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Webb unearths proof of functioning supermassive black holes in Messier 83

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Space Telescope Sciences Scientists According to a team of astronomers led by science scientists at the Sciences, highly ionized neon gas detected in the center of the Spiral Galaxy Messier 83 by a mid-inphrase instrument (MIRI) mounted on the NASA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

This web image shows the Messier 83. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/Webb/A. Adamo, Stockholm University/Feast JWST Team.

Messier 83 is a spiral galaxy, a magnificently designed rod 15 million light years away from the southern constellations of Hydra.

Also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, M83, NGC 5236, Leda 48082, and UGCA 366, the galaxy is about twice as small as the Milky Way.

Messier 83 was like that I discovered it By French astronomer Nicholas Louis des Lacaille on February 17, 1752.

Its apparent size is 7.5, and is one of the brightest spiral galaxies in the night sky. It is the easiest way to observe using binoculars in May.

This is a prominent member of the galaxy group known as the Centaurus A/M83 group, counting the Dusty NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) and the irregular Galaxy NGC 5253.

Messier 83 has been a mystery for a long time. Large spiral galaxies often host active galactic nuclei (AGN), but astronomers have struggled to see what Messier 83 has been the case for decades.

Previous observations suggested that if a super-large black hole exists there, it must be dormant or hidden behind thick dust. However, new Webb observations reveal signs that suggest that this is not the case.

“The discovery of highly ionized neon emissions in the nucleus of the M83 was unexpected,” said Dr. Svea Hernandez, an astronomer with an ESA aura at the Institute of Space Telescope Science.

“These signatures require a lot of energy to be produced, rather than what a normal star can produce.”

“This strongly suggests the existence of a previously elusive AGN.”

“Before Webb we didn’t have the tools to detect such faintly ionized gas signatures at the nucleus of the M83.”

“Now, with incredible mid-red sensitivity, we can finally explore these hidden depths of the galaxy and uncover what we once couldn’t be seen.”

Webb’s mid-infrared observation allowed astronomers to peer into the dust and detect signs of highly ionized gases in small masses near the galactic nucleus.

The energy required to create these signatures is significantly higher than what supernovae and other great processes can offer, making AGN the most likely explanation.

However, alternative scenarios such as extreme shock waves in interstellar media are still under investigation.

“Webb is revolutionizing understanding of galaxies,” says Dr. Linda Smith, an astronomer at The Space Telescope Science Institute.

“For years, astronomers have been searching for the M83 black hole without success. Now we have compelling clues that could finally exist.”

“This finding shows how Webb is making unexpected breakthroughs.”

“Astronomers thought they had ruled out AGN on the M83, but now there is fresh evidence that they will challenge past assumptions and open new paths for exploration.”

Survey results It will be displayed in Astrophysical Journal.

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Svea Hernandez et al. 2025. JWST/MIRI detection [Ne v] and [Ne vi] M83: Evidence of a long-required active galactic nucleus? APJ 983, 154; doi:10.3847/1538-4357/adba5d

Source: www.sci.news

Physicists discover proof of asymmetry between matter and antimatter in decay of baryons and beauty hadrons

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The standard model of particle physics predicts an asymmetry between matter and antimatter known as charge parity (CP) violation. However, the size of this asymmetry in the Standard Model is not large enough to explain the disequilibrium, and so far the asymmetry has only been observed in certain decays of particles called mesons. In two new studies, LHCb collaboration CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has discovered evidence of CP violation in baryon decay and beauty hadron decay into charmonium particles, shedding light on these two pieces of the matter-antimatter puzzle.

Exterior view of the LHCb detector. Image credit: CERN.

Experiments involving LHCb have previously searched for baryon CP violation by looking for differences in the way matter and antimatter baryons decay into other particles.

However, these investigations have so far been essentially empty-handed.

One LHCb study provided evidence for a process in the specific collapse of the bottom lambda baryon, but subsequent studies analyzing larger samples of such collapses did not increase that evidence.

in first new studyLHCb physicists scrutinized proton-proton collision data obtained during the first and second runs of the LHC and discovered various decay modes of the bottom lambda baryon, including decay into a lambda baryon and two kaons. You have searched for

We then investigated the CP violation in each decay mode, essentially by counting the number of decays of the bottom lambdabaryon and its antimatter partner and taking the difference between the two.

In the case of the lambda baryon and its decay into two kaons, this difference showed evidence of a CP violation with a significance of 3.2 standard deviations.

in second studythe LHCb team focused on the decay of a beautiful charged meson into J/psi and a charged pion.

J/psi is a charmmonium particle, a meson consisting of a charm quark and a charm antiquark.

We performed an analysis similar to the lower lambda baryon study, also using data from the first and second runs of the LHC, and found evidence for CP violation in this decay mode of charged meons. Again, the significance is 3.2 standard. Deviation.

This finding represents evidence of CP violation in the decay of beauty hadrons to charmonium particles.

“Our study represents an important step toward establishing whether CP violations are present in these types of collapses,” the authors state.

“Data from the high-luminosity LHC, with its third experiment and planned collider upgrades, will shed further light on these and other parts of the matter-antimatter puzzle. .”

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LHCb collaboration. 2024. Study of Λ0b and Ξ0b decay to Λh+h'- and evidence of CP violation in Λ0b→ΛK+K- decay. arXiv: 2411.15441

LHCb collaboration. 2024. First evidence of direct CP violation to charmonium decay in cosmetology. arXiv: 2411.12178

Source: www.sci.news

Increasing proof suggests that air pollution is a cause of eczema

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Air pollution is difficult to avoid, especially for city dwellers

Ron Adder/Alamy

Air pollution is increasingly linked to an increased risk of eczema, with new research showing a clear link between air pollution and skin conditions.

Vehicles and power plants emit pollution particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, called PM2.5. These have previously been associated with an increased risk of eczemathis is thought to be the result of the immune system becoming overactive and causing inflammation, drying out the skin and causing itching.

In order to collect more evidence, Jeffrey Cohen Professors at Yale University School of Medicine analyzed the medical records of more than 280,000 people. Most of them were in their 50s and participated in this medical treatment. Research programs for all of us. It collects health data from a diverse population in the United States, with an emphasis on people typically underrepresented in research, such as ethnic minorities.

The researchers also looked at average PM2.5 levels in the areas where these people live, using data collected in 2015. Atmosphere, Climate and Energy Solutions Center In Virginia.

We then compared PM2.5 levels at 788 locations across the United States to eczema cases diagnosed through mid-2022. They found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5, the incidence of eczema more than doubled. “More contaminated areas of the country had more eczema outbreaks,” Cohen says.

The research team considered factors that could influence the results, such as ethnicity and whether the participants smoked or had food allergies.

“This study successfully demonstrated a clear correlation in a large population and advanced the science,” he says. Giuseppe Varacchi at North Carolina State University. PM2.5, like pollen and dust mites, can irritate the immune system and cause inflammation when it comes into contact with the skin, Valacki said. Inhaling it may also have an effect, he says, because it can worsen inflammation in the body.

The study should give governments new reasons to implement policies to reduce air pollution, Cohen said. Meanwhile, people living in contaminated areas can reduce their risk by wearing long sleeves and staying indoors when pollution levels are particularly high, Valacki said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

DESI seeks proof of dark energy originating from black holes

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According to the popular inflationary universe theory, at the beginning of the Big Bang, a mysterious energy caused an exponential expansion of the early universe, creating all known matter. That ancient energy shared important characteristics with the dark energy of the current universe. “Where in the later universe will we see gravity as strong as it was at the beginning of the universe?'' The answer lies at the center of a black hole. What happened during inflation could also be reversed, with the matter of a massive star becoming dark energy again during gravitational collapse – like a mini-Big Bang played in reverse. A new study strengthens the evidence for this scenario using recent data. dark energy spectrometer (DESI).

A view of the accretion disk surrounding a supermassive black hole and the jet-like structures flowing out of the disk. The black hole's extreme mass bends space-time so that the backside of the accretion disk can be seen as an image above and below the black hole. Image credit: Science Communication Lab, DESY.

“If a black hole contains dark energy, it could merge with the expanding universe and grow faster,” said Dr. Kevin Croker, an astronomer at Arizona State University.

“We can't know the details of how this is happening, but we can see evidence that it's happening.”

Data from the first year of DESI's planned five-year study shows intriguing evidence that the density of dark energy has increased over time.

This provides a compelling clue to support this idea of ​​what dark energy is. Because that increase in time matches how the amount and mass of black holes has increased over time.

“When I first got involved in this project, I was very skeptical,” said Boston University professor Steve Arlen.

“But I remained open-minded throughout the process, and when I started doing the cosmological calculations, I said, 'This is a really cool mechanism for creating dark energy.'”

To look for evidence of dark energy from black holes, astronomers used tens of millions of distant galaxies measured by DESI.

The instrument looks into the past billions of years and collects data that can be used to determine with great precision how fast the universe is expanding.

Furthermore, these data can be used to infer how the amount of dark energy changes over time.

The researchers compared these data to how many black holes have been created by large star explosions throughout the history of the universe.

“The two phenomena were consistent with each other. When a new black hole was created by the death of a massive star, the amount of dark energy in the universe increased in the right way,” said Dr. Duncan Farrar, a physicist at New York University. said. Hawaii.

“This makes the theory that black holes are the source of dark energy more plausible.”

This study complements a growing literature investigating the possibility of cosmological coupling in black holes.

A 2023 study reported cosmological coupling in a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy.

This study encouraged other teams to investigate the effects of black holes in different parts of the universe.

“These papers explore the relationship between dark energy and black holes in terms of their growth rate,” said astrophysicist at Healthpeak Properties and former general counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. said Dr. Brian Cartwright.

“Our new paper links dark energy to when black holes are born.”

The main difference in the new paper is that most of the black holes involved are younger than those studied previously.

These black holes were born at a time when star formation, which tracks black hole formation, was well underway, not just beginning.

Professor Roger Windhorst from Arizona State University said: “This happened fairly late in the universe and is informed by recent measurements of black hole formation and growth observed by the Hubble and Webb Space Telescopes. ” he said.

“The next question is where are these black holes and how have they been moving around for the past eight billion years? Scientists are now working to suppress this,” Croker said. the doctor said.

Science needs more research and observation tools, and now that DESI is online, this exploration of dark energy is just beginning.

“Whether or not we continue to support the black hole hypothesis, this only brings further depth and clarity to our understanding of dark energy,” Professor Ahlen said.

“I think it's great as an experimental endeavor. You can have preconceptions or not, but we're based on data and observation.”

Regardless of what future observations yield, the research being conducted now represents a major shift in dark energy research.

“Essentially, whether black holes are dark energy is no longer just a theoretical question, coupled with the universe in which they live. This is now an experimental question,” said Gregory of the University of Michigan.・Professor Tarr said.

of study Published in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.

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Kevin S. Crocker others. 2024. The temporal evolution of DESI dark energy is harvested by cosmologically coupled black holes. JCAP 10:094;Doi: 10.1088/1475-7516/2024/10/094

This article is adapted from the original release by the University of Michigan.

Source: www.sci.news

Increasing proof suggests that consuming a daily multivitamin can aid in maintaining strength as you grow older

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It is unclear which components of multivitamins are involved in improving cognitive function.

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Studies have shown that taking a daily multivitamin slows the rate of memory decline in older adults.

This study is the third randomized trial to yield such results, and adds to a growing body of evidence that multivitamins can slow age-related cognitive decline.

“The result is the equivalent of delaying cognitive aging by two years, which is huge,” he says. joan manson from Harvard Medical School was involved in all three clinical trials. These were part of a larger study, funded by the makers of cocoa supplements, to examine whether taking multivitamins and cocoa extract supplements could help prevent heart disease and cancer in people over 60.

Some participants also took a memory test designed to measure whether any of the supplements were having a psychological effect.

The latest trial compared both types of supplements with a placebo pill in 573 people who took in-person memory tests at the start of the study and two years later. Those who took a multivitamin called Centrum Silver performed slightly better on memory tests than those who took a placebo pill.

This is similar to the results of two other arms of a large study that administered memory tests to people online or over the phone.

“The results of this study suggest that multivitamins hold promise as a safe and affordable strategy to protect memory and slow cognitive aging in older adults,” Munson says.

It is unclear which components of multivitamins are responsible for their effects.

Duane Mellor The British Dietetic Association says the trial was not designed to investiage memory effects and further research specifically set up to study this issue is needed. “The results need to be treated with caution,” he says. “It's not a definitive study.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com