Latest news with #AndyWang
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Unlike anything we have seen before': Astronomers discover mysterious object firing strange signals at Earth every 44 minutes
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astronomers have discovered a mysterious object flashing strange signals from deep space, and they have no idea what it is. The object, named ASKAP J1832-0911, spits out pulses of radio waves and X-rays for two minutes straight, once every 44 minutes. Detected by Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and NASA's Chandra X-ray observatory, the strange repeating signals are currently unexplained — and unravelling this cosmic mystery could reveal new physics, according to the researchers who discovered it. The team published their findings May 28 in the journal Nature. "This object is unlike anything we have seen before," lead study author Andy Wang, an astronomer at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, said in a statement. "ASKAP J1831-0911 could be a magnetar (the core of a dead star with powerful magnetic fields), or it could be a pair of stars in a binary system where one of the two is a highly magnetised white dwarf (a low-mass star at the end of its evolution)." "However, even those theories do not fully explain what we are observing," Wang added. "This discovery could indicate a new type of physics or new models of stellar evolution." ASKAP J1832-0911 is a long-period transient (LPT), a class of rare and extreme astrophysical events that sweep out beams of radio waves like cosmic lighthouses. First discovered in 2022, thus far ten LPTs have been catalogued by astronomers. Related: 'Cosmic cannonballs' exploding out of dead star could explain mysterious flicker in the night sky Unlike traditional pulsars, which are produced by neutron stars and spit out radio signals every few seconds or milliseconds, LPTs emit pulses at intervals of minutes or hours apart — a period previously thought to be impossible. This has made the cause of the signals, and how they are able to switch on and off at long and regular intervals, a mystery among astronomers. After discovering the signals using the ASKAP telescope, the researchers turned to the Chandra X-ray observatory (which was coincidentally pointing at the same patch of sky) to double check what they had found. Chandra's observations confirmed ASKAP J1832-0911's presence, while also making the first-ever detection of an LPT in X-rays. RELATED STORIES —Immensely powerful 'magnetar' is emitting wobbly radio signals in our galaxy — and scientists can't explain them —Strange radio bursts that outshine entire galaxies may come from colliding neutron stars —Faint radio signal from ancient star cluster could be rare 'missing link' black hole "Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack," Wang said. "The ASKAP radio telescope has a wide field view of the night sky, while Chandra observes only a fraction of it. So, it was fortunate that Chandra observed the same area of the night sky at the same time." The astronomers believe that the detection of an LPT emitting radio waves and X-rays simultaneously could offer them a valuable clue as to what's producing them, as any theory that explains the object must now account for both types of emission. To assemble more of the puzzle, the researchers suggest that more detections using radio and X-ray telescope pairs should be made. "Finding one such object hints at the existence of many more," second author Nanda Rea, an astrophysicist at the Catalan Institute for Space Studies in Spain, said in the statement. "The discovery of its transient X-ray emission opens fresh insights into their mysterious nature."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mysterious Object Beaming Strange Signals to Earth
Astronomers have discovered a cosmic anomaly that's throwing out pulses of radio waves and X-rays every 44 minutes, and they're stumped. Dubbed ASKAP J1832-0911, the object was detected by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, and it's unlike anything seen before. 'This object is unlike anything we have seen before,' said Andy Wang, an astronomer at Curtin University and lead author of a new study published in Nature. 'ASKAP J1832-0911 could be a magnetar or a pair of stars in a binary system with a highly magnetised white dwarf. However, even those theories don't fully explain what we are observing.' The discovery places ASKAP J1832-0911 in a rare class of astrophysical phenomena known as long-period transients (LPTs)—cosmic lighthouses that emit radio waves at intervals of minutes or even hours. Unlike traditional pulsars, which release bursts of radio signals every few seconds or milliseconds, LPTs have been a cosmic mystery since their first detection in 2022. Only ten have been catalogued so far. What sets ASKAP J1832-0911 apart is its dual emission of radio and X-ray signals. The Chandra observatory's confirmation of X-rays from an LPT marks a first in astronomical observations, offering a potential breakthrough in understanding these enigmatic objects. 'Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack,' Wang said. Nanda Rea, a co-author from the Catalan Institute for Space Studies in Spain, suggested that this find hints at a broader population of similar objects. 'Finding one such object hints at the existence of many more,' Rea said. 'The discovery of its transient X-ray emission opens fresh insights into their mysterious nature.' As researchers prepare for more observations with radio and X-ray telescope pairs, the hope is to unlock new models of stellar evolution or even unearth physics that we've yet to Object Beaming Strange Signals to Earth first appeared on Men's Journal on May 28, 2025
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Astronomers spot bright flashes from a mysterious new class of cosmic object
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Astronomers have detected an astonishing celestial object emitting bright flashes of radio waves and X-rays that last for two minutes and repeat every 44 minutes. In a fresh twist, the discovery marks the first time powerful X-rays have been associated with an object that might be a long-period transient. Astronomers first spotted this cryptic new class of objects in 2022, and fewer than a dozen have been found so far. 'Long-period (radio) transients (LPTs) are a recently identified class of cosmic objects that emit bright flashes of radio waves every few minutes to several hours,' said Dr. Andy Wang, an associate lecturer at the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy in Australia, in an email. 'What these objects are, and how they generate their unusual signals, remain a mystery.' The object, named ASKAP J1832-0911, is located about 15,000 light-years from Earth in the same galaxy as our solar system. The X-ray emissions, uncovered by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, could be the key to helping astronomers understand more about the true nature of these intriguing cosmic objects and their pulsing behavior. 'X-rays usually come from extremely hot and energetic environments, so their presence suggests that something dramatic happened to the object,' said Wang, lead author of a study reporting the observations, which was published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The long-period transients appear to be more energetic than previously believed if they can produce X-rays, which have more energy than radio waves, Wang said. Now, researchers are trying to figure out the source of ASKAP J1832-0911's radio waves and X-rays, which don't fit into a neat box for categorization, and whether it's truly representative of a long-period transient or an eccentric outlier. At first, the team thought the object might be a magnetar, or the dense remnant of a star with an extremely powerful magnetic field, or a pair of stars that includes a highly magnetized dead star called a white dwarf. But neither of those quite matched up with the bright and variable emissions of radio waves and X-rays, the researchers said. 'This object is unlike anything we have seen before,' Wang said. 'Even those theories do not fully explain what we are observing. This discovery could indicate a new type of physics or new models of stellar evolution.' Astronomers traced a previous detection of a long-period transient, announced in March, to a white dwarf that's closely orbiting a small, cool red dwarf star. The two stars orbit each other so closely that their magnetic fields interact, emitting long radio bursts. In that study, researchers detected signals in visible and infrared light that corresponded with the signals they observed, suggesting they could belong to two different types of objects. Wang's team made no such observations of ASKAP J1832-0911, he said. Charlie Kilpatrick, coauthor of the March study, called the new find 'exciting.' He did not participate in the new research. 'The nature of this source bridges the gap between the most extreme magnetars and white dwarfs, which is telling us just how extreme (these) compact objects can be,' wrote Kilpatrick, research assistant professor at Northwestern University's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics in Illinois, in an email. Wang said future X-ray observations may reveal more about the object, such as its temperature and size, which researchers could use to determine the source. But the new detections are already changing the way Wang and his collaborators think about long-period transient signals. Radio astronomers regularly scan the sky using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, or ASKAP, located in Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia and operated by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, or CSIRO. Wang and his collaborators first picked up on a bright signal from the object in December 2023. Then, the object released extremely bright pulses of radio waves in February 2024. Fewer than 30 known objects in the sky have ever reached such brightness in radio waves, Wang said. By coincidence, the Chandra X-ray Observatory was pointing at something else, but it happened to catch X-ray observations of the 'crazy' bright phase of the long-period transient, Wang said. 'Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack,' Wang said. 'The ASKAP radio telescope has a wide field view of the night sky, while Chandra observes only a fraction of it. So, it was fortunate that Chandra observed the same area of the night sky at the same time.' Unlike rapidly spinning neutron stars called pulsars, which release pulses that last milliseconds to seconds, ASKAP J1832-0911 periodically varied in radio wave and X-ray intensity every 44 minutes. The object also dropped off in X-ray and radio wave intensity. Observations taken by Chandra six months later in August 2024 showed no X-rays. The team also used the CRACO, or Coherent Radio Astronomy Core, instrument, which was recently developed to detect mysterious fast radio bursts, or millisecond-long flashes of radio waves, and other celestial phenomena. The instrument can rapidly scan and process data to spot bursts and zero in on their location. 'That's the equivalent of sifting through a whole beach of sand to look for a single five-cent coin every minute,' said Dr. Keith Bannister, a CSIRO astronomer and engineer who helped develop the instrument. But CRACO is also able to detect long radio pulses and helped the team determine that the bursts of radio waves were repeating. Other observations showed that the X-rays were repeating as well. Data from telescopes in the United States, South Africa and India and collaborators from around the world made the extremely rare detection a truly global effort, Wang said. Moving forward, Wang and his team will continue searching for more objects emitting these long radio pulses. 'Finding one such object hints at the existence of many more,' said study coauthor Dr. Nanda Rea, a professor at the Institute of Space Science and The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia in Spain, in a statement. 'The discovery of its transient X-ray emission opens fresh insights into their mysterious nature.'
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Viberse Launches Points-Based Rewards System in Mid-2025, Offering Monetization for Everyday Users
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2025) - Viberse Technology today announced its upcoming points-based rewards system, set to launch in mid-2025, offering a more inclusive way for users to earn on social media. This update reflects an industry shift toward user-first design, equitable monetization, and transparency in the creator economy. Recent studies from Deloitte and the Creative Class Group show growing frustration among Gen Z users with algorithmic feeds and increasing demand for monetization tools available to smaller or less-established creators. Viberse is responding to these trends by introducing a system that offers a wide spectrum of earning opportunities for all users. Viberse announces a points-based rewards system in mid-2025. CREDITS: VIBERSE To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: A Creator-First Monetization Model Viberse is developing a monetization model that reflects the changing creator economy-characterized by users' expectations for openness, low entry barriers, and diverse revenue sources. Unlike traditional platforms that primarily reward top-tier influencers, Viberse places a higher priority on inclusive access and creative engagement. The key traits are as follows: Rewards are based on meaningful sharing and engagement, not follower counts. Monetization is meant to fit in the context without interfering with user experience. Ads respect user privacy, with no opaque targeting or intrusive tracking, while remaining relevant and non-disruptive. This points-based rewards system, scheduled to launch in mid-2025, will enable users to earn through active participation, including posting, engaging, and completing missions. Over time, it will evolve into a broader monetization framework supporting creators at all levels, minimizing dependency on follower counts, and enhancing inclusivity across the platform. "Everyone contributes in different ways—not just through followers or fame," said Andy Wang, Founder of Viberse. "This new rewards system is about recognizing everyday creativity and making sure all users have a fair shot at being seen, valued, and rewarded." About Viberse Founded in 2024 in Singapore, Viberse Technology is on a mission to make social media meaningful, inclusive, and downright fun. Contact Info:Name: Christine LinEmail: Viberse Technology PTE. To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Associated Press
11-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Viberse Launches Points-Based Rewards System in Mid-2025, Offering Monetization for Everyday Users
Singapore, April 11, 2025 -- Viberse Technology today announced its upcoming points-based rewards system, set to launch in mid-2025, offering a more inclusive way for users to earn on social media. This update reflects an industry shift toward user-first design, equitable monetization, and transparency in the creator economy. Recent studies from Deloitte and the Creative Class Group show growing frustration among Gen Z users with algorithmic feeds and increasing demand for monetization tools available to smaller or less-established creators. Viberse is responding to these trends by introducing a system that offers a wide spectrum of earning opportunities for all users. Viberse announces a points-based rewards system in mid-2025. CREDITS: VIBERSE A Creator-First Monetization Model Viberse is developing a monetization model that reflects the changing creator economy—characterized by users' expectations for openness, low entry barriers, and diverse revenue sources. Unlike traditional platforms that primarily reward top-tier influencers, Viberse places a higher priority on inclusive access and creative engagement. The key traits are as follows: This points-based rewards system, scheduled to launch in mid-2025, will enable users to earn through active participation, including posting, engaging, and completing missions. Over time, it will evolve into a broader monetization framework supporting creators at all levels, minimizing dependency on follower counts, and enhancing inclusivity across the platform. 'Everyone contributes in different ways—not just through followers or fame,' said Andy Wang, Founder of Viberse. 'This new rewards system is about recognizing everyday creativity and making sure all users have a fair shot at being seen, valued, and rewarded.' About the company: About Viberse Founded in 2024 in Singapore, Viberse Technology is on a mission to make social media meaningful, inclusive, and downright fun. Contact Info: Name: Christine Lin Email: Send Email Organization: Viberse Technology PTE. LTD. Website: Release ID: 89156561 If there are any problems, discrepancies, or queries related to the content presented in this press release, we kindly ask that you notify us immediately at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our responsive team will be available round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or support you with press release takedowns. Ensuring accurate and trustworthy information is our unwavering commitment.
