Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features
Published

Astronomers conduct first search for forming planets with new space telescope      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Planets form in disks of dust and gas called protoplanetary disks that whirl around a central protostar during its final assembly.

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Published

Persistent hiccups in a far-off galaxy draw astronomers to new black hole behavior      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers have found that a previously quiet black hole, which sits at the center of a galaxy about 800 million light years away, has suddenly erupted, giving off plumes of gas every 8.5 days before settling back to its normal, quiet state.

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Published

Astronomers unveil strong magnetic fields spiraling at the edge of Milky Way's central black hole      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new image from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has uncovered strong and organized magnetic fields spiraling from the edge of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). Seen in polarized light for the first time, this new view of the monster lurking at the heart of the Milky Way Galaxy has revealed a magnetic field structure strikingly similar to that of the black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy, suggesting that strong magnetic fields may be common to all black holes.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Milk on ice: Antarctic time capsule of whole milk powder sheds light on the enduring qualities--and evolution--of dairy products past and present      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a remarkable discovery, whole milk powder manufactured in New Zealand in 1907 and transported to Antarctica with explorers seeking the South Pole was unveiled after more than a century. The find has allowed dairy researchers to answer the question: Is the milk we enjoy today different from the milk consumed in previous generations? Now, a new comparative study has peered back in time to demonstrate that -- despite advancements in selective breeding and changes to farm practices -- milk of the past and milk today share more similarities than differences and are still crucial building blocks of human nutrition.

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Published

'Cosmic cannibals' expel jets into space at 40 percent the speed of light      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers have measured the speed of fast-moving jets in space, crucial to star formation and the distribution of elements needed for life. The jets of matter, expelled by stars deemed 'cosmic cannibals', were measured to travel at over one-third of the speed of light -- thanks to a groundbreaking new experiment.

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Published

Sleeping supermassive black holes awakened briefly by shredded stars      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers have concluded that an obscure class of galaxies known as Compact Symmetric Objects, or CSOs, are not young as previously thought but rather lead relatively short lives.

Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Tiniest 'starquake' ever detected      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An orange dwarf star has yielded the tiniest 'starquakes' ever recorded, measured by an international team of scientists.

Geoscience: Earth Science Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Scientists on the hunt for evidence of quantum gravity's existence at the South Pole      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An Antarctic large-scale experiment is striving to find out if gravity also exists at the quantum level. An extraordinary particle able to travel undisturbed through space seems to hold the answer.

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Published

Uncovering the mystery of Dorset's Cerne Giant      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

For centuries, the Cerne Giant, a figure carved into a hillside in Dorset, has fascinated locals and visitors to the area. A new paper proposes that the Cerne Giant can in fact be dated to the early Middle Ages, and, as a result, its cultural context and significance more clearly understood.

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Published

Astronomers discover 49 new galaxies in under three hours      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New work aimed to study the star-forming gas in a single radio galaxy. Although the team didn't find any star-forming gas in the galaxy they were studying, they instead discovered other galaxies while inspecting the data. In total, the gas of 49 galaxies was detected.

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Published

Tudor era horse cemetery in Westminster revealed as likely resting place for elite imported animals      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Archaeological analysis of a near unique animal cemetery discovered in London nearly 30 years ago has revealed there was an international horse trading network, orchestrated by the elites of late medieval and Tudor England, which brought superior physical specimens to the UK for jousting and for use as status symbols.

Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General Space: Structures and Features
Published

Two of the Milky Way's earliest building blocks identified      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Astronomers have identified what could be two of the Milky Way's earliest building blocks: Named 'Shakti' and 'Shiva', these appear to be the remnants of two galaxies that merged between 12 and 13 billion years ago with an early version of the Milky Way, contributing to our home galaxy's initial growth. The new find is the astronomical equivalent of archeologists identifying traces of an initial settlement that grew into a large present-day city.

Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Biology: Zoology Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Early Mammals and Birds Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Researchers name prehistoric amphibian ancestor discovered in Smithsonian collection after Kermit the Frog      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have uncovered the fossilized skull of a 270-million-year-old ancient amphibian ancestor in the collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The team of researchers described the fossil as a new species of proto-amphibian, which they named Kermitops gratus in honor of the iconic Muppet, Kermit the Frog.

Space: Astronomy Space: Astrophysics Space: Exploration Space: General
Published

High school students contribute to exoplanet discovery      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A group of high school students from Oakland, California, made contributions to the field of exoplanet research. Researchers worked with the students to use backpack-sized digital smart telescopes. These young citizen scientists played a role in observing and confirming the nature of a warm and dense sub-Saturn planet, known as TIC 139270665 b, orbiting a metal-rich G2 star.

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Scientists find one of the most ancient stars that formed in another galaxy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The first generation of stars transformed the universe. Inside their cores, simple hydrogen and helium fused into a rainbow of elements. When these stars died, they exploded and sent these new elements across the universe. The iron running in your veins and the calcium in your teeth and the sodium powering your thoughts were all born in the heart of a long-dead star.

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Quantum tornado provides gateway to understanding black holes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have created a giant quantum vortex to mimic a black hole in superfluid helium that has allowed them to see in greater detail how analogue black holes behave and interact with their surroundings.

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Study reveals 'cozy domesticity' of prehistoric stilt-house dwellers in England's ancient marshland      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Detailed reports on thousands of artifacts pulled from 'Britain's Pompeii' reveals the surprisingly sophisticated domestic lives of Bronze Age Fen folk some 3,000 years ago -- from home interiors to recipes, clothing, kitchenware and pets.

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Astrophysicist's research could provide a hint in the search for dark matter      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Dark matter is one of science's greatest mysteries. Although it is believed to make up about 85 percent of the cosmos, scientists know very little about its fundamental nature. Research provides some of the most stringent constraints on the nature of dark matter yet. It also revealed a small hint of a signal that, if real, could be confirmed in the next decade or so.

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Published

New archive of ancient human brains challenges misconceptions of soft tissue preservation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study has challenged previously held views that brain preservation in the archaeological record is extremely rare. The team compiled a new archive of preserved human brains, which highlighted that nervous tissues actually persist in much greater abundances than traditionally thought, assisted by conditions that prevent decay.