Latest news with #Astronomy&Astrophysics
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Astrophysicists Discovered Strange New Objects in Our Galaxy ‘Unlike Anything Else'
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: The Central Molecular Zone, spanning 700 light-years across the heart of the galaxy, contains a majority of the dense gas in the Milky Way. While analyzing this region with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international team of scientists discovered a slew of strange "slim filaments" unassociated with star-forming regions. The filaments are likely part of what the researchers call "space tornadoes," which distributes material throughout the CMZ efficiently. It's been little more than half a century since scientists first proposed that a supermassive black hole lies at the heart of the Milky Way. And in the decades since, we've discovered a remarkable amount about our particular corner of the universe—but there's always more to learn. One area that remains a particular mystery is the Central Molecular Zone, or CMZ, which stretches some 700 light-years across at the heart of the galaxy. This region contains roughly 80 percent of all dense gas in the Milky Way, which—according to the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics—accounts for about tens of millions of solar masses of material. Home to giant molecular clouds and numerous star-forming clusters, the CMZ is a swirling mystery, and there is no other place in the galaxy like it. Now, a new study—led by a team of astrophysicists drawing upon data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile—is adding another curiosity to this already head-scratching region of the galaxy: unexpected 'slim filaments' that have left astronomers guessing at their origin. Details of this surprising discovery were published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. An array of 66 radio telescopes located under the remarkably clear skies of the Chajnantor Plateau in the Atacama Desert, ALMA (as its name suggests) is particularly well suited to examining the CMZ thanks to its high angular resolution and its ability to trace certain molecules found in abundance in this region of space. Among those molecules is silicon oxide (SiO), which serves as a tracer for shockwaves in the CMZ. By tracing the spectral lines of SiO, astronomers can better understand this chaotic environment—and, as it turns out, discover previously unknown filament structures. 'SiO is currently the only molecule that exclusively traces shocks, and the SiO 5-4 rotational transition is only detectable in shocked regions that have both relatively high densities and high temperatures,' Kai Yang, lead author of the study from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said in a press statement. 'This makes it a particularly valuable tool for tracing shock-induced processes in the dense regions of the CMZ. When we checked the ALMA images showing the outflows, we noticed these long and narrow filaments spatially offset from any star-forming regions. Unlike any objects we know, these filaments really surprised us. Since then, we have been pondering what they are.' Using the SiO emission lines (along with those of eight other molecules), the astronomers confirmed that their velocities were inconsistent with outflows, show no association with dust emission, and are in hydrostatic equilibrium—a delicate balance between gravity and pressure. All these anomalous findings, packaged alongside insights like 'unlike any objects we know, ' inspire fantasies of massive alien structures hiding out in the heart of our galaxy. But the astronomers have a more science-based explanation, and it is no less mesmerizing. 'We can envision these as space tornados: they are violent streams of gas, they dissipate shortly, and they distribute materials into the environment efficiently,' Xing Lu, a co-author of the study from Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, said in a press statement. 'Our research contributes to the fascinating Galactic Center landscape by uncovering these slim filaments as an important part of material circulation.' The authors theorize that these filaments may be part of a depletion-replenishment cycle at the heart of our galaxy. First, shock waves create these filaments. Then, as these filaments dissipate, they 'refuel' shock-released material in the CMZ and freeze back into dust grains. As scientists delve deeper into the mysteries of these filaments—and if they're as widespread as this particular ALMA sample would suggest—then we may have uncovered an important cyclic process that lies at the heart of our galaxy. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Science
- Sky News AU
Three city-killing asteroids could strike Earth within weeks - generating a million times more energy than Hiroshima atomic bomb
Good things don't come in threes. Venus is concealing at least three city-killer asteroids that could strike Earth in weeks without warning, potentially wreaking havoc upon our planet before we can react. 'Twenty co-orbital asteroids [space rocks in the orbit of two celestial bodies] of Venus are currently known,' the authors warned in the arockcalyptic study, which was published in the journal 'Astronomy & Astrophysics.' The international research team, led by Valerio Carruba of São Paulo University in Brazil, wrote that at least three of the asteroids — 2020 SB, 524522 and 2020 CL1 — that circle the sun in tandem with our twin planet have unstable orbits that take them dangerously close to Earth, the Daily Mail reported. If this shaky trajectory is shifted only slightly by a small gravitational change or other force, the asteroids could be set on a collision course with our planet, per the study. 'Co-orbital status protects these asteroids from close approaches to Venus, but it does not protect them from encountering Earth,' the researchers warned, according to the Daily Galaxy. Carruba & Co. came to this conclusion by using imitation space rocks to simulate a range of possible outcomes over 36,000 years, finding that there is a sizable population of low-eccentricity asteroids — those previously thought to be harmless — that could be propelled toward Earth via gravitational shifts and other factors. To make matters worse, the aforementioned cosmic rocks' orbits make them almost invisible to Earthly detection devices. While scientists at NASA and other space agencies routinely track potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids, the telescopes can't spot rocks in a suborbital path with Venus due to the sun's glare, which shields them like a cosmic cloaking device, WION reported. Due to this interstellar blind spot, the Rubin Observatory in Chile would have only two to four weeks to spot deadly asteroids, leaving us little time if they were on a collision course. For reference, a mission to engineer something that could deflect a killer space rock generally takes years to formulate. 'Low-e [low eccentricity] Venus co-orbitals pose a unique challenge, because of the difficulties in detecting and following these objects from Earth,' the authors wrote in their conclusion. It would be bad news if one of these intergalactic gravelstones hit home. Asteroids 2020 SB, 524522 and 2020 CL1 measure between 330 and 1,300 feet in diameter, making each one capable of destroying entire cities and causing massive fires and tsunamis, the Daily Mail reported. An impact would leave a crater over two miles wide and generate 1 million times more energy than the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. Unfortunately, due to the constraints of terrestrial monitoring equipment, we may have to look to the stars for a solution. 'We believe that only a dedicated observational campaign from a space-based mission near Venus could potentially map and discover all the still 'invisible' PHA [potentially hazardous asteroids] among Venus' co-orbital asteroids,' the authors wrote. However, the powers that be better hurry, as researchers predict that co-orbital asteroids' orbits could become unpredictable in just more than 150 years — a blip in the interstellar timescale. Originally published as Three city-killing asteroids could strike Earth within weeks - generating a million times more energy than Hiroshima atomic bomb
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Three 'invisible' city-killer asteroids could strike earth within weeks, scientists warn- here's all about them
Three huge asteroids could hit Earth, and a group of astronomers is sounding the alarm. They could cause destruction on a scale never seen before. These asteroids are almost invisible because of the sun's glare. Scientists say that three asteroids are orbiting Venus and could hit Earth in a matter of weeks because their paths are unstable. The three city-killer asteroids that Venus is hiding could cause catastrophic damage before we can respond, as per a report by The NY Post. The authors of the arockcalyptic study, which was published in the journal "Astronomy & Astrophysics," cautioned that there are currently 20 co-orbital asteroids of to the Daily Mail, at least three of the asteroids that orbit the sun in tandem with our twin planet, 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1, have unstable orbits that bring them dangerously close to Earth, according to the international research team headed by Valerio Carruba of São Paulo University in to the study, the asteroids might be put on a collision course with Earth if this unstable trajectory is only marginally altered by a slight change in gravity or another force. A collision with one of these intergalactic gravelstones would be bad. They could release energy millions of times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb and would produce a crater more than two miles in diameterWith diameters ranging from 330 to 1,300 feet, asteroids 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1 have the potential to completely destroy cities and trigger devastating fires and tsunamis, according to the Daily to the Daily Galaxy, the researchers cautioned that while co-orbital status shields these asteroids from near-close encounters with Venus, it does not shield them from coming into contact with simulating a variety of potential outcomes over 36,000 years using imitation space rocks, Carruba & Co. arrived at this conclusion. They discovered that a significant population of low-eccentricity asteroids, which were previously believed to be harmless, could be driven toward Earth by gravitational shifts and other orbits of the cosmic rocks make them nearly invisible to Earthly detection equipment, which exacerbates the sun's glare acts as a cosmic cloaking device, preventing the telescopes from detecting rocks in a suborbital path with Venus, even though NASA and other space agencies regularly track potentially dangerous near-Earth asteroids, according to WION. ALSO READ: Kylie Jenner feels jealous and insecure about her Kardashian sisters, fears they might snatch away boyfriend Timothée The Chilean Rubin Observatory would only have two to four weeks to detect deadly asteroids because of this interstellar blind spot, which would leave us little time if they were headed straight for typically takes years to plan a mission to engineer something that could deflect a killer space authors concluded that "Low-e Venus co-orbitals pose a unique challenge because of the difficulties in detecting and following these objects from Earth." The authors stated that they thought that the only way to map and find all of the still "invisible" PHAs (potentially hazardous asteroids) among Venus' co-orbital asteroids would be to conduct a focused observational campaign from a space-based mission close to the planet. Will these asteroids actually hit Earth soon? Yes, scientists believe three Venus-orbiting asteroids could strike Earth in weeks due to their unstable orbits. Why don't we see them coming? The sun's glare obscures them from Earth-based telescopes, making early detection difficult.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Rare Cosmic Event: Supermassive Black Hole Wakes Up After 20-Year Slumber, Stuns Astronomers
In a groundbreaking observation, astronomers have witnessed a galaxy, SDSS1335+0728, dramatically "turn on the lights" after a 20-year slumber, marking the first real-time observation of a massive black hole awakening. The galaxy SDSS1335+0728, located approximately 300 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, began exhibiting dramatic changes in brightness in late 2019, as detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility. Its core, powered by a black hole one million times the Sun's mass, began radiating intense light across ultraviolet, optical, and infrared wavelengths, and by February 2024, it emitted X-rays, signalling unprecedented activity. This phenomenon, detailed in Astronomy & Astrophysics, suggests the black hole started feasting on surrounding gas, transforming the galaxy into one with an active galactic nucleus (AGN). According to researchers utilised data from multiple observatories, including the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, to monitor the galaxy's transformation. "Imagine you've been observing a distant galaxy for years, and it always seemed calm and inactive. Suddenly, its core starts showing dramatic changes in brightness, unlike any typical event we've seen before," said Paula Sanchez Saez, an astronomer at ESO in Germany and lead author of the study accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. This event marks the first real-time observation of a black hole transitioning from a quiescent to an active state, providing invaluable insights into the behaviour of these cosmic giants. Co-author Claudio Ricci noted that such "giant monsters" typically remain dormant and invisible, making this a rare glimpse into black hole activation. Alternative explanations, like a prolonged tidal disruption event where a star is shredded by the black hole, are being explored, but the sustained brightness over years sets this apart from typical flares, which fade within months. Profound Implications This observation could refine models of black hole growth and galaxy evolution, offering clues about how these cosmic giants influence star formation. Researchers are using advanced telescopes, like the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, to gather more data, hoping to confirm whether this is a new class of outburst or a slow tidal event. Each scenario would require revising models of black hole accretion and the frequency of black hole awakenings in the present-day universe. "Regardless of the nature of the variations, this galaxy provides valuable information on how black holes grow and evolve. We expect that instruments such as MUSE on the VLT and those on the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope will be key to understanding why the galaxy is brightening," Sanchez Saez added.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Sun hiding ‘invisible asteroid threat' as scientists warn Earth risks ‘collision' with ‘highly chaotic' Venus space rock
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FIELD of at least 20 asteroids has been found lurking near Venus, having previously been hidden by the Sun's glare, experts have revealed. The belt of asteroids is currently co-orbiting Venus, swinging around Earth's closest planetary neighbour with differing proximities to our planet. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A 3D rendered image of Venus, Earth's closest planetary neighbour Credit: Getty Scientists from Brazil have warned that there could be more asteroids hiding near Venus, and that they may even pose a risk to Earth. "Twenty co-orbital asteroids of Venus are currently known," the authors wrote in their study, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. "Co-orbital status protects these asteroids from close approaches to Venus, but it does not protect them from encountering Earth." Asteroids are considered potentially hazardous asteroids (PHA) if they have a diameter of at least 140 metres and come within 0.05 astronomical units of Earth's orbit, according to experts. "We aim to assess the possible threat that the yet undetected population of Venus co-orbiters may pose to Earth, and to investigate their detectability from Earth and space observatories," the authors wrote. 3 An artist's impression of the Sun's glare from Earth Credit: Getty - Contributor Only one of the 20 known asteroids has an orbital eccentricity below 0.38 - with 0 being a perfectly circular orbit and 1 meaning an elliptical or oval-shaped orbit. This means some asteroids with wider orbits will be easier to spot, but those with minor orbital eccentricities may be difficult to detect. However, Venus asteroids with an orbital eccentricity higher than 0.38 could "pose a collisional hazard to Earth," the researchers warned. Co-orbital asteroids - ones that share an orbit with their nearby planet - are also known for having unpredictable orbits. This makes it harder to figure out how dangerous they are. Cold War era Soviet spaceship that was meant to reach Venus to FINALLY crash back to Earth at 17,000mph "The co-orbital asteroids of Venus are highly chaotic, with Lyapunov times of the order of 150 years," the authors explained. The Lyapunov time refers to how long an object's orbit takes to become unpredictable because of chaotic dynamics. So scientists have no idea how the orbit of an asteroid will evolve over the next 150 years, and if it could collide with Earth in the future. It's unclear how big the Venus asteroids are. But even a relatively small asteroid of 150 meters in diameter could strike Earth with a force equal to hundreds of megatons of TNT, Universe Today reported. For context, that is thousands of times more potent than the atomic bombs dropped in World War 2. The researchers said that more research is required to determine just how many asteroids are hiding near Venus. But since they are only observable periodically due to the Sun's glare, research from Earth's perspective might be difficult - even with powerful telescopes. The researchers suggest, therefore, that the best way to learn more about these hidden asteroids is to get a closer look. "Observations conducted from Venus' orbit, positioned facing away from the Sun, may enhance the detection of these bodies," the researchers explained. All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is Earth? Plus other facts on our planet How many moons does Mercury have? What colour is Venus? How far away is Mars to Earth? And other facts on the red planet How big is Jupiter? How many moons does Saturn have? Does Uranus have rings? How many moons does Neptune have? How big is Pluto? How hot is the Sun?
