Mystery Grows as Isolated Galaxies Create Stars with Unexplained Fuel Sources

Posted on November 14, 2025 by

The galaxy NGC 6789 viewed through a 2-meter twin telescope

Ignacio Trujillo et al. 2025

Approximately 12 million light years from Earth lies an unusual galaxy. Its center has consistently formed new stars over the past 600 million years, yet the exact source of the fuel driving this star formation remains elusive.

The galaxy known as NGC 6789 was first identified in 1883, but it has only been in recent years that evidence of ongoing star formation has emerged. NGC 6789 is situated in a region dubbed the Local Void, located towards the Draco constellation, which is notably sparse in cosmic matter. It stands out as one of the few galaxies existing within this void, making it highly isolated compared to the majority of galaxies in the universe.

This isolation contributes to the enigma surrounding its star creation. Galaxies typically require gas to produce new stars, yet local voids contain very little gas. Being at least a billion years old, NGC 6789 should have depleted its initial reserves of gas; however, it has managed to generate approximately 100 million solar masses, equating to about 4% of its total mass, over the last 600 million years.

Ignacio Trujillo and researchers from the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics utilized the 2-meter twin telescope at the Teide Observatory in Tenerife to capture deeper images of galaxies than previously possible, aiming to uncover signs of events that might have introduced gas. If a merger with another galaxy or a previously undetected gas flow had occurred, it might have distorted the shape of NGC 6789.

However, the new images did not reveal any distortions. It is possible that NGC 6789’s formation left behind a substantial amount of gas or that there exists a faint gas pocket nearby that did not alter the galaxy’s shape at all. For now, the mystery remains unsolved.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

How Did the First Galaxies Come to Be? – Cyworthy

Posted on October 27, 2025 by

Light travels at a finite speed, meaning it takes time to cover vast distances. Astronomers leverage this to investigate ancient epochs in the universe’s history by examining distant celestial objects. Due to inherent geometric and physical constraints, objects become smaller and dimmer the farther away they are. Additionally, when trying to focus a telescope on a small, faint, and distant target, your view might be obstructed by something larger, closer, and more luminous.

In certain scenarios, scientists can circumvent this limitation and even turn it into an advantage. Like matter, light is influenced by gravity; its trajectory curves as it passes through a gravitational field. The larger an object, the stronger its gravitational pull, resulting in more pronounced bending of light.

When confronted by a massive entity like a galaxy cluster, the light from objects positioned behind it is significantly bent, leading to distorted and magnified images, akin to passing through a lens. This effect, where a distant object appears enlarged due to the gravity of a nearby massive object, is known as gravity lensing.

A group of astronomers recently studied an ancient galaxy, A1689-zD1, which is gravitationally lensed by the galaxy cluster Abel 1689. A1689-zD1 is currently about 25 billion light-years away from us, equivalent to 150 sextillion miles or 240 sextillion kilometers. The light we observe from it has traveled for approximately 13 billion years, around the same duration as the universe’s 14 billion-year lifespan.

By analyzing this light, astronomers can explore the characteristics of galaxies as they were 13 billion years ago. They hypothesize that galaxies at this distance are in the initial phases of their formation and evolution, a period they refer to as the dawn of the universe. Investigating galaxies from this era provides astronomers with valuable insights into the formation processes of galaxies.

To conduct their observations, the team gathered data from multiple sources, including a radio telescope situated in the Atacama Desert in Chile. They utilized the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) to analyze light emitted by oxygen and carbon ions in galaxies. They also employed the Green Bank Observatory VEGAS spectrometer, which searches for light emitted by carbon monoxide molecules in galaxies. The radiation from these ions and molecules aids astronomers in determining a galaxy’s structure and examining the motion and interaction of its various components. Finally, the team integrated archival images from A1689-zD1 from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope to create a composite image in ultraviolet and infrared light, allowing for comparison with their radio data.

While gravitational lenses are beneficial to astronomers by revealing hidden light sources and enhancing them, they often produce distorted representations of objects. To ascertain the galaxy’s true shape, the research team needed to account for these distortions, utilizing Abel 1689’s model of light’s gravitational bending effect. By employing the software Lenstool, the research team accurately characterized the dynamics of A1689-zD1 to within less than 1% of the Milky Way’s width, measuring 200 parsecs, or around 4 quintillion miles and 6 quintillion kilometers.

The team discovered that A1689-zD1 is substantially larger than what a previous study estimated, which suggested a mass between 2 to 4 billion times that of the Sun. The new findings indicate its total mass to be around 20 billion times that of the Sun. They also observed that this mass is divided into five distinct regions, each exhibiting different movements and locations. Moreover, these parts displayed no indications of forming a single rotating disk, unlike the familiar spirals of the Milky Way.

The researchers proposed three potential explanations for this observation. One possibility is that these regions represent components of a single extended galaxy, existing as large molecular clouds or star-forming clusters. Another conjecture is that A1689-zD1 resulted from the merger of at least two smaller galaxies, with the differing regions emerging from the collision and gravitational interactions of the merging galaxies. Lastly, they suggested that the first two hypotheses may not be mutually exclusive, but current data does not allow for determining the extent of either occurrence.

The researchers noted that much of this uncertainty could be clarified through follow-up investigations using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). They also highlighted that considerable aspects of A1689-zD1 remain obscured in the studied wavelength range, contributing to the ongoing discrepancy between mass estimates derived from starlight counting and those determined by analyzing stellar motion. Overall, they concluded that their findings suggest galaxies in the universe’s infancy present a diverse and intricate nature.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Galaxies Prove to Be More Intense and Significant Than We Realized

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Black Holes Are Exceptionally Potent Matter Distributors

NASA Image Collection/Alamy

SEI 269239193 — Black Holes Are Exceptionally Potent Matter Distributors

NASA Image Collection/Alamy

A surprisingly violent black hole may have triggered the enigma of the elusive cosmic material.

Mysterious dark matter fills much of the universe, but ordinary matter continues to puzzle cosmologists. Some of this ordinary matter, known as baryons, has seemed to vanish for quite some time. Recently, researchers uncovered its hiding place, and Boryana Hadzhiyska from the University of California, Berkeley and her colleagues discovered how black holes influence its distribution, leaving it concealed.

“Materials consist of essential components, dark matter, and baryonic matter, which is essentially gas. The shape of a star represents a certain percentage, while the remaining is diffuse gas,” she explains. The diffuse gas is faint and hard to detect, but her team has integrated various observations to locate it.

One dataset they utilized illustrates how baryon matter creates shadows against the residual radiation from the Big Bang, the microwave background of the universe. Another crucial part of the investigation involved analyzing how afterglow gets distorted by the gravitational fields of massive objects. By combining these observations, the team identified where dark matter and baryonic matter would cluster and spread.

Hadzhiyska finds it thrilling to discover that baryonic matter is considerably more widespread than dark matter. This indicates that the ultra-massive black hole residing in the galaxy ejects it in an unexpectedly dynamic manner.

“We have a precise understanding of how this process occurs and how powerful it is, which allows us to gauge the number of problems being expelled from a particular galaxy. Up to now, this has remained quite uncertain,” says Colin Hill at Columbia University in New York. Researchers can perform computer simulations to model galaxies and their evolution, but to get such a detail right, this type of analysis is absolutely vital, he adds. “It provides us with a supplementary probe to comprehend the role of ultra-massive black holes in redistributing gas within galaxies,” notes Alex Krolevsky from the University of Waterloo, Canada.

Hadzhiyska asserts that this analysis will also help address ongoing debates about the universe’s mass. This encompasses both ordinary and unseen dark matter frameworks of the universe, driven by gravity. Her team is currently seeking to integrate more types of observations into their analysis, such as the way brief bursts of cosmic radio waves traverse the diffuse baryon gas. They emphasize the need for an improved “Baryon Census” with reduced uncertainty, as stated by Michael Shull from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Does this exposition unveil the oddities of matter distribution in the universe, prompting theorists and modelers to return to their sketches? “We anticipate a breakthrough. My wish is that dark matter will begin to show deviations from the standard cosmological model,” states Hadzhiyska.

The Enigma of the Universe: Cheshire, England

Spend a weekend with some of the brightest minds in science. Dive into the mysteries of the universe with an engaging program that includes a visit to the iconic Lovell telescope.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient 185,000-Year-Old Bridge of Neutral Hydrogen Gas Links Two D-Star Galaxies

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

An international team of astronomers, as part of the Widefield Askap L-Band Legacy All-Sky Survey (Wallaby), observed DDO 137 (Wallaby J123424+062511). Their findings uncovered a vast bridge of neutral hydrogen, measuring 185,000 light-years, connecting the two galaxies, along with various arms and clouds that link to a longer gas tail (1.6 million light-years) previously identified by the Arecibo telescope.

Radio (left) and light (right) images of NGC 4532/DDO 137. Image credits: ICRAR/D. Lang, Perimeter Institute.

“This discovery marks a significant advance in our understanding of galaxy interactions,” stated Professor Lister Starley Smith from the University of Western Australia Node at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR).

“Our simulations indicate that the tidal forces between these galaxies play a crucial role in the observed gas dynamics in close vicinity to the massive Virgo clusters of galaxies.”

“As the galaxies approached the hot gas clouds surrounding the Virgo clusters—temperatures 200 times that of the sun—we experienced what is termed RAM pressure, resulting in gas being stripped away from the galaxy.”

“This phenomenon is analogous to atmospheric burn-up when a satellite reenters Earth’s upper atmosphere, albeit extended over a billion years.”

“The electron density and the velocity at which galaxies descend into these hot gas clouds sufficiently clarify why they were drawn from the galaxy toward the bridge and surrounding regions.”

This observation formed part of the Wallaby Survey, a comprehensive project aimed at mapping the sky and examining the hydrogen gas distribution across galaxies using CSIRO’s Askap Radio telescope.

“Neutral hydrogen is vital for star formation, making this discovery pivotal in understanding how galaxies interact and evolve, particularly in densely packed environments,” remarked Professor Kenji Bekki of ICRAR.

“This system exhibits striking similarities to our Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds, offering a unique opportunity for a detailed examination of such interactions,” noted Professor Stavely-Smith.

“Grasping the dynamics of these gas bridges is crucial for understanding galaxy evolution over time, the redistribution of galactic gases, and the various conditions impacting star formation within galaxies.”

“This enhances our overall understanding of the universe’s largest structures and their lifecycle.

result will be published in Monthly Notices from the Royal Astronomical Society.

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L. Stavely-Smith et al. 2025. WallabyPilot Survey: Extensive interaction between NGC 4532 and DDO 137 and Virgo clusters. mnras 543(1): 526-539; doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf1443

Source: www.sci.news

How Do Small Galaxies Acquire Their Magnetic Fields? – Sciworthy

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Among the four fundamental forces in the universe, gravity often comes to mind when considering cosmic phenomena. This is quite logical, as gravity operates over vast distances, exerting its influence on massive objects, making it the most significant and far-reaching force. However, another essential force, known as electromagnetism, also plays a critical role in the study of space.

To begin with, all light is made up of electromagnetic radiation, which consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields. This includes everything from radio waves to visible light and X-rays. Similar to Earth and the Sun, many celestial bodies are enveloped in magnetic fields. The Earth’s magnetic field serves as a shield against harmful radiation, while the solar magnetic field repels it. The generation of a magnetic field requires the movement of charged particles, such as protons and electrons. Consequently, a variety of objects, including entire galaxies, possess magnetic fields!

Researchers are aware that galaxies have magnetic fields, but it remains uncertain how various galaxies develop different magnetic intensities or how these fields influence their evolution over time. This investigation is further complicated by the fact that galaxies often exist in clusters. For instance, the Milky Way is surrounded by smaller galaxies known as satellites, which exert gravitational pull on each other and interfere with each other’s magnetic fields.

The research team explored how diverse environments in smaller galaxies affected the strength of their magnetic fields. They approached this by simulating the motion of materials within the galaxy as if they were liquids filled with striped particles. Two sets of simulations were conducted, the second of which also included the effects of high-energy particles known as cosmic rays.

In total, they simulated magnetic fields across 13 distinct scenarios, ranging from isolated galaxies with masses 10 billion times that of the Sun to those 10 trillion times greater, accompanied by up to 33 satellites. Each simulation commenced with galaxies exhibiting a magnetic field strength of 10^-14 Gauss (g). For context, Earth’s magnetic field strength is about 0.3-0.6 g. The scenarios were evolved over 12 billion simulation years, allowing galaxies to interact, traverse space, and form stars, subsequently tracking the magnetic field strength in smaller galaxies.

Throughout the simulated timeline, the magnetic fields of all galaxies strengthened as star formation progressed. The birth of stars stirs the galactic matter, enhancing magnetic field strength and producing cosmic rays. Most galaxies concluded with magnetic fields ranging from 10^-7 to 10^-6 G, with larger galaxies typically achieving stronger fields. Interestingly, the researchers found that small galaxies passing in close proximity to larger companions exhibited stronger magnetic fields than equivalent isolated galaxies.

They monitored satellite galaxies over a series of simulations and discovered that, on average, magnetic field strength increased by 2-8 times as these galaxies approached their host. In extreme cases, the satellite’s magnetic field intensified by up to 15 times after nearing the host. In contrast, satellite galaxies that were more distant or had not yet approached their host did not show such significant increases in magnetic field strength.

The researchers interpret their findings to suggest that the more turbulent the interstellar medium (ISM) within a galaxy, the greater the strength of its magnetic field. Orbiting near a host galaxy tends to disturb the ISM of the satellite galaxy, rendering it more magnetic than a solitary small galaxy. Approaching a massive galaxy compresses the satellite, exposing it to magnetizing materials, and both interactions contribute to amplifying the magnetic field strength.

The team recommends that future studies utilize these results to inform radio and gamma-ray observations of galaxies, as these two segments of the electromagnetic spectrum can provide astronomers insights into the magnetic field properties of celestial bodies. They also caution that astronomers conducting simulations of isolated galaxies might yield skewed results since such a scenario does not accurately reflect the reality in which many galaxies are in proximity to companions.

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Hubble Discovers More Than 100 Galaxies in Abell 209

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Abel 209 is an expansive galactic cluster situated approximately 2.8 billion light years from the constellations of Cetus.

This Hubble image illustrates Abell 209, a galactic cluster positioned approximately 2.8 billion light years away from the constellations of Cetus. The color imagery incorporates both optical and infrared data gathered by Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Survey (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). We employed 12 filters to explore various wavelengths. The colors arise from assigning distinct hues to each monochromatic image tied to separate filters. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/M. Postman/P. Kelly.

Galaxy clusters consist of thousands of galaxies representing a variety of ages, shapes, and dimensions.

Typically, their mass is around 10 billion times that of the sun.

In the past, galactic clusters were thought to be the largest structures in the universe. They typically extend across hundreds of millions of light years, encompassing numerous galactic clusters and groups, until the discovery of superclusters in the 1980s altered this perception.

Nevertheless, one aspect remains unchanged for galaxy clusters. As superclusters are not bound by gravity, galaxy clusters still hold the distinction of being the largest gravitationally bound structures in the universe.

“The galaxies within Abel 209 are spaced millions of light years apart, and the apparently vacant space in between is filled with hot, diffuse gases detectable only at X-ray wavelengths,” Hubble astronomers stated.

“An even more enigmatic inhabitant of this galactic cluster is dark matter, a type of matter that does not interact with light.”

“It’s estimated that the universe contains 5% ordinary matter, 25% dark matter, and 70% dark energy,” they added.

“Hubble’s observations, including those contributing to this image, can help address fundamental questions regarding our universe, including dark matter and the enigmas of dark energy.”

“These studies take advantage of the immense mass of galaxy clusters, which enables us to warp the fabric of space-time to produce distorted, enlarged images of background galaxies and stars through a process known as gravitational lensing.”

“While this image lacks the dramatic ring that gravitational lenses can sometimes produce, Abel 209 still reveals subtle indications of hierarchy, illustrated by a slightly curved galaxy of stripes nestled within the golden glow of the cluster.”

“Analyzing the distortions in these galaxies allows astronomers to map the distribution of mass within clusters and shed light on the clouds of dark matter that lie beneath.”

“This information, made possible by Hubble’s remarkable resolution and precision, is crucial for testing theories about how our universe has evolved.”

Source: www.sci.news

ALMA Illuminates the Galaxies of the Early Universe

Posted on July 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

As part of the Cristal (CII solved ISM with Star Forming Galaxies using Alma) Investigation, astronomers examined the universe when it was merely a billion years old.

This artist’s impression illustrates masses of star-forming galaxies in the early universe, featuring dark dust marked in red and carbon gases depicted in black. These details have been extensively documented across multiple galaxies in Alma’s Cristal Survey. Image credits: NSF/AUI/NRAO/B. SAXTON.

“Alma’s remarkable capability to penetrate dust and gas enabled us to observe these distant galaxies with astonishing detail,” stated Dr. Rodrigo Ignacio Herrera Camus.

“We’re not merely examining the light emissions. We’re investigating the internal structures of these galaxies and uncovering the processes that transpire within them.”

In the Cristal Survey, astronomers concentrated on a sample of star-forming galaxies exhibiting a conventional relationship between galaxy mass and star formation rate.

Alma’s observations indicated that some galaxies displayed signs of organized rotation, hinting at the formation of early discs, while others exhibited chaotic movements and distorted shapes, indicative of collisions and mergers.

Alma also identified clouds of gas revealed through specific light emissions from ionized carbon, extending far beyond the stellar formation regions. This suggests that the galaxies are enveloped by expansive gas reservoirs, possibly fueling future star formation or being ejected by powerful outflows.

Numerous galaxies displayed star formation occurring in distinct clumps, providing deeper insights into the birth of stars within these early systems.

A portrait of an early galactic layer family, as detailed in a study of the Cristal program. Image credit: Cristal large program.

One particularly intriguing discovery was the identification of an early galaxy known as Cristal-10.

This galaxy shows a significant deficiency in ionized carbon emissions in comparison to its distant light, similar to the characteristics observed in ARP 220, one of the brightest and most concealed galaxies in the local universe.

Subsequent investigations into this galaxy may illuminate the nature and physical state of early interstellar media in the universe.

“Cristal offers detailed data that was unattainable before Alma,” Dr. Herrera Camus remarked.

“I’ve gained a new family portrait of early galactic evolution.”

“These findings challenge existing galaxy formation models and open up new research avenues.”

“The Cristal investigation highlights Alma’s power in studying galaxy evolution during the early universe.”

“By tracing the cold gases and dust that fuel star formation, Alma assists scientists in constructing narratives of how our own Milky Way galaxy developed.”

Source: www.sci.news

Webb Sheds New Light on the Structural Evolution of Disk Galaxies

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Modern disk galaxies frequently display distinct thin and thick disks. The mechanisms driving the formation of these two discs and the timeline of their emergence are still unanswered questions. To investigate these issues, astronomers examined various epochs (statistical samples of 111 edge-on disk galaxies dating back up to 11 billion years, or approximately 2.8 billion years post-Big Bang) utilizing archived data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

Webb/nircam composite images of a quarter of the team’s samples were sorted by increasing redshift. Image credit: Tsukui et al., doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf604.

Present-day disk galaxies often comprise extensive, star-rich outer disks alongside thin, star-like disks.

For instance, the thick discs of the Milky Way reach approximately 3,000 light-years in height, while the thin discs are roughly 1,000 light-years thick.

But what mechanisms lead to the formation of this dual disk structure?

“The thickness of high redshift discs, or unique measurements from the early universe, serve as benchmarks for theoretical research that can only be conducted using Webb,” states Takagi, an astronomer at the Australian National University.

“Typically, older, thicker disk stars are dim, while the younger, thinner disk stars dominate the galaxy.”

“However, Webb’s exceptional resolution allows us to observe and highlight faint older stars, enabling us to distinguish between two disk structures in a galaxy and measure their thickness separately.”

Through an analysis of 111 edge-on targets over cosmological time, astronomers studied both single-disc and double-disc galaxies.

The findings indicate that galaxies initially form a thick disk, which is followed by the formation of a thin disk.

The timing of this process is contingent on the galaxy’s mass: high-mass, single-disk galaxies transitioned to two-disk structures around 8 billion years ago.

In contrast, a thin disk emerged about 4 billion years ago within low-mass, single-disk galaxies.

“This is the first time we’ve resolved a thin star disk at such a high redshift,” remarked Dr. Emily Wysnioski from the Australian National University.

“The novelty becomes evident when observing the onset of thin star disks.”

“It was astonishing to witness a thin star disk from 8 billion years ago, and even further back.”

To elucidate the transition from a single thick disk to a dual-disk structure, as well as the timing differences between high-mass and low-mass galaxies, researchers expanded their investigation beyond the initial edge-on-galaxy samples. They examined data showing the movement of gases from large millimeter/sub-millimeter arrays (ALMAs) in Atacama and ground surveys.

By considering the movement of the galaxy’s gas disks, they found their results aligned with the “turbulent gas disk” scenario.

In this framework, the turbulent gas disks of the early universe catalyze intense star formation, leading to the creation of thick star disks.

As stars form, they stabilize the gas disks, diminishing turbulence and consequently resulting in thinner disks.

Larger galaxies can convert gas into stars more efficiently and thus calm down more quickly than their lower-mass counterparts, leading to the formation of the earlier thin disk.

“This study delineates structural differences between thin and thick discs, but we aim to explore further,” Dr. Tsukui mentioned.

“We look to incorporate the types of information typically acquired from nearby galaxies, such as stellar movement, age, and metallicity.”

“By doing so, we can bridge insights from both nearby and distant galaxies, enhancing our understanding of disk formation.”

Survey results were published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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Takagi Tsukui et al. 2025. The emergence of thin and thick discs of galaxies across the history of the universe. mnras 540(4): 3493-3522; doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf604

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble Space Telescope Seizes Stunning Images of Dynamic Spiral Galaxies

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of UGC 11397, the Barred Spiral Galaxy, which houses a rapidly growing, supermassive black hole.

The Hubble image depicts UGC 11397, a barred spiral galaxy, located about 250 million light years away in the constellation Lyra. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/MJ Koss/AJ Barth.

Also referred to as IRAS 19019+3346, Leda 62725, or TC 872, UGC 11397 is situated in the constellation Lyra and is approximately 250 million light years distant.

The first documented mention of this spiral galaxy appeared in a galaxy catalogue compiled by Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky in 1966.

“At first glance, UGC 11397 seems like a typical spiral galaxy,” stated Hubble astronomers.

“It showcases two graceful spiral arms illuminated by stars, framed by dark, dense dust clouds.”

“What sets UGC 11397 apart from a standard spiral is the ultra-massive black hole at its core, which has a mass 174 million times that of the sun,” they noted.

“As the black hole ejects gas, dust, and even entire stars from its vicinity, this material heats up, creating a spectacular cosmic display.”

“Materials engulfed by black holes emit radiation ranging from gamma rays to radio waves, leading them to brighten and dim unexpectedly.”

“Nonetheless, in some galaxies like UGC 11397, thin dust clouds obscure much of this energetic activity from optical light observation.”

“Still, the rapidly growing black hole in UGC 11397 has been identified through its intense X-ray emissions.”

This discovery led astronomers to categorize it as a Type 2 Seyfert Galaxy, a classification for active galaxies whose central cores are obscured by dust and gas formations.

“Utilizing Hubble, we will examine hundreds of galaxies that host ultra-massive black holes similar to UGC 11397,” the researchers stated.

“Hubble’s observations aid us in measuring nearby supermassive black holes, understand their growth early in the universe’s history, and explore star formation in extreme conditions at the galaxy’s center.”

Source: www.sci.news

Can universes contain dark matter halos without any galaxies?

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A new study by computational astrophysicist Ethan Nadler from the University of California, San Diego, shows that star formation can occur at halos in the solar masses of 10 million people through molecular hydrogen cooling.

Nadler calculated the percentage of dark matter halos above the critical mass required for star formation. Image credit: Xiaodian Chen.

All galaxies are thought to form at the center of the dark matter halo. This is a region of material coupled to gravity that extends far beyond the galaxy’s visible boundary.

Stars form when gravity within the halo of dark matter draws gases, but astrophysicists still don’t know if there is a dark halo of matter without stars.

“What is the halo mass threshold for the galaxy layer?” said Dr. Nadler.

“This question underlies the key areas of research in galaxy formation and cosmology, including when and how the first galaxy was formed, how galaxies promote the regeneration of the universe, and whether halos of “dark” (without galaxies) exist.

“Robust predictions of galaxy formation thresholds are important to provide future observations of faint galaxies and low-mass halos throughout the history of the universe.”

In his new study, Dr. Nadler calculated the mass that Halo cannot form stars.

His research was conducted using analytical predictions from galaxy formation theory and cosmological simulations.

“Historically, understanding of dark matter has been related to behavior in the galaxy,” Dr. Nadler said.

“When you detect a completely dark halo, a new window opens to study the universe.”

Previously, this threshold for star formation was thought to be between 100 million and 1 billion solar masses due to cooling of atomic hydrogen gas.

The current study shows that star formation can occur in the solar mass of 10 million people at halos via molecular hydrogen cooling.

“The Rubin Observatory will be coming online later this year and Webb is already making unprecedented observations of our universe, so we’ll soon have new data to test these predictions, revealing whether there’s a completely dark halo,” Dr. Nadler said.

“This could have widespread consequences for cosmology and the nature of dark matter.”

study It will be displayed in Astrophysics Journal Letter.

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Ethan O. Nadler. 2025. Effect of molecular hydrogen cooling on galaxy formation thresholds. apjl 983, L23; doi:10.3847/2041-8213/adbc6e

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers discover far-off galaxies using neural networks

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

It’s similar to how paleontologists use certain known fossils Indexed Fossil Until assessing rock formations and ancient environments so far, astronomers look for specific patterns of light emissions from space to mark the age of space history. For example, early galaxies give the UV rays that originate from electrons in hydrogen atoms to the type of ultraviolet rays that exert from the second lowest to the lowest energy state. Lyman Alpha or ly⍺ Emission.

For decades, astronomers have associated ly⍺ emissions with periods within billions of years of a big bang called the Big Bang. The era of reionizationwhen the average speed of star formation in galaxies was much higher than today. When they find a galaxy that emits light strongly, they classify it into ly⍺Emitter or Lae And we can be sure that it goes back to the era of reionization. Observing Laes, astronomers talk more about the history of the Milky Way and other galaxies like us.

However, researchers face confounding factors when looking for Laes. The expansion of the universe distorts light in a process called Cosmological redshift. However, more prominently Dustboth Intergalacticcovers the light. While astronomers can analyze the full light of light from the galaxy to find evidence of ly⍺ emissions, it would be much faster to develop tools to predict whether a galaxy is likely to be a LAE based on more readily available measurements.

One team of astronomers developed a model for this problem only Machine Learning A technique known as a Neural Networks. This technique replicates how neurons in the brain function, with several interconnected layers receiving and transmitting signals based on initial inputs and generating final outputs.. The trick is that the programmer knows what inputs to input and what output they expect in the end. The algorithm itself needs to know how best to set up a central connection, what to look for, and how to rank the importance of each input.

The team began with data from two surveys of light sources in space: 926 galaxies VanderOf these, only 520 are laes, starting from 507 Musethey were all laes. They trained the algorithm using 80% of this data to explicitly communicate which sources are actual LAES and which sources are not. They saved the remaining 20% of the data for testing.

Through this initial test, the team identified six parameters of neural networks to focus on evaluating galaxies for LAE potential. These parameters were the rate of star formation, total star mass, UV brightness, UV emission patterns, age, and dust. They programmed the network to output an estimate of the probability that a particular galaxy is a LAE, and thought that what was above 70% meant that the algorithm classified it as an LAE.

When we created a neural network using training data, the team tested several additional rounds. Using early test data, their networks found that they correctly identified the network in 77% of the time, as there was only a 14% chance of false positives. When they looked at what their network prioritized to make these predictions, they found that the most important factors were the galaxy’s UV emission pattern, its UV brightness, and the mass of its star.

Following this initial success, the team applied the network to another investigation. cosmos2020and a subset of that raise, SC4Kwith fewer details than the training data survey. From these datasets, the team’s neural network identified true Laes for 72% of the time.

The team’s final results came when they applied neural networks to data from NASA’s new telescope. jwst. The ultimate goal in their model is to study the distant past of the universe, and JWST aims to see better-looking sources than ever before, so the success of the test is Already checking the results of LAE from JWST It will be a good sign of future success. They found a true positive rate of 91% in JWST data, showing the validity of their approach and illuminated the path to know more about the history of the universe.

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Anomalies in the Universe: Massive spiral galaxies expel enormous pairs of relativistic jets

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

2MASX J23453268-0449256 (J2345-0449 for short), a very huge, rapidly spinning, jet lag spiral galaxy with approximately 947 million light years in the Aquarius constellation, a mass of billions of people billions that are billions of times the sun’s, and mounted on a massive radio jet spanning six million light years. This is one of the largest known in any spiral galaxy, and such powerful jets are almost exclusively found in elliptical galaxies rather than spiral, thus covering the conventional wisdom of galaxies’ evolution. It also means that the Milky Way can potentially create similar energetic jets in the future.

This image shows the Spiral Galaxy 2Masx J23453268-0449256 and its huge radio jet. Image credit: Bagchi et al. /Giant Metrure Lave Radio Telescope.

“This discovery is more than just weird. It forces us to rethink the evolution of galaxies and how super-large black holes grow and shape the environment within them,” said Professor Joydeep Baguch of Christ University.

“If spiral galaxies can not only survive, but also thrive under such extreme conditions, what does this mean for the future of our own Milky Way galaxies?”

“Can our Galaxy experience similar high-energy phenomena that have serious consequences for the survival of precious lives within it?”

In a new study, astronomers have unraveled the structure and evolution of the Spiral Galaxy J2345-0449, three times the size of the Milky Way.

Using observations from NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, Giant Metruh Rave Radio Telescope, Atacama’s Large Millimeter/Sub-Millimeter Array (ALMA), and multi-wavelength analysis, we detected the giant ultrafine black holes of its mind and radio jets in the largest radio jets by creating rare galaxies.

Traditionally, scientists believed that such huge, superimpression violent activities would destroy the delicate structures of spiral galaxies.

But for all possibilities, J2345-0449 retains its quiet nature with a well-defined spiral arm, bright nuclear bars and an uninterrupted ring of stars.

In addition to enigma, the galaxy is surrounded by vast halos of hot x-ray exhaust, providing important insights into its history.

This halo cools slowly over time, but the black hole jets act like space furnaces, preventing new star formation despite the abundant star-building materials present.

The authors also found that J2345-0449 contains 10 times the dark matter as the Milky Way.

“Understanding these rare galaxies could provide important clues about the invisible forces that govern the universe, such as the nature of dark matter, the long-term fate of the galaxy, and the origin of life,” says Ph.D. A student at the University of Christ.

“In the end, this research brings us one step closer to solving the mystery of the Cosmos and reminds us that the universe holds surprise beyond our imagination.”

Survey results It was published in Monthly Notices from the Royal Astronomical Society.

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Joydeep Bagchi et al. 2025. Announcing bulge disk structures, AGN feedback and baryon landscapes in a large helical galaxy with MPC-scale radio jets. mnras 538(3): 1628-1652; doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf229

Source: www.sci.news

Alma finds evidence of oxygen in the majority of known galaxies

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using Atacama’s Large Millimeter/Sub-Millimeter Array (ALMA) detected oxygen in the most perilous confirmed galaxy ever discovered. This detection, made by two different teams, suggests that the galaxy is much more chemically mature than expected.

This is the impression of the artist Jades-GS-Z14-0. Image credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser.

Discovered in 2024, the Jades-GS-Z14-0 (GS-Z14 for short) is far apart, and its light took 13.4 billion years to reach us. This means that the universe was under 300 million years old, about 2% of its current age.

“It’s like finding adolescence you only expect from a baby,” said PhD Thunder Shues. Leiden Observatory Candidate and First Author of a paper Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal.

“The results show that galaxies are forming very rapidly, mature rapidly, and there is growing evidence that galaxies form much faster than expected.”

Galaxies usually begin life filled with young stars. This is mainly made of light elements such as hydrogen and helium.

As the stars evolve, they create heavier elements like oxygen, which will disperse into the host galaxy after exploding in supernova events.

Researchers thought 300 million years ago that the universe was too young to ripen galaxies with heavy elements.

However, two ALMA studies show that GS-Z14 has about 10 times more heavy elements than expected.

The inset of this image shows Jades-GS-Z14-0 seen in Alma. The two spectra arise from independent analysis of ALMA data by two teams of astronomers. Both discover oxygen radiation, making the universe the most distant detection of oxygen just 300 million years ago. Image credits: alma/eso/naoj/nrao/carniani et al. /schouws et al. /NASA/ESA/CSA/WEBB/STSCI/BRANT ROBERTSON… etc.

“They opened up a new perspective on the first stages of Galaxy’s evolution and were surprised by the unexpected results,” said Dr. Stefano Carniani, an astronomer at the Scola Normal Superore in Pisa and lead author. paper Published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

“Evidence that galaxies are already matured in the infantile universe raises questions about when and how they formed.”

Oxygen detection allowed astronomers to make distance measurements on the GS-Z14 more accurate.

“ALMA detection measures galaxy distances very accurately to just 0.005% uncertainty,” says PhD Eleonora Parlanti. A student at the Scola Normal Supers in Pisa.

“This level of accuracy is similar to being accurate within 5 cm at a distance of 1 km, but it helps to improve our understanding of distant galactic properties.”

“The galaxy was originally discovered by NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb’s space telescope, but Alma took it to see and accurately determine its huge distance,” said Dr. Leichard Boowens, an astronomer at the Leiden Observatory.

“This shows an incredible synergy between Alma and Webb, revealing the formation and evolution of the first galaxy.”

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Thunder Shues et al. 2025. Detecting [OIII]88μm with Jades-GS-Z14-0 at Z = 14.1793. APJin press; Arxiv: 2409.20549

Stefano Carniani et al. 2025. The eventful life of a bright galaxy at Z = 14: metal enrichment, feedback, and low-gas fractions? A&Ain press; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202452451

Source: www.sci.news

First Data Drop from Euclidean Space Telescope Reveals 26 Million Galaxies

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Galactic sea photographed by the Euclidean Space Telescope

ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, J.-C. Image processing by Cuillandre, E. Bertin, G. Anselmi

The extraordinary image from the Euclidean Space Telescope has acquired 26 million galaxies.

Euclid was launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in July 2023, and in November of that year it sent its first image back. The six-year mission will image about a third of the sky and build the most detailed 3D map of Cosmos ever created. Once completed, this investigation will help to lighten how dark matter and dark energy behave on a cosmic scale.

ESA is currently being released The first large data on this missionstarts with three “deep fields.” This is an area where the telescope becomes a more detailed peer than the rest of the study area. These three spots represent 63 squares of sky, which corresponds to an area where the full moon is covered 300 times. Over the next few years, Euclide will pass these regions 30-52 times to build more detailed images.

It'll be Percival The University of Waterloo in Canada says that current batches of images are less than 50% of what gather on missions, but there is already plenty of researchers to collaborate. “There's so much you can do about many individual galaxies and their properties because it's not something that's done in space-based research with nearby infrared light or optics like this,” he says. “It's not exactly the same quality as HST [the Hubble Space Telescope]but it's so close that it doesn't just point to individual objects and shoot. We are conducting an investigation. ”

Researchers have already used Euclidean data to find hundreds of powerful gravity lenses. These phenomena are formed when the gravity of an object in the foreground distorts light from a distant galaxy, creating an arc shape or a complete ring. Previously, scientists had to hunt these individually, point them to the HST, and collect more images. Currently, astronomers can search for survey data from Euclidean and find more at once. This helps to gather insights into the evolution of galaxies and the universe.

Using AI models, researchers were able to find and catalog 500 galaxies with powerful gravity lenses with this first data alone, doubling the total seen to date. “The statistics are incredible,” Percival says. “Euclidean ultimately gets this amount of data 200 times.”

The data released so far represents only one week of images from Euclidean, but up to 35 terabytes. This is equivalent to 200 days of high quality video streaming. The next batch of data is expected to be released later next year, and will be a year's worth of images covering 2,000 square degrees and over 2,000 terabytes of storage space.

It can take over 100 years to view each galaxy manually, so AI is used to dramatically speed up the process, he says. Mike Walmsley At the University of Toronto. “We can ask new questions in weeks, not years, but in weeks,” he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

NASA’s Spherex set to launch after delays, will map 450 million galaxies on mission

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The new NASA Observatory was launched into space on Tuesday with a mission that would help scientists unravel what happened in the first fraction one second after the Big Bang.

The Spherex mission (short for Universe History, Reionization Epoch, Ice Explorer’s Spectroscopic Optical Meter) is designed to map the entire sky, study millions of galaxies, and stitch together how the universe has formed and evolved.

According to NASA, it has been postponed several times since late February to help engineers evaluate the rocket and its components recently due to bad weather at launch sites.

The cone-shaped spacecraft ended Tuesday at approximately 8:10pm above the Space Sex Falcon 9 rocket from Van Denburg Space Force Base in California. Also, to get into orbit there were four suitcase-sized satellites deployed on another mission by NASA to study the sun.

The $488 million Spherex Observatory will investigate the entire sky four times over a two-year mission. Spacecraft instruments observe the universe in 102 different colors or wavelengths.

The Spherex Observatory, located horizontally, allows you to see all three layers of photon shields and telescopes.
BAE System / NASA

Colors in the infrared range have longer wavelengths than what the eye sees, so they are essentially invisible to humans. However, in the universe, infrared light from stars, galaxies and other celestial bodies contains important information about composition, density, temperature and chemical composition.

A technique known as spectroscopy allows scientists to analyze infrared light and divide it into different colors, just like the way prisms divide sunlight into colorful rainbows. Therefore, data collected by the Spherex Observatory gives researchers insight into the chemistry and other properties of hundreds of millions of galaxies in the universe.

NASA said these observations would help scientists study how galaxies are formed, trace the origins of Milky Way waters, and connect what happened later. The Big Bang that Created the Universe Approximately 13.8 billion years ago.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

ARP 105: Hubble Captures Ongoing Merger of Two Massive Galaxies

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The ARP 105 features star and gas tide tails that exceed 362,000 light years.

The elliptical galaxy NGC 3561B (top left) and the Spiral Galaxy NGC 3561A (bottom right) form the ongoing merger-sparking guitar shapes known comprehensively as ARP.

ARP 105 It is located approximately 400 million light years from Earth, in the constellation of Ursa major.

Also known as NGC 3561, it was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on March 30, 1827.

It consists of two huge galaxies, the elliptical galaxy NGC 3561B and the Spiral Galaxy NGC 3561A.

“The ARP 105 is one of the brightest objects in the busy Galaxy Cluster Abell 1185,” Hubble Astronomers said in a statement.

“Abell 1185 is a chaotic cluster of at least 82 galaxies, many of which are not only interacting, but many wandering spherical clusters that are not gravity attached to a particular galaxy.”

The gravity dance between the NGC 3561B and NGC 3561A creates the features of an attractive collision galaxy.

“The giant tail is drawn from two galaxies by gravity interaction, embedding a cluster of stars and a galaxy of d star,” the astronomer said.

“The uniquely shaped arrangement of the galaxy and tail gives the grouping the nickname: guitar.”

“The long lanes of dark dust emerging from the NGC 3561b oval galaxy may be ingesting the bright blue region of star-forming at the bottom of the guitar known as Ambartsumian's Knot.”

“Ambartsumian's Knot is a tidal star galaxy. It is a type of star-forming system that develops from fragments of the tidal arms of interacting galaxies.”

“The two bright blue regions of star formation are evident in Hubble images at the edge of a distorted helical galaxy.”

“The region on the left of the spiral galaxy may be very similar to the knot of Ambartumian, the knot of intense star-forming knot caused by the merger.”

“The area on the right is still under investigation. It may be part of the collision, but its velocity and spectral data are different from the rest of the system, so it could be a galaxy in the foreground.”

“The thin, faint gas tips are barely visible that stretch between two galaxies.”

“These tendrils are of particular interest to astronomers as they may help define the timescale of this collision evolution.”

Source: www.sci.news

NASA launches a space observatory to map 450 million galaxies

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The new NASA Space Observatory is set to launch into orbit on Thursday with a crucial mission to map over 450 million galaxies.

The Spherex mission, short for the spectrophoton meter of space history, reionization epoch, and Ice Explorer history, will map the entire sky four times over two years, giving scientists the chance to study galaxy formation and uncover insights into the universe’s evolution.

“That’s going to answer the fundamental question: how did we get here?” Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA headquarters, stated in a recent news briefing.

Spherex is scheduled to be launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:09 pm on Thursday.

The cone-shaped spacecraft will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket along with four suitcase-sized satellites deployed simultaneously for another NASA mission to study the sun.

A spacecraft preliminary design that includes a hexagonal solar shield to help keep your instrument cool.
NASA / JPL-Caltech

The $488 million Spherex mission has been in development for approximately 10 years. According to NASA, it aims to map objects using 102 infrared colors and light.

Infrared technology allows scientists to see through dust and gas, observing some of the oldest stars and galaxies in the universe. By utilizing spectroscopy, scientists can analyze the composition, density, temperature, and movement of celestial objects.

The Spherex Observatory employs spectrometers to explore the sky in three dimensions and study hundreds of millions of galaxies’ properties, as stated by Jamie Bock, a lead investigator at the Spherex mission and a physics professor at the California Institute of Technology.

Bock mentioned that these observations could provide insights into galaxy formation and allow researchers to examine the origins of water and other organic materials in the Milky Way galaxy.

“When you dissect light, you can determine the galaxy’s distance, construct a three-dimensional map, and identify the water fingerprint,” Bock explained.

Unraveling the origins of water can enhance scientific understanding of life’s evolution on Earth and possibly reveal clues about vital life components elsewhere in the galaxy.

“This new capability can lead to discoveries or surprises,” Bock added.

By mapping the celestial sky, the Spherex mission addresses one of astronomy’s enduring mysteries: The Big Bang that Created the Universe approximately 13.8 billion years ago.

One theory proposed in the late 1970s and early 1980s suggests the universe experienced a staggering trillion-fold expansion in the first fraction of a second post-big bang. Known as cosmic inflation, this theory aims to explain the universe’s curved geometry, structure formation, and rapid expansion.

However, astronomers have grappled with connecting the driving force behind this cosmic inflation and why it occurred. By meticulously mapping hundreds of millions of galaxies, the Spherex mission can test theories in new ways, aiding scientists in refining the physics underlying the universe’s inflation and rapid expansion.

“What Spherex does is test specific inflation models by tracking hundreds of millions of galaxies in three dimensions,” Brock noted.

Domagal-Goldman expressed that the Spherex Mission’s exploration of galaxies, cosmic inflation, and the universe’s origins could deepen human comprehension of basic physics.

“We are fortunate to live in an era where we can uncover answers about the universe’s long narrative of human existence on this planet,” he remarked.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Webb finds evidence of active formation of low-mass galaxies in the early universe

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The newly discovered galaxy, called the Firefly Radiance, existed about 600 million years after the Big Bang and consisted of at least 10 star clusters.

The Firefly Sparkle galaxy is in the process of gathering and forming new stars, exists about 600 million years after the Big Bang, and would weigh about the same as the Milky Way if we could turn back the clock and watch the galaxy develop . Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / C. Willott, NRC-Canada / L. Mowla, Wellesley College / K. Iyer, Columbia.

The most distant galaxies detected date from when the universe was about 5% of its current age.

However, the mass of these galaxies is about 10,000 times smaller than that of the Milky Way, making them difficult to observe.

The Firefly Sparkle galaxy was first observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, but detailed new observations by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope shed more light on its formation.

“We never thought it would be possible to resolve galaxies that existed so early in the universe into so many different components, much less that their mass would be comparable to the mass of our galaxy in the process of forming. “I never thought it would be possible to discover similarities between the two,” he said. Dr. Ramiya Moura, astronomer at Wellesley College.

“There’s so much going on inside this small galaxy, including various stages of star formation.”

Webb was able to image the Firefly Sparkle galaxy in sufficient detail for two reasons.

One is the blessings of the universe. A massive galaxy cluster in the foreground, called MACS J1423.8+2404, radically enhanced the appearance of distant galaxies through a natural effect known as gravitational lensing.

And when combined with the telescope’s specialization in high-resolution imaging in infrared light, Webb provided unprecedented new data on the contents of galaxies.

“Without the benefit of this gravitational lensing, we would not have been able to understand this galaxy,” said Columbia University astronomer Karltej Ayer.

“We knew that was expected based on current physics, but to actually witness it was surprising.”

Astronomers also observed two neighboring galaxies they named Firefly Best Friend and Firefly New Best Friend. These galaxies are located 6,000 and 40,000 light-years from Firefly Sparkle, respectively, and are smaller than the present-day Milky Way.

The authors propose that the firefly glow could be a young, gas-rich galaxy in the early stages of formation.

These show that Firefly Sparkle’s mass is concentrated in 10 star clusters, with a total mass about 10 million times the mass of the Sun.

As such, Firefly Sparkle is one of the lowest-mass galaxies to have resolved into star clusters observed at the dawn of the universe, when galaxies began to form, and its mass is similar to that of the progenitor Milky Way. is.

“It has long been predicted that galaxies in the early universe formed through continuous interactions and mergers with other smaller galaxies,” says Yoshihisa Asada, a doctoral student at Kyoto University.

“We may be witnessing this process in action.”

“We have just started using space microscopy, so this is only the first of many such galaxies that Webb will discover,” said Dr. Marcia Bradač, an astronomer at the University of Ljubljana.

“Just as we can see pollen grains on plants with a microscope, the incredible resolution of the Webb and the magnifying power of gravitational lenses allows us to see tiny pieces inside galaxies.”

“Our team is currently analyzing all the early galaxies, and the results all point in the same direction. We still don’t know much about how these early galaxies formed. .”

of study Published in a magazine nature.

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L. Mora others. 2024. Low-mass galaxies were formed from star clusters in the Universe 600 million years ago. nature 636, 332-336; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08293-0

Source: www.sci.news

Revisiting the Formation of Galaxies in the Early Universe: New Research Inquiries

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The Standard Model predicted that the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope would observe a faint signal from a small protogalaxy. However, the common hypothesis that invisible dark matter contributed to the clumping of early stars and galaxies is not supported by the data. In fact, a new study led by astrophysicists at Case Western Reserve University says that the fact that the oldest galaxies are larger and brighter is consistent with another theory of gravity.

This artist's impression shows the evolution of the universe, starting with the Big Bang on the left and continuing with the emergence of the Cosmic Microwave Background. The formation of the first stars ends the Dark Ages of the universe, followed by the formation of galaxies. Image credit: M. Weiss / Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

“What dark matter theory predicts is not what we're seeing,” says Case Western Conservancy Professor Stacey McGaw.

“Instead of dark matter, modified gravity may have played a role. A theory known as MOND (Modified Newtonian Mechanics) proposed in 1998 that structure formation in the early universe would have occurred very quickly. It's much faster than the cold dark matter theory known as lambda CDM predicted.

The Webb is designed to answer some of the universe's biggest questions, such as when and how stars and galaxies formed.

Until its launch in 2021, there was no telescope that could peer deep into space and far back in time.

Lambda CDM predicts that galaxies formed by the gradual accretion of matter from smaller structures to larger structures due to the extra gravity provided by the mass of dark matter.

“Astronomers invented dark matter to explain how we went from a very smooth early universe to the large galaxies we see today with lots of space in between.” Professor McGough said.

Smaller pieces clustered into larger structures until galaxies formed. Webb should be able to see these tiny galaxy precursors as dim lights.

“All the large galaxies we see in the nearby universe were expected to have started from these tiny pieces,” Professor McGough said.

But even at higher and higher redshifts, the signal is larger and brighter than expected, even from this early stage of the universe's evolution.

MOND predicted that the mass that would become galaxies would rapidly aggregate and initially expand outward with the rest of the universe.

The stronger gravity slows the expansion, which then reverses and the matter collapses on itself to form galaxies. In this theory, dark matter does not exist at all.

“The large, bright structures that Webb saw in the very early days of the universe were predicted by MOND more than a quarter of a century ago,” Professor McGough said.

“The bottom line is, “I told you so.'' I was raised to think it was rude to say that, but that's the whole point of the scientific method, to make predictions and find out which ones. Let's see if it becomes a reality.”

“Finding a theory that fits both MOND and general relativity remains a major challenge.”

of the team paper will appear in today's astrophysical journal.

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Stacey S. McGaw others. 2024. Accelerating structure formation: The early emergence of massive galaxies and galaxy clusters. APJin press. arXiv: 2406.17930

This article is a version of a press release provided by Case Western Reserve University.

Source: www.sci.news

Interacting Pairs of Galaxies in the Kaminoke Galaxy Cluster Spotted by Hubble

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

This amazing new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is one of the best ever of a galaxy combination called MCG+05-31-045.

This Hubble image shows MCG+05-31-045, a pair of interacting galaxies located approximately 390 million light-years apart in the constellation Coma. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble/RJ Foley, University of California, Santa Cruz.

MCG+05-31-045 It is located approximately 390 million light-years away in the constellation of Coma.

This galaxy pair, also known as IC 3935, AGC 221216, or LEDA 44438, is part of the Coma cluster.

“The Coma cluster is a particularly rich galaxy cluster, containing more than 1,000 known galaxies,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“Some are easily visible with amateur telescopes.”

“Most of them are elliptical galaxies, which are typical of dense galaxy clusters like the Milky Way Cluster. Many elliptical galaxies are created when galaxies come close to each other and collide, stirring them up or They are formed when groups are torn apart.

“Stars in interacting galaxies can stay together, but gas in galaxies is a different story. Gas is twisted and compressed by gravity and is quickly used up to form new stars.” Masu.”

“When hot, massive blue stars die, there is little gas left to replace them with a new generation of young stars.”

“In the case of interacting spiral galaxies, the regular orbits that give rise to their impressive spiral arms are also disrupted.”

“Whether it’s a merger or a simple near-miss, the result is a galaxy with little gas and aging stars orbiting in uncoordinated circles – elliptical galaxies.”

“A similar fate is very likely to befall MCG+05-31-045,” the astronomers said.

“When small spiral galaxies are torn apart and merged into larger galaxies, many new stars are formed, and the hot, blue stars quickly burn out, leaving colder, redder stars like other stars in a coma. is left behind in the elliptical galaxy.” “

“But this process will take millions of years to complete. Until then, Queen Berenice II will suffer from knots in her hair.”

Source: www.sci.news

Most fast radio bursts come from galaxies with high star formation rates

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-long events detected from beyond the Milky Way. The radiative properties of FRBs favor magnetars as their source, as evidenced by FRB-like outbursts from the Milky Way's magnetars and the star-forming nature of FRB host galaxies. However, the process that generates the FRB source remains unknown. FRBs are more likely to occur in massive star-forming galaxies, according to a new study. The study also suggests that magnetars, whose magnetic fields are 100 trillion times stronger than Earth's, are often formed when two stars merge and later explode in a supernova.

This photo montage shows the Deep Synoptic Array-110 antenna used to locate and determine the location of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). Above the antenna are several images of the FRB's host galaxy appearing in the sky. These galaxies are very large and challenging models to describe FRB sources. Image credit: Annie Mejia/California Institute of Technology.

“Magnetars' immense power output makes them one of the most fascinating and extreme objects in the universe,” said lead author Kriti Sharma, a graduate student at Caltech.

“Little is known about what causes magnetars to form during the extinction of massive stars. Our work helps answer this question.”

To search for FRBs, Sharma and his colleagues used Deep Synoptic Array-110 (DSA-110) at the Owens Valley Radio Astronomical Observatory near Bishop, California.

To date, this sprawling radio array has detected 70 FRBs and located their specific source galaxies (only 23 other FRBs have been located by other telescopes). is).

In the current study, the researchers analyzed 30 of these local FRBs.

“DSA-110 more than doubles the number of FRBs containing known host galaxies, which is what we built the array for,” said Dr. Vikram Ravi of the California Institute of Technology.

FRBs are known to occur in galaxies that are actively forming stars, but the authors were surprised to find that FRBs are more frequent in massive star-forming galaxies than in low-mass star-forming galaxies. I've found that this tends to happen.

This alone was interesting because astronomers had previously thought that all types of active galaxies generate FRBs.

Armed with this new information, they began pondering what the results revealed about the Fed.

Metals in our universe (elements manufactured by stars) take time to accumulate over the course of the universe's history, so large galaxies tend to be rich in metals.

The fact that FRBs are more common in these metal-rich galaxies means that the magnetars from which they originate are also more common in these types of galaxies.

Stars rich in metals (astronomical terminology for elements heavier than hydrogen or helium) tend to be larger than other stars.

“Over time, as the galaxy grows, successive generations of stars evolve and die, enriching the galaxy with metals,” Dr. Ravi said.

Additionally, massive stars that can go supernova and become magnetars are more commonly found in pairs.

In fact, 84% of massive stars are binaries. So when one massive star in a binary swells with extra metal content, that extra material is pulled into its partner, which facilitates the eventual merger of the two stars.

These merging stars will have a combined magnetic field that is larger than the magnetic field of a single star.

“Stars with more metallic content swell, promoting mass transfer and eventually reaching mergers, resulting in even more massive stars with a total magnetic field greater than what any individual star would have.” is formed,” Sharma said.

In summary, since FRBs are preferentially observed in massive, metal-rich star-forming galaxies, magnetars (which are thought to cause FRBs) are also probably located in metal-rich environments that promote the merger of two stars. It is thought that it is formed by.

Therefore, this result suggests that magnetars in the universe originate from the remains of stellar mergers.

In the future, the team plans to use the DSA-110 and eventually the DSA-2000, an even larger wireless array to be built in the Nevada desert and expected to be completed in 2028, to connect more FRBs and their We would like to track the location of the occurrence.

“This result is a milestone for the entire DSA team. Many of the authors of this paper helped build DSA-110,” said Dr. Ravi.

“And the fact that DSA-110 is so good at localizing FRBs bodes well for the success of DSA-2000.”

of findings Published in today's magazine nature.

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K. Sharma others. 2024. Preferential occurrence of fast radio bursts in massive star-forming galaxies. nature 635, 61-66; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08074-9

Source: www.sci.news

The size of early galaxies has been overestimated

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

in paper Announced today Astronomical JournalThe astronomers analysed the evolution of giant galaxies at redshifts 4 to 8 selected from the JWST Cosmic Evolution Early Emission Survey (CEERS).

A composite color image of the very red quasar-like object A2744-QSO1. Image courtesy of Furtak. others., doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07184-8.

“We still see more galaxies than expected, but none of them are massive enough to 'break' the universe,” said Katherine Kworowski, a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin.

Galaxies that appear excessively massive are likely to harbor black holes that are rapidly eating away at gas, according to a new study.

Friction between the fast-moving gas releases heat and light, making these galaxies much brighter than they would be if light were emitted only by stars.

This extra light can make galaxies appear to contain more stars, and therefore more massive, than we would normally assume.

When scientists remove these galaxies, which they call “little red dots,” from their analysis, the remaining early galaxies are not so massive that they fit the predictions of the Standard Model.

“This means there is no crisis with regard to the standard model of cosmology,” Professor Steven Finkelstein said.

“When you have a theory that has stood the test of time for a long time, you need overwhelming evidence to really disprove it, and that's simply not the case.”

They've solved the main dilemma, but a less troubling one remains: there are still about twice as many massive galaxies in the Webb data from the early universe than would be expected from the standard model.

One possible explanation may be that stars formed more quickly in the early universe than they do today.

“Maybe early in the universe, galaxies were better at turning gas into stars,” Kurowski said.

Star formation occurs when hot gas cools enough to succumb to gravity and condense into one or more stars.

But as the gas contracts, it heats up and creates outward pressure.

In our region of the universe, the balance of these opposing forces tends to make the process of star formation very slow.

But some theories suggest that the early universe was denser than it is today, which could have made it harder for gas to escape during star formation, speeding up the process.

At the same time, astronomers are analyzing spectra of the tiny red dots that Webb has spotted, and the CEERS team and others are finding evidence of fast-moving hydrogen gas that is characteristic of black hole accretion disks.

This supports the idea that at least some of the light from these compact red objects comes from gas swirling around black holes rather than from stars, strengthening Kurowski and his colleagues' conclusion that black holes are probably not as massive as astronomers originally thought.

However, further observations of these intriguing objects are underway, which should help solve the mystery of how much light is coming from the star and how much is coming from the gas around the black hole.

In science, answering one question often gives rise to a new one.

Although the authors show that the Standard Model of cosmology is likely not broken down, their work points out the need for new ways of thinking about star formation.

“So there's still curiosity. Not everything is fully understood, which is why this kind of science is fun to do, because if one paper explained everything or there were no more questions to answer, it would be a very boring field,” Kurowski says.

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Katherine Choworowski others2024. Evidence for shallow evolution of bulk density in massive galaxies at z = 4-8 from CEERS. AJ 168, 113;doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ad57c1

Source: www.sci.news

The constraints of machine learning in analyzing galaxies that are difficult to observe

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The recent focus in news has been on the progress of artificial intelligence (AI) in the past couple of years. ChatGPT and DALL·E are examples of AI models that many people associate with AI. AI tools are utilized by astronomers to analyze vast data sets, which would be impractical to manually go through. Machine Learning Algorithms (ML) are crucial for categorizing data based on predetermined parameters derived from previous studies. An example of ML usage is in the identification of elusive patterns in sky surveys by astronomers, though the limitations of this method in classifying objects in space are not thoroughly understood.

To address these limitations, a group of scientists led by Pamela Marchand-Cortes at the University of La Serena in Chile tested the capabilities of ML. They used ML models like Rotation forest, Random forest, and Logit Boost to categorize objects beyond the Milky Way galaxy based on their properties. The team aimed to see if ML could accurately categorize objects already manually classified. The challenge was in the dense region of sky obscured by dust in the Milky Way, known as the “Avoidance Zone.” The team’s experiment showed that ML had difficulty in categorizing objects in this challenging area.

The team gathered and analyzed data from X-ray images to manually identify objects and compare ML’s performance. ML correctly identified large objects like galaxies in only a few instances, showcasing its limitations. Despite the potential for ML to assist in studying obscured regions of the universe, the team recommended training AI models with diverse samples to enhance accuracy in future research.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Stunning images of small spiral galaxies captured by Hubble

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured an excellent image of the spiral galaxy ESO 422-41 in the constellation Columba.

This Hubble image shows ESO 422-41, a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Columba, about 34 million light-years away. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / C. Kilpatrick.

ESO 422-41 It is located in the constellation Columba, about 34 million light years away.

DDO 230, LEDA 16864, or UGCA 103, the diameter of this spiral galaxy is 30,000 light years.

“The name ESO 422-41 comes from its appearance in the European Southern Observatory (B) Atlas of the Southern Sky,” Hubble astronomers said.

“In the era before automated sky surveys by space observatories such as ESA's Gaia satellite, large-scale photographic surveys discovered many stars, galaxies, and nebulae.”

“Astronomers used the then most advanced large telescopes to create hundreds of photographs covering parts of the sky.”

“They then studied the resulting photographs and attempted to catalog all the new objects revealed.”

“In the 1970s, a new telescope at ESO's La Silla facility in Chile probed the southern sky, which had not yet been explored as deeply as the northern sky,” they added.

“At that time, the primary technology for recording images was glass plates treated with chemicals.”

“The resulting collection of photographic plates became the ESO (B) Atlas of the Southern Sky.”

“Astronomers from ESO and Uppsala, Sweden, worked together to study the plates and recorded hundreds of galaxies (ESO 422-41 is just one of them), star clusters and nebulae. I was a beginner.”

“Since then, astronomical sky surveys have progressed from digital, computer-aided surveys such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Legacy Survey to surveys performed by space telescopes such as Gaia and the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). It has transitioned to

“Nonetheless, photographic sky surveys have made significant contributions to astronomical knowledge over the decades, and the glass plate archive serves as an important historical reference for a wide range of skies. .”

“Some of them are still actively used, for example, to study variable stars over time,” the researchers pointed out.

“And the objects revealed by these surveys, including ESO 422-41, can now be studied in detail with telescopes like Hubble.”

The new images of ESO 422-41 consist of observations from Hubble's advanced survey camera (ACS) in the near-infrared and optical portions of the spectrum.

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

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble photographs star-forming galaxies in close proximity

Posted on April 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

This stunning view of a pair of spiral galaxies called Arp 72 is a violent collision occurring in slow motion, according to the Hubble team.

This image shows Arp 72, a galaxy pair that includes NGC 5996 (a large spiral galaxy) and NGC 5994 (a small companion star in the lower left of the image). The color images were taken in the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum using Hubble's Altitude Survey Camera (ACS) and the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) mounted on NSF's Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope. created from separate exposures. Cerro Toloro Interamerican Observatory in Chile. Four filters were used to sample different wavelengths. Color is obtained by assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / L. Galvany / J. Dalcanton / Dark Energy Survey / DOE / FNAL / DECam / CTIO / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA.

of alp 72 system It is located approximately 160 million light years away in the constellation Serpens.

Arp 72 is made up of a strangely shaped spiral galaxy NGC 5996 and smaller, less deformed spiral galaxies NGC5994.

NGC 5996 was first discovered on March 21, 1784 by German-British astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 5994 is discovered Written by Irish engineer and astronomer Bindon Stoney on March 9, 1851.

“The centers of these galaxies are approximately 67,000 light-years apart from each other,” the Hubble astronomers said.

“Furthermore, the distance between galaxies at their closest points is even smaller, close to 40,000 light-years.”

“This may still sound vast, but from a galactic separation perspective, it's really, really cozy!”

“For comparison, the distance between the Milky Way and its closest independent galactic neighbor Andromeda is about 2.5 million light-years.”

“Alternatively, the distance between the Milky Way and its largest and brightest satellite galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, is about 162,000 light-years.”

“Given this and the fact that NGC 5996 is roughly comparable in size to the Milky Way, it is not surprising that NGC 5996 and NGC 5994 are interacting,” the researchers said.

“In fact, this interaction may be responsible for distorting the helical shape of NGC 5996 and apparently pulling it toward NGC 5994.”

“That's also… Formation of very long and faint tails of stars and gas It curves away from NGC 5996 to the upper right of the image. ”

“This tidal tail is a common phenomenon that appears when galaxies approach each other, as seen in some Hubble images.”

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Suggests Photons from Dwarf Galaxies Helped Reionize the Early Universe

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Reionization of the universe happened about 500 million to 900 million years after the Big Bang. This represents the transformation of neutral hydrogen into an ionized gas and marks the end of the “Dark Ages” in the history of the universe. Currently, astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have obtained spectra of eight ultrafaint dwarf galaxies that existed less than a billion years after the Big Bang. Their observations could help settle long-standing scientific debates about the driving force of reionization and could also be essential to understanding the formation of the first galaxies.

Astronomers estimate that 50,000 near-infrared sources are represented in the Webb image of galaxy cluster Abel 2744. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / I. Labbe, Swinburne Institute of Technology / R. Bezanson, University of Pittsburgh / A. Pagan, STScI.

There is still much we don’t understand about the period in the early history of the universe known as the Era of Reionization.

It was a time of darkness, without stars or galaxies, and filled with a thick fog of hydrogen gas, until the first stars ionized the surrounding gas and light began to pass through.

Astronomers have spent decades trying to identify sources that emit radiation powerful enough to gradually remove this hydrogen fog that blanketed the early universe.

“Our discovery reveals the important role played by ultrafaint galaxies in the evolution of the early universe,” said astronomer Dr. Irina Chemelinska from the Paris Institute of Astrophysics.

“They produce ionizing photons that convert neutral hydrogen into ionized plasma during the reionization of the universe.”

“This highlights the importance of understanding low-mass galaxies in shaping the history of the universe.”

“These cosmic power plants collectively emit more than enough energy to accomplish their work,” said Dr. Hakim Atek, also of the Paris Institute of Astrophysics.

“Despite their small size, these low-mass galaxies produce large amounts of energetic radiation, and their abundance during this period is so great that their collective impact alters the state of the entire universe can do.”

In the study, astronomers captured and analyzed the spectra of eight very faint galaxies magnified by the lensing star cluster Abel 2744.

They found that these galaxies emit large amounts of ultraviolet light, at levels four times higher than previously thought.

This means that most of the photons that reionized the Universe likely came from these dwarf galaxies.

“With the web, we have stepped into uncharted territory,” said Dr. Themiya Nanayakkara, an astronomer at Swinburne University of Technology.

“Our study reveals more provocative questions that must be answered in efforts to chart the evolutionary history of our beginnings.”

of result It was published in the magazine Nature.

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H. Atek other. 2024. Most of the photons that reionized the universe came from dwarf galaxies. Nature 626, 975-978; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07043-6

Source: www.sci.news

New discoveries from the Webb telescope shed light on the origins of supermassive black holes and galaxies

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New insights from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope overturn theories about how black holes shape the universe, reversing the classical theory that black holes formed after the first stars and galaxies appeared. It challenges our understanding. In fact, black holes may have accelerated the birth of new stars during the universe's first 50 million years.

“We know that these monster black holes exist in the centers of galaxies near the Milky Way, but now the big surprise is that they were also present at the beginning of the universe, and that they were like building blocks or seeds of early galaxies. It was something,” he said. Professor Joseph Silk, an astronomer at Johns Hopkins University and the Sorbonne Institute of Astrophysics;

“They've really enhanced everything, including giant amplifiers for star formation. This completely overturns what we previously thought was possible, and how galaxies form. It has the potential to completely shake up our understanding of what happens.”

“The distant galaxies observed by Webb in the early universe appear much brighter than scientists expected, revealing an unusually large number of young stars and supermassive black holes.”

“Conventional wisdom holds that black holes formed after the collapse of supermassive stars, and that galaxies formed after the first stars illuminated the dark early universe.”

But the team's analysis suggests that for the first 100 million years, black holes and galaxies coexisted, influencing each other's fate.

“We argue that the outflow of the black hole crushed the gas clouds and turned them into stars, greatly accelerating the rate of star formation,” Professor Silk said.

“Otherwise, it's very difficult to understand where these bright galaxies came from, because they are typically smaller in the early Universe. Why on earth did they become stars so quickly? Do I need to create one?”

“A black hole is a region of space where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape its attraction.”

“Thanks to this force, they generate powerful magnetic fields that cause violent storms, eject turbulent plasma, and ultimately act like giant particle accelerators.”

“This process may be why Webb's detectors found more black holes and brighter galaxies than scientists expected.”

“We can't fully see these ferocious winds and jets so far away, but we know they must exist because many black holes have been seen in the early universe. I am.”

“The huge wind blowing from the black hole crushes nearby gas clouds, turning them into stars.”

“This is the missing link that explains why these first galaxies are much brighter than we expected.”

According to the research team, there were two stages of the young universe.

In the first stage, star formation was accelerated by high-velocity outflow from the black hole, while in the second stage, the outflow slowed down.

“Hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang, a supermassive black hole magnetic storm caused gas clouds to collapse and new stars to form at a rate far exceeding that observed in normal galaxies billions of years later,” Professor Silk said. Ta.

“These powerful outflows moved into energy conservation states, reducing the amount of gas available to form stars within the galaxy, thus slowing star formation.”

“We originally thought that galaxies formed when giant gas clouds collapsed,” Professor Silk said.

“The big surprise was that there was a seed in the middle of that cloud, a large black hole, that helped rapidly turn the inside of that cloud into a star at a much faster rate than we expected. So the first galaxies are incredibly bright.”

of study Published in Astrophysics Journal Letter.

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joseph silk other. 2024. Which came first, a supermassive black hole or a galaxy? Insights from JWST. APJL 961, L39; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad1bf0

Source: www.sci.news

The Hubble Space Telescope Observes Stunning Spiral Galaxies

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The Hubble team has released a stunning photo of the face-on spiral galaxy ESO 420-13 taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

This Hubble image shows spiral galaxy ESO 420-13 facing forward. Image credit: NASA / ESA / University of Virginia A. Evans / Gladys Kober, NASA and The Catholic University of America.

ESO420-13 It is a spiral galaxy located south of the constellation Eridanus.

This galaxy, also known as LEDA 14702, IRAS 04118-3207, or 2MASX J04134969-3200252, Seyfert Galaxy.

“Dark dust lanes are visible against the backdrop of the glow of the galaxy's many stars,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“About 10% of all galaxies in the universe are thought to be Seyfert galaxies.”

“They are typically spiral galaxies and have very bright nuclei, the result of a supermassive black hole at their center accreting large amounts of radiation-emitting material.”

“The centers of these active galaxies are the brightest when observed with light outside the visible spectrum.”

“Galaxies containing active galactic nuclei of this type are often so bright that the glow of the nucleus washes out the host galaxy itself.”

“But the Seyfert galaxy is unique because the galaxy itself is also visible.”

“In the case of ESO 420-13, we can enjoy the galaxy's almost perfectly round disk, brighter core, and swirling dark dust filaments.”

Astronomers observed ESO 420-13 as part of their research. bright infrared galaxy (LIRG).

“These galaxies are known to be very bright in the infrared part of the spectrum,” the researchers said.

“Galaxy interactions trigger new star-forming regions in LIRG that become extremely bright in infrared light.”

Source: www.sci.news

The Hubble Space Telescope’s Focus on Galaxies with Supernovae

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has taken new photos of the relatively small galaxy UGC 5189A in the constellation Leo.

This Hubble image shows UGC 5189A, an irregular galaxy about 150 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / A. Filippenko.

UGC 5189A It is located approximately 150 million light years away in the constellation Leo.

This galaxy, also known as ECO 5363 or LEDA 27776, was observed by Hubble in 2010 to study supernova explosions.

This special supernova SN2010jlwas notable for its enormous brightness.

“In fact, over a three-year period, SN 2010jl alone emitted at least 2.5 billion times more visible energy than the Sun emitted in the same time frame across all wavelengths,” Hubble astronomers said.

“Even after a supernova has dimmed to an unobservable level, it can still be interesting to study the environment in which it occurred.”

“This could provide us with valuable information. Supernovae can occur for a variety of reasons, and understanding the environment in which they occur can help us understand why supernovae are triggered. It will help you better understand the necessary conditions.”

“Furthermore, follow-up studies after a supernova explosion could improve our understanding of the immediate aftermath of a supernova explosion, from the powerful effects on the surrounding gas and dust to the stellar debris left behind by the supernova.”

“To this end, UGC 5189A has been observed by Hubble many times since 2010.”

This new image of UGC 5189A consists of observations from. Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) Found in the ultraviolet and optical parts of the spectrum.

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 is from data collected in three recent Hubble studies of UGC 5189A, which also examined several other relatively nearby galaxies that have recently gone supernova. “Relatively nearby” in this context means approximately 100 million light years away. ” said the astronomers.

Source: www.sci.news

Radio Bursts from Distant Galaxies: A Mysterious Phenomenon

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

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. ”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Hubble captures the stunning collision of two spiral galaxies in Arp 122

Posted on January 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

This cosmic encounter is known as Arp 122, and here: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

Two spiral galaxies, NGC 6040 and NGC 6039, have merged on the right side of this Hubble image. NGC 6039 is circular when viewed from the front. NGC 6040 appears to be before the first one. In the lower left corner of the frame, elliptical galaxy NGC 6041, the central member of the galaxy cluster in which Arp 122 resides, is visible as light emanating from a point. This color image was created in both the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum using Hubble's Altitude Survey Camera (ACS) and the Dark Energy Camera mounted on NSF's Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter. Created from separate exposures taken in the area. -American Observatory of Chile. Four filters were used to sample different wavelengths. Color is obtained by assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / J. Dalcanton / Dark Energy Survey / DOE / FNAL / DECam / CTIO / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / L. Shatz.

Alp 122 It is located in the constellation Hercules, approximately 570 million light years from Earth.

This system consists of two galaxies: a tilted and distorted spiral galaxy; NGC6040 and the spiral galaxy in front of me NGC6039.

“Galaxy collisions and mergers are highly energetic and dramatic events, but they occur on very slow timescales,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“For example, our Milky Way galaxy is on a colliding orbit with its nearest galactic neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy, but it will still be four billion years before these two galaxies actually meet. ”

“The process of collision and fusion will not end soon either; it may take hundreds of millions of years to unfold.”

“These collisions take a very long time because they have very long distances.”

“Galaxies are composed of stars and their solar systems, dust and gas,” the researchers added.

“Over time, the structures of two (or more) colliding galaxies may change completely, eventually forming a single, merged galaxy.”

“That could be the result of the collision seen in this image.”

“Galaxies resulting from mergers are thought to have regular or elliptical structures because the merger process destroys more complex structures (such as those observed in spiral galaxies).”

“It will be interesting to see what Arp 122 will look like once this collision is complete, but that won't happen for a long time.”

Source: www.sci.news

The Hubble Telescope uncovers countless faraway galaxies in the constellation Cetus

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New infrared images taken with wide field camera 3 (WFC3) onboard the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows dozens of galaxies in the constellation Cetus, including SDSS J020941.27+001558.4, SDSS J020941.23+001600.7, and HerS J020941.1+001557. Masu.

This Hubble image shows a variety of distant galaxies in the constellation Cetus. Most galaxies are very small, but there are also some larger galaxies and some stars that can be seen in detail. At its center is an elliptical galaxy with a bright nucleus and a wide disk. A reddish, distorted ring of light surrounds its center, thicker on one side. Small galaxies intersect the rings as bright spots. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / H. Nayyeri / L. Marchetti / J. Lowenthal.

“What are we looking at when we study this image?” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“A distant galaxy 19.5 billion light-years away from Earth? Or a much closer (relatively) tiny glowing red galaxy 2.7 billion light-years away? Or a third galaxy that appears to be much closer to the second galaxy? Is not it?”

“The answer, perhaps confusingly, is that we are considering all three.”

“More precisely, we see light emitted from all of these galaxies, even though the farthest galaxy from Earth is directly behind the first.”

“In fact, it's that very alignment that makes the particular visuals of this image possible.”

“The bright spot in the center of this image is one of our closest galaxies, known by a long (but informative) name. SDSS J020941.27+001558.4,” they said.

“Another bright spot above it appears to be intersected by a curved crescent of light, SDSS J020941.23+001600.7, is the second closest galaxy. ”

“And finally, that curved crescent of light itself is 'lensed' light from a very distant galaxy. Girlfriend J020941.1+001557”

Her J020941.1+001557 light was bent by the gravity of the foreground galaxy and expanded into a circular shape called an Einstein ring.

“Einstein rings occur when light from a very distant object bends around a large intermediate object,” the astronomers said.

“This is possible because the fabric of the universe itself, spacetime, is bent by mass, and so is light traveling through spacetime.”

“This is too subtle to observe at a local level, but when dealing with the curvature of light on large astronomical scales, for example when light emitted from a galaxy bends around another galaxy or galaxy cluster, , may become clearly observable.”

“When the lensed object and the lensed object are aligned in such a way, the result is a unique Einstein ring shape, with a complete or partial ring around the lensed object, depending on the precision of the alignment. A circle of light appears.

“This partial Einstein ring is of particular interest because it was identified thanks to a citizen science project. space warp — means that the public made the discovery of this object possible. ”

Source: www.sci.news

Unexpected star formation driven by dwarf galaxies discovered

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A University of Michigan astronomer, Sally Ooi, led a study on the star-forming regions of the host galaxy NGC 2366, a typical dwarf irregular galaxy. This study was credited to the Observatorio de Calar Alto, J. van Eymeren (AIRUB, ATNF), and Á.R. López Sánchez. As it turns out, dwarf galaxies such as NGC 2366 experience a delay in expelling gas, which allows for the star-forming regions to hold onto gas and dust longer, promoting the formation and development of more stars. This delays the onset of strong superwinds by 10 million years, resulting in more active star formation. This discovery was published in the Astrophysical Journal.

This delay offers astronomers a unique opportunity to study a scenario similar to the dawn of the universe, when ultraviolet light begins to ionize hydrogen, changing the universe from opaque to transparent. By observing low-metallicity dwarf galaxies with large amounts of ultraviolet radiation, scientists can gain insight into these early stages of the universe. The use of new technology from the Hubble Space Telescope allows researchers to observe the light of triple ionized carbon in these galaxies. This observational evidence supports the delayed onset of strong superwinds and a greater amount of ultraviolet radiation in these galaxies.

Thanks to these discoveries, scientists may gain a better understanding of the nature of galaxies seen at the dawn of the universe. This information could be important for the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope. The study was published in the Astrophysical Journal and the Astrophysics Journal Letter. The research team involved in these studies included Michelle C. Jecmen, MS Oey, Amit N. Sawant, Ashkviz Danekar, Sergiy Silic, Linda J. Smith, Jens Melinder, Klaus Reiter, Matthew Hayes, Anne E. Jascott, Daniela Calzetti, Yu-Hua Chu, and Bethan L. James. Ultimately, these findings provide valuable insight into the formation and development of stars in low-metallicity dwarf galaxies.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Astrophysicists uncover the reason behind the absence of spiral galaxies in our supergalactic plane

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Astrophysicists have discovered why spiral galaxies like the Milky Way are rare in the supergalactic plane, a dense region of our local universe. The study, led by Durham University and the University of Helsinki, used simulations on the SIBELIUS supercomputer to show that dense galaxy clusters on a plane frequently merge, transforming spiral galaxies into elliptical galaxies. The discovery is consistent with telescope observations, supports the Standard Model of the Universe, and helps explain long-standing cosmic anomalies in the distribution of galaxies.

Astrophysicists say they have found the answer to why spiral galaxies are similar to our galaxy

This image showing an elliptical galaxy (left) and a spiral galaxy (right) includes near-infrared light from the James Webb Space Telescope and ultraviolet and visible light from the Hubble Space Telescope. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, Rogier Windhorst (ASU), William Keel (University of Alabama), Stuart Wyithe (University of Melbourne), JWST PEARLS team, Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

Evolution of galaxies in dense star clusters

In dense galaxy clusters in supergalactic planes, galaxies frequently experience interactions and mergers with other galaxies. This transforms the spiral galaxy into an elliptical galaxy (a smooth galaxy with no obvious internal structure or spiral arms), leading to the growth of a supermassive black hole.

In contrast, away from the plane, galaxies can evolve in relative isolation, which helps maintain their spiral structure.

Innovative simulations and important discoveries

Research results will be published in a magazine natural astronomy.

The Milky Way is part of a supergalactic plane that includes several giant galaxy clusters and thousands of individual galaxies. Most of the galaxies found here are elliptical galaxies.

The research team used the SIBELIUS (Simulations Beyond the Local Universe) supercomputer simulation, which tracks the evolution of the universe over 13.8 billion years, from the beginning of the universe to the present.

Distribution of the brightest galaxies in the local universe. observed in the 2MASS survey (left panel) and reproduced in the SIBELIUS simulation (right panel). Both panels show projections in supergalactic coordinates down to about 100 megaparsecs (Mpc). The nearly vertical stripes of the sky represent the region of the sky hidden behind our Milky Way galaxy. The simulation accurately reproduces the structure seen in the local universe.Credit: Dr. Thiru Sawala

While most cosmological simulations consider random patches of the universe and cannot be directly compared to observations, SIBELIUS aims to accurately reproduce observed structures, including supergalactic planes. . The final simulation is in remarkable agreement with telescopic observations of the universe.

Contribution and significance of research

Study co-author Professor Carlos Frenk, Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics at Durham University’s Institute of Computational Cosmology, said:

“This is rare, but not a complete anomaly. Our simulations reveal details of galaxy formation, such as the change from spirals to ellipses due to galaxy mergers.”

“Furthermore, the simulations show that the Standard Model of the Universe, which is based on the idea that most of the mass of the Universe is cold dark matter, is one of the most remarkable structures in the Universe, including the magnificent structure of which the Milky Way Galaxy forms part. This shows that the structure can be reproduced.”

The unusual separation of spiral and elliptical galaxies in the local universe has been known since the 1960s and was included in a recent list of “cosmic anomalies” compiled by renowned cosmologist and 2019 Nobel Prize winner Professor Jim Peebles. prominently mentioned.

Study lead author Dr Thiru Sawala, a postdoctoral fellow at Durham University and the University of Helsinki, said: lecture.

“Then we realized that simulations had already been completed that might contain the answer. Our research shows that the known mechanisms of galaxy evolution also work in this unique cosmic environment. Masu.”

Reference: “A distinct distribution of elliptical and disk galaxies across local superclusters as a ΛCDM prediction” by Til Sawalha, Carlos Frenk, Jens Jachet, Peter H. Johansson, and Guillem Laveau, 2023. 11 20th of the month, natural astronomy.
DOI: 10.1038/s41550-023-02130-6

The supercomputer simulations were run on the Cosmology Machine (COSMA 8) supercomputer hosted by Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology on behalf of the UK’s DiRAC high-performance computing facility, and on CSC’s Mahti supercomputer in Finland. .

This research was funded by the European Research Council, the Academy of Finland, and the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Spiral Galaxies Emitting “Forbidden” Emissions

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

This image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows MCG-01-24-014. It is a spiral galaxy with an active galactic nucleus located 275 million light-years away and is classified as a Type 2 Seyfert galaxy. Seyfert galaxies are often closer to Earth than quasars and are distinguished by their unique spectra, especially the “forbidden” emission of type 2 Seyferts.Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, C. Kilpatrick

this swirl hubble space telescope This image shows a bright spiral galaxy known as MCG-01-24-014, located about 275 million light-years from Earth. MCG-01-24-014 is called an active galaxy because, in addition to being a well-defined spiral galaxy, it has a very energetic core known as an active galactic nucleus (AGN) .

More specifically, it is classified as a Type 2 Seyfert galaxy. Seyfert galaxies are home to one of the most common subclasses of AGNs, along with quasars. The exact classification of AGNs is nuanced, but Seyfert galaxies tend to be relatively nearby where the host galaxy can be clearly detected alongside the central AGN, whereas quasars are always very distant AGNs and their Its incredible brightness exceeds that of its host galaxy.

Understanding Seyfert galaxies and their spectra

Both Seyfert galaxies and quasars have further subclasses. For Seyfert galaxies, the main subcategories are type 1 and type 2. They are distinguished from each other by their spectra (the pattern created when light is split into its constituent wavelengths). The spectral lines emitted by Type 2 Seyfert galaxies are particularly associated with certain so-called “forbidden” emissions.

To understand why synchrotron radiation from galaxies is thought to be forbidden, it helps to understand why the spectrum exists in the first place. Spectra look the way they do because certain atoms and molecules absorb and emit light very reliably at very specific wavelengths.

The reason is quantum physics. Electrons (tiny particles orbiting the nucleus of atoms and molecules) can only exist at very specific energies, so electrons can only lose or gain very specific amounts of energy. These very specific amounts of energy correspond to specific wavelengths of light that are absorbed or emitted.

Discharge prohibition phenomenon

Forbidden emission lines are therefore spectral emission lines that should not exist according to certain rules of quantum physics. However, quantum physics is complex, and some of the rules used to predict quantum physics use assumptions that are appropriate for laboratory conditions on Earth.

Under these rules, this release is “prohibited” and ignored because it is unlikely. But in space, in the midst of incredibly energetic galactic nuclei, those assumptions no longer apply, and “forbidden” light has a chance to shine towards us.

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12 Billion Years Ago, JWST Uncovers Secrets of Star-Forming Galaxies

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers discover that most early galaxies from about 12 billion years ago had more glowing gas than stars due to interactions with neighboring galaxies. I was able to.

This groundbreaking result provides new insights into the evolution of galaxies and the early Universe, and highlights the transformative impact of JWST on astrophysics.

New images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have helped Australian astronomers uncover the secrets of how infant galaxies began a burst of star formation in the very early universe .Some early galaxies were rich in gas that shined brighter than emerging stars. In a new study, astronomers have discovered just how prevalent these bright galaxies were about 12 billion years ago. Images from JWST show that nearly 90% of galaxies in the early Universe had this glowing gas, creating so-called “extreme emission line features. An image of a distant polar emission galaxy. Observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (left) and the Hubble Space Telescope (right). This comparison highlights the sharpness of the JWST images. Credit: ARC Center of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D)

“The stars in these young galaxies were amazing, producing enough radiation to excite the gas around them. This gas, in turn, shined even brighter than the stars themselves.” said Dr. Anshu Gupta, Curtin University Node of the ARC Center for Three-Dimensional All-Sky Astrophysics (ASTRO 3D) and the International Radio Astronomy Research Center.Iqral), lead author of the paper describing this finding. “Until now, it has been difficult to understand how these galaxies are able to accumulate so much gas. Our discovery suggests that each of these galaxies had at least one neighboring galaxy. This suggests that interactions between these galaxies cool the gas and trigger intense star formation episodes, resulting in this extreme luminescence property.” Progress in observing galaxies in the early universe

This discovery is an example of the unparalleled clarity the JWST telescope provides in studying the early universe.

“The quality of data from the James Webb Telescope is exceptional,” says Dr. Gupta. “It has the depth and resolution necessary to observe the surroundings and neighboring galaxies of early galaxies, when the universe was just 2 billion years old. We were able to confirm that there are significant differences in the number of neighboring galaxies among galaxies that do not.”

The target galaxy observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (left) and the Hubble Space Telescope (right). The unprecedented resolution and sharpness of the JWST images allowed us to identify neighboring galaxies (cyan circles) that were not even visible to Hubble. Credit: ARC Center of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D

Until now, we’ve struggled to get clear images of galaxies whose universe is about 2 billion years old. Since many stars had not yet formed, there were far fewer galaxies to focus on, making the task even more difficult.“Before JWST, we could only get pictures of really huge galaxies, most of which were in very dense galaxy clusters, making them difficult to study,” says Dr. Gupta. “With the technology available at the time, it was not possible to observe 95% of the galaxies used in this study. His Webb telescope revolutionized our research.

An image of a distant polar emission galaxy. Observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (left) and the Hubble Space Telescope (right). This comparison highlights the sharpness of the JWST images. Credit: ARC Center of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D)

Checking previous assumptions
The discovery proved an earlier assumption, said fellow author Tran, associate director of ASTRO 3D and the Harvard University and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. “We suspected that these extreme galaxies were signposts of intense interactions in the early universe, but only with JWST’s keen eye could we confirm our hunch.” she says.

The study is based on data obtained as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragacular Survey (JADES) survey, which uses deep infrared imaging and multi-object spectroscopy to explore the universe for the earliest galaxies. It paves the way for further insights. “What’s really interesting about this study is that we see similarities in emission lines between the first galaxies and galaxies that formed more recently and are easier to measure. It means we now have more ways to answer difficult questions about the early Universe,” said second author Ravi Jaiswal, PhD student at Curtin University/ICRAR and ASTRO 3D.

“This research is at the heart of the work of our Galaxy Evolution Programme. Understanding what earlier galaxies looked like will help us answer questions about the origins of the elements that make up all of our daily life on Earth. We can,” said Professor Emma Ryan-Weber, ASTRO 3D Director.

Reference: “MOSEL study: JWST reveals massive mergers/strong interactions in the early universe driving extreme emission lines” Anshu Gupta, Ravi Jaiswar, Vicente Rodriguez-Gomez, Ben Forrest, Kim -Vy Tran, Themiya Nanayakkara, Anishya Harshan, Elisabete Da Cunha, Glenn G. Kapsack, Michaela Harshman, of astrophysical journal.

DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2311.02158

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