Latest news with #Andromeda
LeMonde
2 days ago
- Business
- LeMonde
Despite sanctions, Russia's 'shadow fleet' keeps delivering oil
An additional 105 ships have been sanctioned and a new price cap on Russian crude oil – set at 15% below market price – has been introduced. These two measures are part of the European Union's 18 th sanctions package adopted on Friday, July 18, against Russia. Three days later on July 21, Britain also sanctioned 135 ships. However, Russia's "shadow fleet" continues to deliver oil. Such is the case with the Andromeda. Although this tanker has been on the EU's sanctioned vessel list since December 2024, and sails under the Comorian flag, it has just completed its fourth round trip since then from the port of Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea to India's Jamnagar refinery. During these journeys, the Andromeda transported nearly three million barrels of crude oil, according to Kpler, a maritime data analytics firm, generating more than $150 million (€129 million) for the Russian state. This raises questions about the effectiveness of existing measures intended to undercut Russia's oil revenues, one of the country's crucial sources of funding for its war in Ukraine. The Russian "shadow fleet," made up of aging tankers, has adopted sanction-evading tactics previously used by Iran and Venezuela. In December 2022, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, the EU imposed an embargo on seaborne imports of Russian oil. Simultaneously, G7 countries banned their companies from insuring or providing any services to firms transporting Russian oil sold above $60 per barrel.
Washington Post
17-07-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
The Hubble telescope zooms in on the galaxy next door. Explore it like never before.
Cloudy blob or massive galaxy? For most of human existence, no one knew what they were looking at when they noticed the cloud-like 'nebula' in the constellation of Andromeda. The 18th-century astronomer Charles Messier included it in a catalogue of celestial objects, the 31st entry on his list, and it came to be known as M31. Many astronomers assumed this and other nebulae were clouds of dust and gas. The influential Harvard astronomer Harlow Shapley believed there was only one galaxy, our Milky Way, and that M31 and other nebulae were within it — and, in the cosmic scheme of things, not so far away. 2:16 Astronomers deployed the Hubble over the course of a decade to conduct 600 separate observations to produce an extraordinary mosaic of the great spiral galaxy. (Brian Monroe and Drea Cornejo/The Washington Post) But some scientists speculated that the nebulae might be separate galaxies of stars at a great distance. This led to the 'Great Debate' about the scale of the universe. It was resolved early in the 20th century due to a crucial discovery by Henrietta Swan Leavitt, a 'human computer' at Harvard College Observatory. She realized that stars known as Cepheid variables get brighter and dimmer in a pattern that reveals their absolute luminosity and thus their distance from Earth. Astronomer Edwin Hubble made the next leap when he identified a Cepheid variable star in Andromeda. 'Var!' he wrote on a photographic plate that, a century later, is kept secure in a fireproof vault at the Carnegie Observatories in Pasadena, California. The discovery proved Hubble's conjecture that the nebula was a galaxy outside the Milky Way. The universe kept getting vaster and vaster. Hubble (the astronomer) had observed Andromeda with a 100-inch telescope (that's the diameter of the mirror) on Mount Wilson in Southern California. Two and a half decades later, on Palomar Mountain farther to the south, astronomers began looking at the universe with a 200-inch telescope. And then came Hubble (the telescope). It was launched in 1990 with an infamous flaw in the mirror, called a 'spherical aberration,' that made stars look like squashed spiders. Astronauts visited and installed a second, smaller mirror that precisely corrected the flaw. The Hubble became the world's most famous telescope, enjoyed four more repair visits and is still a workhorse, in demand by astronomers. Today we know there are at least 100 billion galaxies. An illustration of the predicted merger between our Milky Way and Andromeda, as it will unfold over the next several billion years. (ESA/Z. Levay/ R. van der Marel/STScI/T. Hallas/ A. Mellinger/NASA) Stitching together a gift from the stars The new Hubble mosaic offers insights about the history of Andromeda, including evidence that it has been disturbed by collisions with galaxies in the past, said Benjamin Williams, an astronomer at the University of Washington and the lead scientist on the project. The Hubble has a small field of view — like looking into space through a narrow straw — and thus it can't possibly see the whole of Andromeda in a single observation. To accomplish the mosaic, astronomers aimed the Hubble at Andromeda during more than 1,000 of the telescope's orbits of Earth. The resolution is so sharp that astronomers have been able to catalogue 200 million individual stars in Andromeda. 'Pictures like this remind us that we live in an incredible universe,' said NASA's Wiseman. Story continues below advertisement Advertisement For many years the consensus has been that Andromeda and the Milky Way will someday merge. A recent report in Nature Astronomy says there's only a 50-50 chance over the next 10 billion years. In any case, the stars will mostly just be ships passing in the night. 'Stars don't crash into each other,' Williams said. 'The size of the star compared to the distances between the stars is very, very small.' The inescapable question for anyone studying Andromeda is whether there's life there, and intelligent life. Anyone staring at images of a galaxy, a cluster of galaxies or one of the Hubble 'deep field' images showing thousands of galaxies, is presented with evidence that the Earth is a minuscule element in the cosmic scheme of things. 'It's just so beautiful, and causes us to keep asking the big questions,' said Amber Straughn, a NASA astrophysicist, referring to the Andromeda mosaic. 'Can't you imagine that there might be another advanced civilization there among the trillion stars, who have also built a telescope and are looking back at us?' About this story Editing by Lynh Bui and Christian Font. Additional development by Dylan Moriarty. Video editing by Drea Cornejo. Photo editing by Maya Valentine. Copy editing by Briana R. Ellison.
Washington Post
17-07-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
How Hubble revealed our sharpest view of Andromeda yet
Science How Hubble revealed our sharpest view of Andromeda yet July 17, 2025 | 2:16 AM GMT Astronomers deployed the Hubble Space Telescope over the course of a decade to conduct 600 separate observations to produce an extraordinary mosaic of the great spiral galaxy. Astronomer John S. Mulchaey explains why studying Andromeda helps us better understand the structure and evolution of our own Milky Way.
Sustainability Times
01-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'NASA Unveils Cosmic Spectacle': Stunning New Images and Sounds of Andromeda Galaxy Leave Astronomers in Absolute Awe
IN A NUTSHELL 🌌 NASA released stunning images and a sonification of the Andromeda galaxy , our closest spiral neighbor. released stunning images and a sonification of the , our closest spiral neighbor. 🔭 Composite images were created using data across various spectrums, revealing new insights into galactic evolution . . 🎵 Sonification converts Andromeda's energy wavelengths into sound, providing an immersive auditory experience of the galaxy. 🔍 Future explorations, including the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, aim to uncover more about dark matter and cosmic mysteries. The universe is filled with wonders, and one of the most fascinating is the Andromeda galaxy. As the closest spiral galaxy neighbor to our own Milky Way, Andromeda offers a glimpse into the structure and evolution of galaxies. Recently, NASA released stunning new images and a remarkable sonification of Andromeda's energy wavelengths, providing fresh insights into this distant cosmic marvel. These advancements not only deepen our understanding of Andromeda itself but also shed light on mysteries such as dark matter, first discovered within this galaxy. Join us as we delve into these awe-inspiring revelations. The Milky Way's Spiral Neighbor: Andromeda The Andromeda galaxy, also known as Messier 31, is located approximately 2.5 million light-years away from Earth. It stands as the Milky Way's closest spiral sibling, making it an excellent subject for astronomers to study galaxy formation and evolution. Observing Andromeda allows scientists to gain insights into features that mirror those of our own galaxy. This proximity offers a unique vantage point, enabling researchers to examine phenomena such as star formation, galactic collisions, and supermassive black holes. In the 1960s, astronomer Vera Rubin's work in Andromeda led to the groundbreaking discovery of dark matter. By observing the rotational speeds of stars within the galaxy, Rubin identified anomalies that suggested the presence of an invisible mass influencing gravitational forces. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of the universe, highlighting the vast unknowns still to be explored. Today, Andromeda continues to be a focal point for research, revealing new layers of complexity with each observation. 'They Found the Missing Matter': Cosmic Radio Bursts Used to Map Long-Lost Atoms Hiding Across the Universe for Billions of Years New Insights from Composite Imaging NASA's latest release of Andromeda images showcases the galaxy in unprecedented detail. These composite images were created by combining data across the entire energy spectrum, collected by some of the world's most powerful telescopes. Instruments such as the Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's XMM-Newton contributed to capturing a wide range of light, from visible to infrared, radio, and ultraviolet wavelengths. This multi-spectral approach reveals a vibrant and dynamic galaxy, brimming with activity. The images highlight various features, including the high-energy radiation surrounding Andromeda's supermassive black hole. By layering light from different spectrums, astronomers can identify regions of star formation and other dynamic processes. This comprehensive view enriches our understanding of Andromeda's structure, offering clues to the galaxy's past interactions and future evolution. With each new piece of data, scientists are piecing together the intricate puzzle of how spiral galaxies like Andromeda and the Milky Way are shaped and transformed over time. 'Space Needs Nuclear Now': This New Global Race to Harness Atomic Power Beyond Earth Is Accelerating Faster Than Expected The Harmony of Space: Sonification of Andromeda In addition to visual data, NASA has introduced an innovative way of experiencing the Andromeda galaxy through sonification. By converting the galaxy's energy wavelengths into sound, researchers have created an auditory representation of Andromeda's dynamic processes. This process involves assigning musical notes to different wavelengths, with brightness indicating volume and spectrum location determining pitch. The result is an ethereal symphony that traces the galaxy's 152,000 light-year diameter. This auditory experience provides a new dimension to understanding Andromeda, allowing both scientists and the public to perceive its complexities in a novel way. The sonification highlights the interconnected nature of light and sound, offering an immersive perspective on cosmic phenomena. As researchers continue to explore this auditory frontier, they are uncovering new ways to engage with the universe, expanding our sensory understanding of celestial bodies. 'Like Nothing Ever Seen Before': Astronomers Discover a Colossal Milky Way Cloud Containing the Mass of 160,000 Suns Future Explorations and the Quest for Dark Matter The study of Andromeda is far from complete. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled to begin operations in 2027, promises to further unravel the galaxy's secrets. This next-generation observatory will provide high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy, potentially unlocking new insights into dark matter and other cosmic mysteries. As astronomers prepare for these advancements, they remain hopeful that Andromeda will continue to illuminate the hidden facets of the universe. Dark matter remains one of the most elusive components of our cosmic understanding. The work initiated by Vera Rubin in Andromeda set the stage for ongoing investigations into this enigmatic substance. By continuing to study Andromeda, scientists aim to refine their models and theories, inching closer to answering fundamental questions about the universe's composition and behavior. The quest for dark matter is a testament to humanity's enduring curiosity and determination to explore the unknown. As we continue to explore the cosmos, the Andromeda galaxy serves as a beacon of discovery and inspiration. Its proximity and spiral structure offer a unique opportunity to study phenomena that shape galaxies, including our own. With each new image and sonification, we gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and beauty of the universe. What future revelations await us in the vast expanse of space, and how will they reshape our understanding of the cosmos? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (28)
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BofA highlights Meta's early AI gains and revenue momentum, reiterates Buy rating
-- In a note to clients on Tuesday, Bank of America reiterated its Buy rating on Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) with a $765 price target, citing strong early momentum in artificial intelligence and a strategic overhaul of the company's AI division. The move follows reports that the company has created a new Superintelligence Labs unit, led by Alexandr Wang, former CEO of ScaleAI, with Nat Friedman, former GitHub CEO, helping to oversee product development and research. In an internal memo, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is said to have stated: 'As the pace of AI progress accelerates, developing superintelligence is coming into sight. We believe this will be the beginning of a new era for humanity, and I am fully committed to doing what it takes for Meta to lead the way.' BofA noted Meta's 'substantial investment in talent,' including 11 new hires from leading AI firms like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL). Reports of compensation packages exceeding $100 million suggest Meta is aggressively building a top-tier AI team. Analysts said the restructuring reflects Meta's intent to be both 'an AI starting place for users' and a developer platform, leveraging its Llama language model and wide user base. Meta's AI applications like Andromeda and Advantage+ are said to already be improving ad performance, with monetization opportunities emerging in Threads, WhatsApp, and upcoming subscription models. However, BofA warned that ramping up AI operations will drive higher operating costs. Meta's expenses are expected to rise 19% year over year to $113.6 billion in 2025, in line with guidance. Even so, BofA believes there is 'room for these costs in Street estimates,' adding that Meta remains an early AI beneficiary with clear monetization upside. Related articles BofA highlights Meta's early AI gains and revenue momentum, reiterates Buy rating Wall Street analysts start bullish on Omada Health on chronic care market growth AstraZeneca stock rises amid reports CEO favors US listing move Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
