Space: Structures and Features
Published

Astronomers identify likely location of medium-sized black holes      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Intermediate-mass black holes are notoriously hard to find but a new study indicates there may be some at the center of dense, star clusters located throughout the universe. A study now sheds new light on when and where black holes of about 100-100,000 solar masses could form and how they came into being.

Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Why Venus rotates, slowly, despite sun's powerful grip      (via sciencedaily.com) 

If not for the soupy, fast-moving atmosphere on Venus, Earth's sister planet would likely not rotate. Instead, Venus would be locked in place, always facing the sun the way the same side of the moon always faces Earth.

Space: Structures and Features
Published

Nova outbursts are apparently a source for cosmic rays      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The MAGIC telescopes have observed the nova RS Ophiuchi shining brightly in gamma rays at extremely high energy. The Gamma rays emanate from protons that are accelerated to very high energies in the shock front following the explosion. This suggests that novae are also a source of the ubiquitous cosmic radiation in the universe which consists mainly of protons rich in energy, which race through space at almost the speed of light.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Mathematics: Statistics
Published

Exposure assessment for Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Health outcomes      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Mathematicians have developed statistical methods that lay the framework for the crucial first step of determining whether there are any linkages between exposures and health outcomes from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which is considered the largest marine oil spill in the history of the U.S.

Space: Exploration Space: Structures and Features
Published

Hubble sheds light on origins of supermassive black holes      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Astronomers have identified a rapidly growing black hole in the early universe that is considered a crucial 'missing link' between young star-forming galaxies and the first supermassive black holes. They used data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to make this discovery.

Space: Structures and Features
Published

Simulating supernova remnants, star formation in earthbound lab      (via sciencedaily.com) 

When triggered by some external agent, shockwaves can propagate through molecular clouds of gas and dust to create pockets of dense material. At a certain limit, that dense gas and dust collapses and begins to form new stars. Researchers modeled this interaction using a high-power laser and a foam ball. The foam ball represents a dense area within a molecular cloud. The high-power laser creates a blast wave that propagates through a surrounding chamber of gas and into the ball, where the team observed the compression using X-ray images.

Space: Structures and Features
Published

Hunting for gravitational waves from monster black holes      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Our universe is a chaotic sea of ripples in space-time called gravitational waves. Astronomers think waves from orbiting pairs of supermassive black holes in distant galaxies are light-years long and have been trying to observe them for decades, and now they're one step closer.

Space: Exploration Space: Structures and Features
Published

Hubble probes extreme weather on ultra-hot Jupiters      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Astronomers have discovered bloated Jupiter-sized worlds that are so precariously close to their parent star they are being roasted at seething temperatures above 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough to vaporize most metals, including titanium. They have the hottest planetary atmospheres ever seen. Hubble astronomers are reporting on bizarre weather conditions on these sizzling worlds. It's raining vaporized rock on one planet, and another one has its upper atmosphere getting hotter rather than cooler because it is being 'sunburned' by intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation from its star.

Mathematics: Statistics
Published

Machine learning model could better measure baseball players' performance      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a machine learning model that could better measure baseball players' and teams' short- and long-term performance, compared to existing statistical analysis methods for the sport. Drawing on recent advances in natural language processing and computer vision, their approach would completely change, and could enhance, the way the state of a game and a player's impact on the game is measured.

Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

'Prenatal' protoplanet upends planet formation models      (via sciencedaily.com) 

An international research team has discovered a new planet so young that it has yet to emerge from the womb of matter where it is forming. This is the youngest protoplanet discovered to date. It's location and the surrounding patterns of matter suggest that an alternative method of planet formation may be at work. This discovery could help to explain the histories and features of extrasolar planets seen around other stars.

Mathematics: Statistics
Published

Study shows gaps in how STEM organizations collect demographic information      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Professional organizations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields could more effectively collect data on underrepresented groups in their fields, according to a new survey. With more robust information, STEM organizations could better target efforts to recruit and retain a more diverse membership.

Mathematics: Statistics
Published

Lottery luck in the light of physics: Researchers present theory on the dynamics of many-particle systems      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Power functional theory is a new approach that makes it possible to describe precisely the dynamics of many-particle systems over time.

Space: Structures and Features
Published

Methane could be the first detectable indication of life beyond Earth      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study assesses the planetary context in which the detection of methane in an exoplanet's atmosphere could be considered a compelling sign of life.

Space: Structures and Features
Published

Ancient helium leaking from core offers clues to Earth's formation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Helium-3, a rare isotope of helium gas, is leaking out of Earth's core, a new study reports. Because almost all helium-3 is from the Big Bang, the gas leak adds evidence that Earth formed inside a solar nebula, which has long been debated.

Space: Structures and Features
Published

Mysterious death of carbon star plays out like six-ring circus      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists studying V Hydrae (V Hya) have witnessed the star's mysterious death throes in unprecedented detail. The team discovered six slowly-expanding rings and two hourglass-shaped structures caused by the high-speed ejection of matter out into space.

Mathematics: Statistics
Published

Speaking from the heart: Could your voice reveal your heart health?      (via sciencedaily.com) 

An artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer algorithm accurately predicted a person's likelihood of suffering heart problems related to clogged arteries based on voice recordings alone.

Space: Structures and Features
Published

Researchers map the movement of white dwarfs of the Milky Way      (via sciencedaily.com) 

White dwarfs were once normal stars similar to the Sun but then collapsed after exhausting all their fuel. These interstellar remnants have historically been difficult to study. However, a recent study reveals new information about the movement patterns of these puzzling stars.

Mathematics: Statistics
Published

Toward a quantum computer that calculates molecular energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed an algorithm that uses the most quantum bits to date to calculate ground state energy, the lowest-energy state in a quantum mechanical system. The discovery could make it easier to design new materials.

Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Look! Up in the sky! Is it a planet? Nope, just a star      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Among thousands of known exoplanets, astronomers have flagged three that are actually stars.

Space: Structures and Features
Published

Scientists announce discovery of supermassive binary black holes      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have discovered a supermassive black hole binary system, one of only two known such systems.