Tag Archives: rogue

First Measurement of Rare Saturn-Sized Rogue Planet’s Mass

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Artist's impression of a rogue planet

Artist’s impression of a rogue planet capturing light from a distant source

Credit: J. Skowron/OGLE

Located nearly 10,000 light-years away, a Saturn-sized planet roams through the vacuum of space. This enigmatic rogue planet was discovered through the joint efforts of ground-based telescopes and the Gaia Space Telescope, marking the first time researchers have measured the mass of a free-floating exoplanet.

Typically, rogue planets found are either more massive than Jupiter or lighter than Neptune, creating a gap known as the “Einstein Desert.” This gap is attributed to the fact that lighter celestial bodies are more likely to be ejected from their stellar orbits, while heavier planets may form independently in open space, similar to stars.

This newly identified exoplanet is extremely rare and has been assigned two designations: KMT-2024-BLG-0792 and OGLE-2024-BLG-0516. Andrzej Udalski, along with researchers from the University of Warsaw, made this groundbreaking discovery using distinct ground-based telescopes. What makes it even more remarkable is its measured mass, which is approximately one-fifth that of Jupiter.

“What’s fascinating about this find is that it’s the first rogue planet we’ve measured in terms of mass, achievable through both Earth-based and Gaia observations,” says Gavin Coleman from Queen Mary University of London. The planet was detected via a method known as gravitational microlensing, occurring when light from a distant source is bent by the planet’s gravitational field, resulting in a halo effect around it. The alignment of the Gaia Space Telescope at the right moment allowed additional capture of this microlensing event.

“Mass is a crucial factor for classifying celestial bodies as planets,” Udalsky explains, confirming this as the first verified rogue planet. “This is a pivotal moment for recognizing that floating planets do indeed exist,” he added. The upcoming NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, expected to launch in 2027, is anticipated to uncover even more such celestial discoveries.

“These planets should be quite numerous, with many being expelled from their original stellar systems during their formation’s early stages, providing key insights into how planetary systems develop,” Udalsky notes. This knowledge may contribute to understanding the formation of our own solar system, which some studies suggest may have inadvertently ejected planets in its early history.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Rogue Planet Achieves Record Growth with 6 Billion Tons Per Second Boost

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Artistic Representation of Cha 1107-7626, a rogue planet located roughly 620 light years from Earth

ESO/L. Calçada/M. Kornmesser

The voracious rogue planet consumes a staggering 6 billion tons of gas and dust every second. This peculiar behavior challenges the distinction between planets and stars, indicating that both may form via similar mechanisms.

It appears that free-floating gas bodies, not gravitationally bound to a parent star, are quite common, potentially outnumbering stars in galaxies. However, astronomers remain uncertain about whether these bodies will develop like planets orbiting stars, wander alone through galaxies, or independently emerge like stars.

Víctor Almendros-Abad from Palermo Observatory in Italy, and his team have observed remarkable growth of the rogue planet now known as CHA 1107-7626.

The planet garnered astronomers’ attention back in 2008 due to what appeared to be a disc of primitive planets around it. Almendros-Abad and his colleagues began monitoring these celestial objects in April this year using a sizable telescope in Southern Europe, but by June, the planet’s mass consumption rate surged to nearly ten times what it had been previously.

Such a growth rate aligns with what has only been previously observed in stars, including our own Sun.

“This indicates that the formation processes of stars and these objects are likely very similar,” says Almendros-Abad. “Thus, when considering star formation, we must also account for these rogue planets.”

To elucidate this unprecedented growth rate, Almendros-Abad and his team speculate that a mechanism akin to that observed in stars is likely at work; however, the reason and timing of the planet’s sudden surge in mass consumption remain unclear.

The similarities in their growth mechanisms imply that the line between stars and planets may be even hazier than previously believed, suggests Almendros-Abad. “Every time I observe these rogue planets, I see that the boundary between a star and a planet is not as defined as we thought. There must be chemical signatures, yet we have yet to discover the ‘Rosetta Stone’ that differentiates the formation processes.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Former Google CEO warns that AI can enable Rogue States to cause significant harm

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The former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, warns that rogue nations like North Korea, Iran, and Russia could utilize artificial intelligence to harm innocent people. Schmidt, who served as the CEO of Google from 2001 to 2017, expressed his concerns on BBC Radio 4 about the misuse of technology and weapons by malevolent entities.

He emphasized the potential dangers posed by countries with malicious intentions, such as North Korea, Iran, and Russia, who could exploit advanced technology for harmful purposes. Schmidt highlighted the urgency of addressing this threat, citing the devastating impact it could have on innocent individuals.

In response to the export controls implemented by President Joe Biden to restrict the sale of AI-related microchips, Schmidt voiced his support for government oversight of tech companies developing AI models. However, he cautioned against excessive regulation that could stifle innovation.

While acknowledging the importance of government understanding and monitoring technological advancements, Schmidt also underscored the need for collaboration between tech leaders and policymakers to navigate ethical concerns and potential risks.

Speaking from Paris at the AI Action Summit, Schmidt highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing AI-related challenges. While some countries, like the UK and the US, did not sign a comprehensive AI agreement due to concerns about national security and regulatory impact on innovation, Schmidt stressed the need for a balanced approach to driving progress in AI.

Regarding the use of smartphones by children, Schmidt expressed concerns about their safety and advocated for measures to protect young users from online threats. He supported initiatives to regulate social media use for children and emphasized the importance of safeguarding children in the digital age.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Algorithm Successfully Deciphers Rogue Wave Pattern

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Scientists used artificial intelligence to analyze more than 1 billion waves over 700 years and developed a breakthrough formula for predicting rogue waves. This groundbreaking research, which converts vast amounts of oceanographic data into equations for the probability of adverse waves, raises questions about previous theories and has significant implications for maritime safety. This research represents a major step forward in this field in terms of the accessibility of findings and the role of AI in enhancing human understanding.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Victoria used over 700 years of ocean wave data, including more than a billion wave observations, and advanced artificial intelligence techniques to predict the occurrence of these threatening sea giants. Previously thought to be a myth, these unusually large and rough waves can cause serious damage to ships and oil rigs. The research team leveraged AI to analyze the vast amounts of data and create a mathematical model that provides a way to predict the occurrence of rogue waves. This new knowledge contributes to making shipping safer, and has paradigm-shifting implications for the maritime industry.

Rogue waves, perceived as a part of sailor folklore for centuries, became scientifically documented when a 26-meter high wave hit the Norwegian oil platform His Draupner in 1995. Since then, research on these extreme waves has been ongoing, culminating in the breakthrough reached by the University of Copenhagen and the University of Victoria. The research team leveraged big data on ocean movements and AI techniques to map the causal variables that lead to rogue waves, ultimately developing a model which usess artificial intelligence to calculate the probability of rogue wave formation.

Incorporating data collection from buoys at 158 locations on U.S. coasts and overseas territories and over a billion waves across 700 years, the researchers were able to use AI to analyze the vast amount of data and predict the likelihood of being hit by a huge wave at sea. The AI techniques also helped the researchers discover the causes of rogue waves and translate them into an equation that describes the recipe for rogue waves. This study also challenged common perceptions about the causes of rogue waves, establishing the dominance of a phenomenon known as “linear superposition.” This new knowledge can help the shipping industry to plan routes in advance and mitigate the risk of encountering dangerous rogue waves.

Source: scitechdaily.com