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CNN —Astronomers have been able to “hear” the celestial hum of powerful gravitational waves, created by collisions between black holes, echoing across the universe for the first time. Gravitational waves, initially predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916, are ripples in space-time that were first detected in 2015. Einstein theorized that gravitational waves would stretch and compress space as they moved across the universe, affecting how radio waves travel. More than 190 scientists set out to discover the frequencies of gravitational waves as part of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves collaboration, also known as NANOGrav. Searching for a celestial choirThe newly detected gravitational waves are the most powerful ever measured.
Persons: Albert Einstein, Einstein, , Chiara Mingarelli, We’ve, Simonnet, Scott Ransom, , ” Ransom, Luke Kelley, ” Kelley, it’s, ” Mingarelli, “ It’s, Stephen Taylor Organizations: CNN —, American Nanohertz, Green Bank, Yale University, National Radio Astronomy, University of California, Vanderbilt University Locations: Arecibo, Puerto Rico, West Virginia, New Mexico, Berkeley, Europe, India, China, Australia
Scientists spot a planet that shouldn’t exist
  + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +4 min
CNN —A Jupiter-like planet located 520 light-years from Earth may be an unlikely survivor after its host star had a temper tantrum. The gas planet is known as 8 UMi b and was named Halla after its initial discovery by Korean astronomers in 2015. The exoplanet orbits a giant star larger than our sun named Baekdu, located in the Ursa Minor, or “Little Bear,” constellation. Halla orbits Baekdu at a distance about half that between the Earth and the sun at 0.46 astronomical units, or 42,759,659 miles (68,815,020 kilometers). While our solar system only has one star, many stars across the universe exist in binary pairs.
Persons: Halla, , , Dan Huber, Marc Hon, ” Huber, Tim Organizations: CNN, Ursa, Australian Research, University of Sydney, Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, Keck Observatory, Halla, Star Wars Locations: South Korea, Manoa, Canada, France, Hawaii, Mauna Kea
The explosion lasted just over a minute — considered long, like any gamma-ray burst, or GRB, that lasts more than two seconds. These violent, destructive bursts can leave behind dense remnants like neutron stars or result in the creation of black holes. Why ancient galaxies could hide star deathsDuring their search for the origin of the gamma-ray burst, astronomers used the Gemini South telescope located in Chile to observe the afterglow of the cosmic explosion. Compared with younger, more typical galaxies, ancient galaxies can have up to a million or more stars densely packed into their cores. But they had no evidence for any long gamma-ray bursts originating from ancient galaxies — until now.
Persons: NASA’s Neil Gehrels, , Wen, fai Fong, Andrew Levan, Albert Einstein, Jillian Rastinejad, Fong Organizations: CNN, fai, Northwestern University’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Radboud University, telltale, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration, Research, Astrophysics, Northwestern Locations: Nijmegen , Netherlands, Chile, Northwestern
Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus, and Mercury will align for a planetary parade later this week. There, you'll see a bright object near the horizon, Jupiter. After that, you're next best bet is to spot Mercury. Neptune will be about halfway between Jupiter and Saturn, and Uranus will be halfway between Jupiter and Mercury. So, if you've been following, the planets will march across the sky, from lowest to highest, in the following order: Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune, and last but not least, Saturn.
Persons: , you've, StarWalk Organizations: Service, Mercury, Sky Locations: Jupiter
CNN —Astronomers have detected the most distant known organic molecules in the universe using the James Webb Space Telescope. It’s the first time Webb has detected complex molecules in the distant universe. The complex molecules were found in a galaxy known as SPT0418-47, located more than 12 billion light-years away. The galaxy observed by the Webb telescope shows an Einstein ring caused by a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing, which occurs when two galaxies are almost perfectly aligned from our perspective on Earth. Investigating the early universeAstronomers spotted the signature of the organic molecules during a careful analysis of Webb’s data.
Persons: James Webb, Webb, it’s, Doyle, J, Einstein, , Joaquin Vieira, Albert Einstein’s, Justin Spilker, Spilker, George P, Cynthia Woods Mitchell, ” Spilker, Kedar Phadke, we’ve Organizations: CNN —, James Webb Space Telescope, National Science, Hubble, University of Illinois, M University, Texas, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics Locations: Chile, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, Texas
SETI sent a message from Mars to Earth to simulate how aliens' attempts at communication may play out. The mysterious message is posted online for anyone to study and attempt to decode. This is a test conducted by the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute to determine how well humanity could decipher a real message sent by aliens. But it seems that at least one group is fast-tracking their way to solving the mysterious message. But de Paulis told Wired that "if we ever received an extraterrestrial signal, scientists won't know where the noise ends and where the actual message begins.
Persons: it'll, , Daniela de Paulis, De Paulis, Neill Sanders, Go, Sanders, de Paulis Organizations: Service, Extraterrestrial Intelligence, SETI, European Space Agency, Allen, Green Bank, Medicina, Wired, CNN Locations: California, West Virginia, Bologna, Italy, British
Structures newly discovered in the Milky Way
  + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +5 min
CNN —An international team of astrophysicists has discovered hundreds of mysterious structures in the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Sagittarius A* “is the closest supermassive black hole to us, but it’s relatively quiet and therefore somewhat difficult to really study,” Hamden added. The vertical filaments surround the nucleus of the Milky Way, but the horizontal ones appear to spread out to one side toward the black hole. The vertical filaments, on the other hand, are magnetic and hold cosmic ray electrons moving nearly as fast as the speed of light. “One way to confirm that the (filament) structure is created by something like a jet is to find both sides of it.”This would add “to the complex, active picture of our own Milky Way,” she said.
Persons: astrophysicists, Farhad Yusef, Yusef, Zadeh, , , who’s, Erika Hamden, ” Yusef, Hamden Organizations: CNN, Northwestern University’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration, Research, Astrophysics, University of Arizona, South African Locations: Hamden
CNN —A record-breaking water plume erupted from Saturn’s moon Enceladus, and the James Webb Space Telescope was watching when it occurred. The geyser-like plumes release water vapor, organic chemicals and ice particles into space. But the plume witnessed by the Webb telescope spanned more than 6,000 miles (9,656 kilometers), which is nearly the distance between Los Angeles and Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to a NASA release. The James Webb Space Telescope captured a a water vapor plume jetting from the south pole of Enceladus. The inset image, taken by the Cassini orbiter, shows how small Enceladus appears compared with the water plume.
Persons: James Webb, Cassini, , Webb, . Villanueva, , Geronimo Villanueva, ” Villanueva, , NASA’s, Stefanie Milam, we’ve Organizations: CNN, NASA, James Webb Space, Cassini, ESA, CSA, Goddard Space Flight, Saturn, Clipper, NASA Goddard Space Flight Locations: Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Greenbelt , Maryland
Inside SETI’s E.T. transmission test
  + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Deblina Chakraborty | Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +7 min
The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, shown here, played a key role in SETI's test by sending a message to Earth on May 24. The Allen Telescope Array in Northern California is one of three observatories that picked up the transmission. But the event also correctly simulates the fact that it wouldn’t be SETI’s role to decipher the message, just to point out its reception. However, neither SETI nor any other organization on Earth has yet picked up any intelligent signal from the stars. He composed an interstellar radio message that was sent in 1974.
Persons: It’s, , Daniela de Paulis, , Seth Shostak, ” de Paulis, Wael Farah, “ It’s, Jodie Foster, ” Farrah, Frank Drake, , Neil Hall, Drake, ​ ​, Neill Sanders, they’ve Organizations: CNN, SETI, Green Bank, Medicina, Orbiter, ESA, Allen, NASA, SETI Institute, Reuters, Arecibo Locations: Northern California, West Virginia, Bologna, Italy, American, Puerto Rico, Arecibo, British
The average distance between the Earth and Sun measured using trigonometry is 93 million miles, not 3,000 miles as claimed in a viral post online. “At that time, Venus is measured to be about 30 million miles away, using two methods that agree: radar and a perspective effect (parallax) where you view Venus from different locations on Earth. Multiple measurements taken over the centuries during the transit of Venus using this method yield an average distance of 93 million miles between Earth and the Sun (here). More on the calculation of the distance between the Earth and Sun using Venus’ transit and trigonometry (parallax) can be viewed (here). The Sun is, on average, 93 million miles from Earth and the distance is calculated using trigonometric parallax.
Persons: Jackie Villadsen, Villadsen, Venus, ” Villadsen, Read Organizations: NASA, Sun, European Space Agency, Astronomy, Bucknell University, Reuters, CalTech, University of Hawaii Locations: Harvard
Efforts to detect alien technological signatures previously have focused on a narrowband radio signal type concentrated in a limited frequency range or on single unusual transmissions. The search involves a frequency range covering a bit less than a tenth the width of an average FM radio station. "Aliens may possibly use such beacons for galaxy-wide communications, for which the core of the Milky Way is ideally placed. The scientists in the various monitoring efforts passively scan for signals of alien beings and do not actively send their own signals advertising our presence on Earth. "In my personal opinion, as a relatively young species in the grand cosmic scale, it would be prudent for us to focus on listening and investigating before embarking on deliberate transmissions," Gajjar said.
Persons: Akshay Suresh, Suresh, Vishal Gajjar, Gajjar, BLIPSS, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Cornell University, Cornell, SETI Institute, SETI Institute and University of California, Thomson Locations: Berkeley, West Virginia
Dr. Sloane is the founder of the On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences, a database of 362,765 (and counting) number sequences defined by a precise rule or property. In 1995, it became an “encyclopedia,” with 5,487 sequences and an additional author, Simon Plouffe, a mathematician in Quebec. A year later, the collection had doubled in size again, so Dr. Sloane put it on the internet. Dr. Pudwell writes algorithms to solve counting problems. “I found this perplexing,” Dr. Pudwell said.
Earth-sized alien planet gripped by widespread volcanism
  + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +4 min
In our solar system, Earth and Venus are volcanically active, as are some of Jupiter's moons. Planets beyond our solar system are called exoplanets. Here, water from the nightside glacier can melt and possibly form liquid surface water. In addition, there is likely volcanism all around the planet, even under the ice on the nightside and possibly under the water near the terminator," Benneke said. The planet is located in the Milky Way about 86 light-years away from our solar system in the direction of the constellation Crater.
Earth-size exoplanet may be covered in volcanoes
  + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +6 min
Instead, the exoplanet, called LP 791-18 d, is likely covered in volcanoes and may experience eruptions with the same frequency as Jupiter’s moon Io, the most volcanically active place in our solar system, according to researchers. LP 791-18 d is located about 90 light-years from Earth in the Crater constellation, where it orbits a small red dwarf star. And astronomers believe the massive planet LP 971-18 c might be contributing to the newly detected exoplanet’s possible volcanism. As the two objects orbit their star, LP 971-18 c and the newfound exoplanet LP 791-18 d closely pass each other, allowing the gravitational pull of the larger planet LP 971-18 c to tug on planet d and reshape its orbit. The discovery of LP 971-18 d points to the importance of data collected by space telescopes.
Ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULX) are objects that shine ten million times brighter than the sun. NASA has been tracking so-called ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULX), impossible objects that can be 10 million times brighter than the sun, to understand how they work. A new study categorically confirms that M82 X-2, a ULX 12 million light-years away, is as bright as previous observation suggested it to be. But if it were not falling in, the matter shouldn't be radiating, which means the object shouldn't be that bright. (A neutron star is a superdense object left behind when a star has run out of energy and dies.)
Opinion | Rosalind Franklin and Unsung Women in Science
  + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com   time to read: +1 min
To the Editor:Re “Essay Extends Debate Over DNA Discovery” (Science Times, May 2):Determining the role that Rosalind Franklin played in the discovery of the structure of DNA remains a contentious issue. Lamentably, Dr. Franklin is often one of the few female scientists people can name as one who deserved more credit than she received during her lifetime. There are hundreds — if not thousands — of such unsung women throughout history. This has become increasingly evident to us as we work our way through our ever-increasing database of 250 deceased women of science. It might be true that today’s women are less likely to be shortchanged when it comes to receiving credit — and for that we are grateful.
The revelation of the Fomalhaut’s two inner rings has suggested that planets hidden deeper within the star system may be affecting the dust belt’s shape. Stars form from gas and dust, and then a ring of leftover material called a protoplanetary disk orbits the star, where planets are born. Once the planets form around a star, debris belts form and become shaped by the gravity of the planets. Studying the dust belts can help unlock more of the secrets behind how planetary systems form. “I think it’s not a very big leap to say there’s probably a really interesting planetary system around the star.”
Fomalhaut, a star just 25 light-years away, is so dazzlingly bright that it blots out the faint light of other stars around it. Stargazers have been enraptured by its secrets for thousands of years. Now, with the help of the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have documented evidence that Fomalhaut is a dynamic star wreathed in cosmic chaos. The powerful observatory’s infrared vision is letting astronomers better understand Fomalhaut’s features, including a mysterious ring unlike anything found in our solar system. “It’s the first time we’ve seen such structures in an evolved system.”The findings could contribute to the solution to an existential puzzle: How weird, or ordinary, is our solar system?
At the age of 17, Emily launched a neighborhood book drive in honor of her dad, Mike Bhatnagar. Her initial goal was to collect books for children undergoing cancer treatment, but she’s expanded it to all patients under 18. The neighborhood book drive that began with a lone teen in a cloud of despair over her dad’s illness has grown into a nationwide initiative. “We are grateful to have been chosen by Emily … Hospitals are a scary place for kids, and the books will help enhance the healing environment.”Whenever possible, Emily specifies the books go to hospitals with pediatric cancer units. Her not-so-little book drive is teaching her how to run a nonprofit and build relationships with community leaders.
See a meteor shower and lunar eclipse this weekend
  + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +6 min
CNN —With bright meteors blazing across the sky from the Aquariids meteor shower and a chance to see a lunar eclipse, Friday will be the time to look up to the sky for a day of spectacular celestial events. That alignment will create what is known as a penumbral lunar eclipse, which is when the moon enters Earth’s outer shadow. Get a lawn chair and put the moon at your back,” said Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for the American Meteor Society. During a penumbral eclipse, the moon stays on this outer ring, appearing as if it is dimming, but not completely darkening like a total lunar eclipse. On October 28, a partial lunar eclipse will be viewable in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of North America and much of South America.
India Amarteifio Photo: NETFLIX‘Bridgerton” isn’t exactly “Downton Abbey,” or Coca-Cola, but it is certainly a brand, one poised to provide ample opportunities for prequels, sequels, different flavors and, to judge by “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” even a diet option, if storylines had calories. The original series, based on Julia Quinn ’s fanciful period novels, has thus far been Royalty Lite, but has included a colony’s worth of characters, many of whom could be the subject of their own spinoffs. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Thursday, Netflix“Queen Charlotte,” developed by star producer Shonda Rhimes , concerns the imperious sovereign (Golda Rosheuvel) who ruled over the first two seasons of the original “Bridgerton” and has reason to be tart: Her husband, George III , is mad. Her feckless son is running the country. And she distracts herself by manipulating the social hierarchy, atop which she presides with her outlandish headpieces aspiring further heavenward, like the spires on a cathedral.
As the star grew, its surface reached the orbit of the doomed planet, with mayhem ensuing. Red giant stars can swell to a hundred times their original diameter, engulfing any planets in their way. This planet, perhaps a few times bigger than Jupiter, orbited its star in less than a day at a distance closer than Mercury, our innermost planet, orbits the sun. Even before it is engulfed whole, our data provides evidence that the planet tries to rip out the star's surface layers with its own gravity. But the star happens to be a thousand times more massive so the planet can't do much and eventually makes the plunge," De said.
Astronomers observe star swallowing planet for first time
  + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +4 min
CNN —In a world first, scientists have observed the moment that a dying star consumed a planet — a fate that eventually awaits Earth. Astronomers observed this as a white-hot flash, followed by a longer-lasting colder signal, which they later deduced was caused by the star engulfing a planet. “That infrared data made me fall off my chair,” De said, with the readings suggesting the star could have been merging with another star. However, further analysis using readings from NASA’s infrared space telescope, NEOWISE, revealed that the star was in fact consuming a planet. Our own planet will meet the same fate, but not for 5 billion years, researchers say.
[1/2] This image shows the jet and shadow of the black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy together for the first time. The supermassive black hole pictured resides at the center of a relatively nearby galaxy called Messier 87, or M87, about 54 million light-years from Earth. This black hole, with a mass 6.5 billion times that of our sun, was the subject of the first image of such an object ever obtained, released in 2019, with another black hole pictured last year. Seeing the entire scene in the vicinity of a supermassive black hole can be insightful. The EHT project has yielded the images of the two supermassive black holes.
But a black hole can also send powerful jets of material blasting across space and beyond its home galaxy. Previous observations have shown the jet and black hole separately, including the first direct image of a black hole, released in 2019. Astronomers believe that more material is falling toward the black hole in the new image, which is why the ring looks bigger. Studying black holesRecently, astronomers also used machine learning to release a cleaner, sharper version of the original M87 black hole image from 2019. The central region is darker and larger, surrounded by a bright ring as hot gas falls into the black hole.
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