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Monitoring magnetospheres
The research of magnetic, massive stars has uncovered questions concerning the behaviour of plasma within their magnetospheres.
Posted: May 26th, 2015
Read moreUncovering the mysteries of cosmic explosions
An automated software system played a key role in the discovery of supernova iPTF 14atg and could provide insight, a virtual Rosetta stone, into future supernovae and their underlying physics.
Posted: May 22nd, 2015
Read moreWISE finds most luminous galaxy in universe
A remote galaxy shining brightly with infrared light equal to more than 300 trillion suns has been discovered using data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE. The galaxy, which belongs to a new class of objects recently discovered by WISE - nicknamed extremely luminous infrared galaxies, or ELIRGs - is the most luminous galaxy found to date.
Posted: May 22nd, 2015
Read moreHubble observes one-of-a-kind star nicknamed 'Nasty'
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have uncovered surprising new clues about a hefty, rapidly aging star whose behavior has never been seen before in our Milky Way galaxy. In fact, the star is so weird that astronomers have nicknamed it 'Nasty 1', a play on its catalog name of NaSt1. The star may represent a brief transitory stage in the evolution of extremely massive stars.
Posted: May 22nd, 2015
Read moreGalaxy's snacking habits revealed
Astronomers have caught a greedy galaxy gobbling on its neighbours and leaving crumbs of evidence about its dietary past.
Posted: May 21st, 2015
Read moreSupernova hits star, results shocking
Team of astronomers observes supernova smash into companion star; resulting ultraviolet pulse points to supernova's origin story.
Posted: May 20th, 2015
Read moreAsteroid research benefits from Gaia satellite mission
Scientists discover dozens of small celestial bodies every night.
Posted: May 20th, 2015
Read moreThe dreadful beauty of Medusa
This beautiful planetary nebula is named after a dreadful creature from Greek mythology -- the Gorgon Medusa. It is also known as Sharpless 2-274 and is located in the constellation of [Gemini] (The Twins). The Medusa Nebula spans approximately four light-years and lies at a distance of about 1500 light-years. Despite its size it is extremely dim and hard to observe.
Posted: May 20th, 2015
Read moreNASA advances CubeSat concept for planetary exploration
Although scientists are increasingly using pint-size satellites sometimes no larger than a loaf of bread to gather data from low-Earth orbit, they have yet to apply the less-expensive small-satellite technology to observe physical phenomena far from terra firma.
Posted: May 20th, 2015
Read moreFresh theories about dark matter
New work challenges the accepted view that dark matter is made up of heavy particles.
Posted: May 15th, 2015
Read moreQuasar quartet puzzles scientists
Astronomers must rethink models about the development of large-scale cosmic structures.
Posted: May 14th, 2015
Read moreComet Wild 2: A window into the birth of the solar system?
A team of scientists investigated the oxygen isotope and mineral composition of the comet dust returned from Wild 2. In a study published recently, the team discovered an unexpected combination of material that has deepened the mystery of Wild 2's past.
Posted: May 14th, 2015
Read moreHubble traces the migration of white dwarfs
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have, for the first time, collected a census of young white dwarf stars beginning their migration from the crowded centre of an ancient star cluster to its less populated outskirts. The new results challenge our ideas about how and when a star loses its mass near the end of its life.
Posted: May 14th, 2015
Read moreResearchers hone technique for finding signs of life on the Red Planet
Researchers want to improve the way unmanned Mars probes detect condensed aromatic carbon, thought to be a chemical signature of astrobiology.
Posted: May 14th, 2015
Read moreCause of galactic death: Strangulation
As murder mysteries go, it's a big one: how do galaxies die and what kills them? A new study has found that the primary cause of galactic death is strangulation, which occurs after galaxies are cut off from the raw materials needed to make new stars.
Posted: May 14th, 2015
Read moreWater was plentiful in the early universe
Researchers discover water vapor may have formed in universe earlier than previously believed.
Posted: May 14th, 2015
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