Giant radio telescope in the Utah desert could reveal hidden corners of the cosmos — and brand-new physics
A gigantic array of radio dishes proposed for the Utah desert could advance our understanding of physics and help us decode cosmic radio signals. Now, scientists have outlined how it would work.
Beginning in the 1950s, radio astronomy has opened up a powerful view into the inner workings of the universe, revealing everything from how stars form to incredible images of our galaxy's gigantic black hole. Now, astronomers are building a gigantic array of radio dishes, called the Deep Synoptic Array 2000 (DSA-2000). The array consists of 2,000 radio dishes, each 16 feet (5 meters) across, laid out in a radio-quiet part of the Utah desert.
Now, an international team of astronomers has demonstrated how DSA-2000 will be a premier instrument for revealing some of the most hidden corners, particles and processes in the cosmos.
Because DSA-2000 will have both a wide field of view and a high resolution, it will be like the world's ultimate digital camera but at radio frequencies, the team explained in a paper uploaded to the preprint database arXiv in May. These capabilities will allow the DSA-2000 to detect a wide variety of phenomena that are not possible with our current radio telescopes.
And there are a whole lot of unexplored radio transmissions in the universe. For example, astronomers think the vast majority of the mass of every galaxy comes in the form of dark matter, an invisible entity that has so far escaped direct detection.
One potential candidate for dark matter is called the axion, a hypothetical particle trillions of times lighter than the lightest known particles. Axions can collect around dense objects like neutron stars, and under the influence of extremely strong magnetic fields (which neutron stars have in spades), they can convert to photons with just the right frequency range that DSA-2000 could pick up those signals.
Related: 'Staggering' first images from Vera C. Rubin Observatory show 10 million galaxies — and billions more are on the way
Another candidate for dark matter is called the dark photon, which is like our normal, familiar photons (light particles) but … dark. Dark photons can also collect around neutron stars, where they can get whipped up into a frenzy due to the star's extreme rotation. In a process called superradiance, the dark photons get boosted to extremely high energies, where they start to resonate with regular photons, giving off blasts of signals that could be directly detected by DSA-2000.
This means that DSA-2000 could potentially offer our first direct glimpse of a new form of matter in the universe. But that's not all.
In 2023, astronomers with the NANOGrav experiment announced the detection of gravitational waves through pulsar timing arrays. DSA-2000 could take that one step further by precisely measuring the rotation rates of approximately 3,000 pulsars — rapidly spinning neutron stars that pulsate in regular intervals. This would allow the new instrument to find any subtle variations in the spins of pulsars, such as those due to unseen orbiting companions, like black holes or small clumps of dark matter.
RELATED STORIES
—James Webb telescope unveils largest-ever map of the universe, spanning over 13 billion years
—What if the Big Bang wasn't the beginning? New research suggests it may have taken place inside a black hole
—Catastrophic collision between Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies may not happen after all, new study hints
Lastly, DSA-2000 could detect tens of thousands of fast radio bursts (FRBs) — tremendous explosions that manifest as blips and bloops in the radio spectrum. This unprecedented number of detections would allow scientists to build a comprehensive survey of the nearby universe, which would aid our understanding of everything from dark energy to the nature of ghostly particles called neutrinos.
The universe is trying to whisper its secrets to us. All the answers are there, if we listen carefully enough.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ultromics Lands $55M Series C to Tackle Undiagnosed Heart Failure at Scale
AI heart failure diagnostics innovator makes it possible to catch deadly heart failure earlier by analyzing the most common heart scan in the world and proactively alerting clinicians FDA-cleared, reimbursed by Medicare, and live in top U.S. hospitals, Ultromics is now scaling nationwide to make early heart failure detection part of routine cardiac care, wherever patients get an echo Ultromics is trained on one of the largest real-world echo datasets globally and validated across 25 peer-reviewed studies, helping close one of medicine's most dangerous diagnostic gaps, where up to 64% of heart failure cases still go undetected OXFORD, England, July 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultromics, a pioneer in AI-driven cardiology solutions, today announced it has raised $55 million in Series C financing. The round was co-led by L&G, Allegis Capital and Lightrock, with continued support from Oxford Science Enterprises, GV, Blue Venture Fund and Oxford University. Major U.S. health systems, including UChicago Medicine's venture investment vehicle, UCM Ventures, and UPMC Enterprises also participated in the round. Built on years of clinical study and hundreds of thousands of echo scans, Ultromics offers the first FDA-cleared, Medicare-reimbursed AI technology to help clinicians detect HFpEF and cardiac amyloidosis, two of the most elusive forms of heart failure. The company is now expanding across the U.S. to bring that capability to the hospitals and echo labs that see the highest volume of at-risk patients, aiming to make AI-enhanced diagnostics a default step in the cardiac workup. Ultromics is also expanding its pipeline to include additional cardiac conditions, new distribution channels and deeper partnerships with health systems and clinical leaders. It's a critical moment for cardiovascular care. Heart failure is rising, costs are mounting and millions of patients are still going undiagnosed, especially those with harder-to-detect forms like HFpEF and cardiac amyloidosis. In the U.S. alone, heart failure drives over $30 billion in annual healthcare costs, a number projected to exceed $70 billion by 2030. Clinicians often rely on subjective interpretation of echocardiograms, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses even when patients are actively seeking care. In fact, up to 64% of HFpEF cases go undiagnosed, and cardiac amyloidosis is frequently mistaken for more common forms of heart disease, leaving patients untreated until symptoms worsen or irreversible damage occurs. Ultromics addresses this diagnostic blind spot by using AI to extract hidden disease signals from standard echocardiograms, enabling earlier, more accurate detection of complex heart conditions—without requiring new hardware or disrupting clinical workflows. Its FDA-cleared EchoGo® platform supports diagnosis of HFpEF and cardiac amyloidosis. Trained and validated on one of the largest real-world echo datasets globally, EchoGo® generates real-time probability scores to help cardiologists identify high-risk patients earlier than traditional methods. EchoGo® is fully reimbursed under Medicare, making it scalable across hospitals, clinics, and health systems nationwide. "The reality is, hospitals already have the data, they just haven't had the tools to extract the more subtle diagnostic signals from it. By analyzing routine echocardiograms with AI, we're helping clinicians identify high-risk patients earlier, enabling intervention before disease progresses," said Ross Upton, PhD, CEO and Founder, Ultromics. "We've spent years building our platform to fit into clinical workflows, with no extra hardware and no new friction, and this funding helps us scale that across the U.S. at a moment when health systems are actively looking to combat the growing heart failure crisis." Ultromics has already analyzed more than 430,000 echocardiograms to date. In clinical studies, EchoGo® improved the detection of HFpEF by 73.6% when compared with standard clinical risk scores. The company's latest diagnostic model for cardiac amyloidosis, validated in a global study of 18 institutions and published in the European Heart Journal, outperformed current clinical risk scores while distinguishing disease from similar conditions. "Ultromics has established itself as an early-mover in the large and underserved cardiovascular disease market, having developed one of the first commercially available AI-powered diagnostic echocardiogram technologies," said Alastair Stewart, Head of Investments, Venture Capital, at L&G. "This successful Series C round is a testament to the massive opportunity for cutting-edge technology to transform how clinicians can detect and treat serious cardiovascular diseases that impact millions of people every year." With growing adoption and partnerships across flagship institutions, including UChicago Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland, Northwestern, and Mayo Clinic, Ultromics is building regional clusters of clinical and commercial traction, particularly in high-prevalence regions like the Midwest. Its platform is helping hospitals reduce unnecessary tests, streamline workflows and initiate treatment earlier so it's more effective and less expensive. "Heart failure and cardiac amyloidosis impact millions of lives and strain healthcare systems, despite new approaches that have the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes. There is a critical need for scalable solutions that enable earlier, more accurate diagnosis and elevate the standard of care," said Umur Hursever, Partner at Lightrock. "Ultromics' AI-driven technology is already making a real-world impact, improving diagnostic accuracy, supporting clinical decisions, and expanding access to specialist care. The Lightrock team is delighted to support Ultromics' mission and growing impact." Ultromics has rapidly expanded its platform capabilities and U.S. market presence during the past year. In late 2024, the company received FDA Breakthrough Device clearance for EchoGo® Amyloidosis, followed in 2025 by the launch of EchoGo® Score, a new feature that adds AI-driven probability scoring to EchoGo® Heart Failure, helping clinicians detect HFpEF with greater nuance. These clinical advances are now supported by Medicare reimbursement for both outpatient and inpatient use, strengthening Ultromics' foundation for scaled adoption across U.S. hospitals. "There's a long-standing blind spot in cardiology where millions of patients with treatable heart failure are missed because their symptoms are subtle and echo images are hard to interpret," said Victor Westerlind, Managing Director at Allegis Capital. "What's exciting about Ultromics is how they're closing that gap. Their platform brings AI and cardiology together in a way that makes it easier for physicians to identify high-risk patients earlier. When paired with the latest treatment advances, it's a diagnostic win that will help save lives." About Ultromics Founded out of the University of Oxford, Ultromics is redefining cardiovascular care with FDA-cleared, AI-powered tools that enhance echocardiographic diagnosis. Built in partnership with the NHS and Mayo Clinic, its EchoGo® platform helps clinicians detect complex heart diseases earlier and more accurately—using nothing more than a standard ultrasound scan. Ultromics is backed by leading investors and U.S. healthcare systems and is on a mission to transform how heart disease is diagnosed and treated. For more, visit About Lightrock Lightrock is a global investment platform committed to building a sustainable future. Operating across private and public markets, Lightrock manages over $5.5 billion in assets and invests in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Lightrock is a certified B Corp with a dedicated team of over 130 professionals working across a network of six offices For more information, visit About L&G Established in 1836, L&G is one of the UK's leading financial services groups and a major global investor, with £1.1 trillion in total assets under management (as at FY24) of which c. 44% (c. £0.5 trillion) is international. We have a highly synergistic business model, which continues to drive strong returns. We are a leading player in Institutional Retirement, in Retail Savings and Protection, and in Asset Management through both public and private markets. Across the Group, we are committed to responsible investing and dedicated to serving the long-term savings and investment needs of customers and society. About Allegis Capital Allegis Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm partnering with companies that enable digital transformation across the enterprise. The firm supports founders with hands-on guidance, operational expertise, and access to a global network of industry leaders. With a long track record of building market-defining businesses, Allegis backs the teams and platforms reshaping how work gets done. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Allegis has been investing in enterprise innovation for over two decades. For more information, visit Photo - - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Ultromics Sign in to access your portfolio
Medscape
21 minutes ago
- Medscape
GLP-1 Agonists for Type 2 Diabetes Reduce Psoriasis, HS Risk
TOPLINE: Treatment with glucagon like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications was associated with a lower risk of being diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) or psoriasis, in a study of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODOLOGY: Researchers assessed 74,910 patients (mean age, 65 years; 56% women; 45% White and 23% Black individuals) with T2D from the All of Us Database between May 2018 and October 2023. Of all patients, 19.5% received GLP-1 RAs. The primary outcomes of the study were risks for HS and psoriasis, adjusted for effects on control of diabetes and weight loss. TAKEAWAY: Overall, 1601 patients had psoriasis (mean age, 68 years; 56.4% women; 62.4% White and 12.2% Black individuals), and 601 had HS (mean age, 55 years; 77.2% women; 32.9% White and 41.3% Black individuals). Patients treated with GLP-1 RAs showed a significantly lower risk for a future diagnosis of HS (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.61; P < .001) than those who were not treated with GLP-1 RAs. GLP-1 RA treatment was also associated with a significant reduction in the risk for a future diagnosis of psoriasis (adjusted OR, 0.41; P < .001). The average time from T2D diagnosis to a diagnosis of HS was 3.98 years and 3.44 years to a diagnosis of HS. IN PRACTICE: 'These findings support a protective effect against HS and psoriasis in patients with T2DM taking GLP-1 RAs independent of weight loss, smoking status, or glycemic control,' the study authors wrote. Based on these findings, they added, 'future research should focus on prospective studies exploring the use of GLP-1 RAs as therapeutic tools to treat HS or psoriasis, prevent disease progression, and evaluate their effect in patients without diabetes.' SOURCE: The study was led by Lauren M. Ching, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, and was published online on July 23, 2025, in JAAD International. LIMITATIONS: Limitations included variance in data harmonization across sites, lack of disease severity information, and selection bias. DISCLOSURES: The study did not receive any funding. One author reported receiving financial aids as an investigator, consultant, and speaker from AbbVie, BMS, Eli Lilly, and various other drug companies. All other authors declared having no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
SpaceX, NASA say Crew-11 astronaut mission is 'go' for launch to ISS on July 31
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX's Crew-11 astronaut mission to the International Space Station for NASA is go for launch. When Crew-11 launches, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from historic Launch Complex 39A here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), sending a crew of four the ISS for a six-month stay. Mission managers with NASA and SpaceX all polled 'go' to proceed to count down towards a 12:09 p.m. ET (1609 GMT) launch attempt of the Crew-11 mission on Thursday (July 31). "I'm so eager to see this mission launch, but as always, we launch when we're ready. With a little luck, we'll see a launch soon, and we'll also see a crew come home soon," said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, during a prelaunch briefing at KSC today (July 30). "But be patient with us. Let's make sure that the vehicle is ready to go and that our team is really certain before we hit the button." The four Crew-11 astronauts will dock with the ISS some 39 hours after launch. They will be flying inside SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, flying on its milestone sixth flight. No other Crew Dragon has flown more than four times. Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, hailed the milestone in today's briefing. "As you know, this is a really important mission for us. It's our sixth flight of Dragon Endeavour. We worked very hard with SpaceX to complete all the reuse activities for this vehicle," Stich said. "We had certified the vehicles — the Dragons — for only five flights. Now we've completed all that work and we're really ready to go." Crew-11 consists of NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, who will serve as commander on her first trip to space. In a press briefing earlier this month, Cardman stressed how six-month stays on the ISS like the one she will embark on will help prepare NASA to send astronauts much farther into space. "Understanding how to live and work for long durations — going and staying — is a really interesting challenge, and I'm grateful that we've gotten the chance to do this — to hone our skills on the ISS, so that we can do this for longer durations on the moon," Cardman said. "The International Space Station, in my perspective, is an absolutely critical stepping stone as we think about going farther afield." Joining Cardman as mission pilot is veteran NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, making his fourth trip into space. Fincke previously trained to pilot Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft on its first operational mission, but was reassigned as delays and issues continue to plague the Starliner program. Alongside the two NASA astronauts are Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), making his second trip to the ISS while serving as Crew-11 mission specialist, and Oleg Platonov of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, mission specialist, making his first trip to space. Crew-11 will dock at 3 a.m. ET (0800 GMT) on Aug. 2 and will overlap with the Crew-10 astronauts for a few days to ensure a smooth handover before Crew-10 makes its way back to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. If all goes according to plan, the four members of Crew-11 will remain docked at the ISS for roughly six months before the next NASA astronaut rotation relieves them. The U.S. Space Force has predicted a 90% chance of favorable weather for Crew-11 at launch time. Solve the daily Crossword
