly debated.

But now there’s hope on the horizon, with many new ways to explore these objects, from monitoring rogue planets that have abandoned their stars to monitoring exoplanets’ gravitational wobbles. Armed with these new technologies, and new telescopes also in development, the Moon will…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Radio Bursts from Distant Galaxies: A Mysterious Phenomenon

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Artist's impression of the path of a fast radio burst (not to scale) FRB 20220610A

M. Kohnmesser/European Southern Observatory

The unexplained flash of radio waves that reached Earth in 2022 originated from a small group of galaxies about 8 billion light-years away. This discovery expands our understanding of how mysterious fast radio bursts (FRBs) form.

To date, astronomers have discovered more than 1,000 FRBs. FRBs are strange bursts of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation that cross the sky in just a few milliseconds. Some events repeat and are detected as blinking multiple times. The main explanation is that FRBs are produced by powerful spinning stars known as magnetars, highly magnetized spinning stars left behind after a massive star explodes as a supernova.

About 50 FRBs have been identified as the source of the Milky Way and other galaxies. But in 2022, astronomers discovered the most distant and powerful FRB yet: non-recurring FRB 20220610A, which dates back to when the universe was just 5 billion years old.

alexa gordon A team of researchers from Northwestern University in Illinois followed up on this finding. Researchers discovered in April 2023 using the Hubble Space Telescope that FRB 20220610A originates from a small dwarf galaxy. This galaxy was part of a compact group of seven galaxies so small that the entire galaxy fit within the Milky Way. “This is a very unusual system,” Gordon says. “At this distance of his FRB, only about 0.1 to 1 percent of galaxies belong to compact groups.”

Such groups are thought to be active regions of star formation. This supports FRB's explanation of magnetars, as they probably form early in a galaxy's evolution when hot, massive stars explode. In compact groups, “galaxies are interacting fairly frequently,” Gordon says. This triggers star formation consistent with what is seen in his FRB study, produced by newer, near-Earth sources.

This work was uploaded to the arXiv preprint server late last year and was also presented at today's presentation. Meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Orleans.

This discovery further expands the types of environments in which FRBs are known to exist. “The majority are in star-forming spiral galaxies,” Gordon says. “But he also found FRBs in galaxy clusters, dwarf galaxies, and globular clusters. The addition of 'compact groups' to this list shows that we are finding his FRBs in a variety of locations.” Here's another example. ”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Great apes display remarkable recollection of distant companions

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A groundbreaking study has revealed that great apes possess exceptional social memories, allowing them to recognize former mates over 25 years later. This discovery indicates that there are significant cognitive similarities between humans and great apes, emphasizing the depth and longevity of social connections among these close animal relatives. Published today in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, this research demonstrates the longest-lasting non-human social memory ever recorded.

The study, led by Christopher Krupenier, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, explores the remarkable social memory capabilities of great apes, particularly chimpanzees and bonobos. The research team found that these animals can recognize individuals even after decades of separation, and exhibit heightened responses to individuals with whom they had positive relationships.

To conduct the study, the researchers worked with chimpanzees and bonobos at various zoos, collecting photos of apes that had left the zoos or passed away. They then presented these photos to the apes and measured their response using non-invasive eye-tracking equipment. The results indicated that the apes displayed enduring social memory, as they looked longer at their former group members and friends, despite prolonged periods of separation. One notable example was a bonobo named Louise, who showed a strong bias toward her sister and nephew, despite not having seen them for over 26 years.

The findings suggest that great apes possess social memories that may persist for over 26 years, similar in duration to human social memory. This suggests that such memory was likely already present in the common evolutionary ancestor of humans and great apes. Moreover, these long-lasting social memories may have played a crucial role in the evolution of human culture, influencing unique forms of social interaction and relationships.

According to the researchers, this study also raises questions about the emotional impact of separation on great apes, highlighting the potential negative consequences of poaching and deforestation on their social relationships. Going forward, the team hopes to further investigate the unique social memory capabilities of great apes and examine how it may compare to other primate species.

This research, made possible by the Templeton Global Philanthropic Foundation grant TWCF-20647 and the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program, offers valuable insights into the social cognition of great apes and underscores the importance of preserving their social networks and relationships.

Source: scitechdaily.com