Astrophysics

The transition in star formation rates and black hole growth as redshift decreases from regimes where positive feedback dominates to a later epoch when feedback is largely negative. CreditSteven Burrows, Rosemary Wyse, and Mitch BegelmanThe James Webb Space Telescope’s discovery of early galaxies with massive black holes challenges traditional galaxy formation theories, proposing a synchronous development of black holes and stars, a finding that could reshape our understanding of cosmic evolution.Astronomers have long…

This is an artist’s concept of the exoplanet GJ 9827d, the smallest exoplanet where water vapor has been detected in the atmosphere. The planet could be an example of potential planets with water-rich atmospheres elsewhere in our galaxy. With only about twice Earth’s diameter, the planet orbits the red dwarf star GJ 9827. Two inner planets in the system are on the left. The background stars are plotted as they would be seen to the unaided eye looking back toward our Sun. The Sun is too faint to be seen. The blue star at…

Scientists have discovered radio bursts above a sunspot that resemble radio emissions from auroras on Earth. The pink-purple streaks in this illustration represent the radio emissions, with higher-frequency radio signals in pink, closer to the sunspot, and lower frequencies in purple. The thin lines represent magnetic field lines above the sunspot. The sunspot is the dark region on the Sun at the bottom. Credit: Sijie YuScientists have identified persistent radio bursts from the Sun similar to Earth’s auroras, opening new…

Researchers have discovered why some white dwarf stars stop cooling, challenging previous understandings and affecting how astronomers determine the age of stars. This finding, stemming from the behavior of solid crystals within the stars, prompts a reevaluation of stellar age assessment and galaxy formation theories. Credit: SciTechDaily.comNew research reveals that white dwarf stars stop cooling due to floating crystals in their interior, offering insights into stellar aging processes.In a paper published on March 6 in…

A groundbreaking map of 1.3 million quasars reveals the universe’s structure and expansion, utilizing data from the Gaia space telescope and aiding in the study of dark matter and cosmic evolution. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)The new map includes around 1.3 million quasars from across the visible universe and could help scientists better understand the properties of dark matter.Astronomers have charted the largest-ever volume of the universe with a new map of active supermassive black holes living at the…

A groundbreaking study by the University of Ottawa, led by physicist Rajendra Gupta, proposes a new cosmological model, the CCC+TL model, which argues that dark matter is not necessary to explain the universe’s behavior. Credit: SciTechDaily.comThe current theoretical model for the composition of the universe is that it’s made of ‘normal matter,’ ‘dark energy’ and ‘dark matter.’ A new study challenges this.A University of Ottawa study published in The Astrophysical Journal challenges the current model of the universe by…

UCLA astrophysicists have used new simulations to uncover that the earliest galaxies may have been smaller and brighter than previously believed, challenging current dark matter theories. By incorporating interactions between gas and dark matter, their research suggests that these bright dwarf galaxies, if found by the James Webb Space Telescope, could validate existing models. However, their absence would prompt a reevaluation of our understanding of dark matter and the universe’s formation.Should theories of cold dark…

Researchers have discovered the oldest ‘dead’ galaxy, observed 13 billion years after its star formation ceased, using the James Webb Space Telescope. This finding challenges existing theories about galaxy evolution and star formation in the early universe. Credit: SciTechDaily.comAstronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope found an ancient galaxy with halted star formation, raising questions about galaxy life cycles.A galaxy that suddenly stopped forming new stars more than 13 billion years ago has been observed by…

A study utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope has provided the first direct evidence that ultraviolet “winds” from nearby massive stars can cause rapid mass loss in young star protoplanetary disks through FUV-driven photoevaporation. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearch utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope highlights the destructive power of ultraviolet “winds” on the gas in protoplanetary disks surrounding young stars, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that limit the formation of gas giants…

Researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope have made groundbreaking discoveries in galaxy GN-z11, which is one of the most distant and luminous galaxies known. They identified a supermassive black hole responsible for the galaxy’s brightness and found a pristine gas clump that may lead to the discovery of the universe’s first stars, providing significant insights into cosmic evolution. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comDelivering on its promise to transform our understanding of the early universe, the…