Latest news with #AstronomyandAstrophysics
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Science
- Irish Independent
Scientists recreate universe's first molecule to solve 14-billion-year-old mystery
The universe was unimaginably hot and dense immediately after it formed about 13.8 billion years ago, and cooled down seconds later to form the first elements, hydrogen and helium, albeit in a completely ionised form. It then took another 380,000 years for the temperature in the early universe to drop enough for neutral atoms to form, by combining with free electrons to pave the way for the first chemical reactions. The first molecule created this way is thought to be helium hydride ion (HeH+), formed from a neutral helium atom and ionised hydrogen. Helium hydride's origin also marked the beginning of a chain reaction that led to the formation of molecular hydrogen (H2), which is by far the most common molecule in the universe, scientists said. Although the infant universe at this point was transparent due to the binding of free electrons, there were still no light-emitting objects, such as stars. Researchers found that this helium hydride molecule helped cool the universe over a process lasting several hundred million years before the first stars ignited. Stars are powered by nuclear fusion. However, for any early contracting gas cloud of a protostar to collapse to the point where nuclear fusion can begin, heat must be dissipated through collisions between atoms and molecules. But below 10,000C, this process becomes ineffective for the dominant hydrogen atoms. So researchers have long considered helium hydride ions as a potentially important candidate for cooling in the formation of the first stars. New research, published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, used a special ultra-cold lab setup to mimic conditions from over 13 billion years ago that led to the formation of these molecules. ADVERTISEMENT Using the Cryogenic Storage Ring instrument at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany, scientists superimposed HeH+ ions stored in a 35-metre-diameter storage ring for up to just a minute at a few kelvins (-267C) with a beam of neutral hydrogen atoms. They studied how the collision rate varied with temperature and found that, contrary to earlier predictions, the rate at which this reaction proceeds does not slow down with decreasing temperature.
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Science
- Glasgow Times
Citizen astronomers see moment star explodes by playing ‘spot the difference'
The volunteers had joined the Kilonova Seekers project to identify cosmic explosions of neutron stars and black holes colliding in distant galaxies. They managed to identify a cataclysmic variable star, named GOTO0650, which had undergone 'extreme brightening' compared to an image taken just two days before. The results have been published in a paper in the scientific journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. Siding Springs Observatory was involved in the citizen science effort (Alamy/PA) A cataclysmic variable star is a binary star system made up of a white dwarf primary and a secondary star which are so close to each other that the gravity of the white dwarf distorts the second one. For the Kilonova Seekers project, members of the public are asked to compare data from two gravitational-wave optical transient observer (GOTO) telescopes – one in La Palma in the Canary Islands and the other at Australia's Siding Spring Observatory. More than 3,500 people take part in the project from countries around the world. Professor Laura Nuttall, from the University of Portsmouth, said: 'I'm really proud of everything Kilonova Seekers is achieving. 'We're engaging with people in just about every time zone, and thanks to their enthusiasm for the project, they are making discoveries and contributing to furthering our understanding of astrophysics.' Dr Lisa Kelsey, from the University of Cambridge, said: 'Citizen science is a powerful way to make novel serendipitous discoveries in vast datasets that would normally need to be analysed in depth by scientists. 'With over 2.8 million classifications so far, the discovery of GOTO0650 is really the pinnacle of two years of consistent hard work from our volunteers. 'Without the Kilonova Seekers volunteers flagging this object, rapid follow-up would not have been possible, and this object may have been missed entirely.' The team played 'spot the difference' to pinpoint the celestial event (Alamy/PA) Co-lead of Kilonova Seekers, Dr Tom Killestein, at the University of Warwick, said: 'Kilonova Seekers is a unique opportunity for members of the public to take part in true real-time astrophysics. 'Remarkably, public volunteers identified this star as an object of interest within three and a half hours of the image being taken by the GOTO telescopes – this discovery could have been missed among many other objects without their efforts.' Volunteer Cledison Marcos da Silva said: 'This discovery was very important to me, as I was going through a serious health problem and the citizen science we do at Kilonova Seekers was distracting me from my situation. 'I never imagined that we would discover such a bright transient, so it was a huge surprise, and we were very happy when we found out. 'This discovery shows the importance of citizen science, both scientifically and personally. Even from your bed, or on the street with your cell phone, there is the possibility of making a very important discovery.' Another participant Mayahuel Torres-Guerrero said: 'It was very exciting when GOTO0650 produced an echo outburst on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. It was a great journey for someone who has studied social sciences like me.'
South Wales Guardian
02-07-2025
- Science
- South Wales Guardian
Citizen astronomers see moment star explodes by playing ‘spot the difference'
The volunteers had joined the Kilonova Seekers project to identify cosmic explosions of neutron stars and black holes colliding in distant galaxies. They managed to identify a cataclysmic variable star, named GOTO0650, which had undergone 'extreme brightening' compared to an image taken just two days before. The results have been published in a paper in the scientific journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. A cataclysmic variable star is a binary star system made up of a white dwarf primary and a secondary star which are so close to each other that the gravity of the white dwarf distorts the second one. For the Kilonova Seekers project, members of the public are asked to compare data from two gravitational-wave optical transient observer (GOTO) telescopes – one in La Palma in the Canary Islands and the other at Australia's Siding Spring Observatory. More than 3,500 people take part in the project from countries around the world. Professor Laura Nuttall, from the University of Portsmouth, said: 'I'm really proud of everything Kilonova Seekers is achieving. 'We're engaging with people in just about every time zone, and thanks to their enthusiasm for the project, they are making discoveries and contributing to furthering our understanding of astrophysics.' Dr Lisa Kelsey, from the University of Cambridge, said: 'Citizen science is a powerful way to make novel serendipitous discoveries in vast datasets that would normally need to be analysed in depth by scientists. 'With over 2.8 million classifications so far, the discovery of GOTO0650 is really the pinnacle of two years of consistent hard work from our volunteers. 'Without the Kilonova Seekers volunteers flagging this object, rapid follow-up would not have been possible, and this object may have been missed entirely.' Co-lead of Kilonova Seekers, Dr Tom Killestein, at the University of Warwick, said: 'Kilonova Seekers is a unique opportunity for members of the public to take part in true real-time astrophysics. 'Remarkably, public volunteers identified this star as an object of interest within three and a half hours of the image being taken by the GOTO telescopes – this discovery could have been missed among many other objects without their efforts.' Volunteer Cledison Marcos da Silva said: 'This discovery was very important to me, as I was going through a serious health problem and the citizen science we do at Kilonova Seekers was distracting me from my situation. 'I never imagined that we would discover such a bright transient, so it was a huge surprise, and we were very happy when we found out. 'This discovery shows the importance of citizen science, both scientifically and personally. Even from your bed, or on the street with your cell phone, there is the possibility of making a very important discovery.' Another participant Mayahuel Torres-Guerrero said: 'It was very exciting when GOTO0650 produced an echo outburst on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. It was a great journey for someone who has studied social sciences like me.'
Powys County Times
02-07-2025
- Science
- Powys County Times
Citizen astronomers see moment star explodes by playing ‘spot the difference'
Citizen scientists have spotted the moment a binary star system exploded after playing 'spot the difference' with images from two telescopes on opposite sides of the planet. The volunteers had joined the Kilonova Seekers project to identify cosmic explosions of neutron stars and black holes colliding in distant galaxies. They managed to identify a cataclysmic variable star, named GOTO0650, which had undergone 'extreme brightening' compared to an image taken just two days before. The results have been published in a paper in the scientific journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. A cataclysmic variable star is a binary star system made up of a white dwarf primary and a secondary star which are so close to each other that the gravity of the white dwarf distorts the second one. For the Kilonova Seekers project, members of the public are asked to compare data from two gravitational-wave optical transient observer (GOTO) telescopes – one in La Palma in the Canary Islands and the other at Australia's Siding Spring Observatory. More than 3,500 people take part in the project from countries around the world. Professor Laura Nuttall, from the University of Portsmouth, said: 'I'm really proud of everything Kilonova Seekers is achieving. 'We're engaging with people in just about every time zone, and thanks to their enthusiasm for the project, they are making discoveries and contributing to furthering our understanding of astrophysics.' Dr Lisa Kelsey, from the University of Cambridge, said: 'Citizen science is a powerful way to make novel serendipitous discoveries in vast datasets that would normally need to be analysed in depth by scientists. 'With over 2.8 million classifications so far, the discovery of GOTO0650 is really the pinnacle of two years of consistent hard work from our volunteers. 'Without the Kilonova Seekers volunteers flagging this object, rapid follow-up would not have been possible, and this object may have been missed entirely.' Co-lead of Kilonova Seekers, Dr Tom Killestein, at the University of Warwick, said: 'Kilonova Seekers is a unique opportunity for members of the public to take part in true real-time astrophysics. 'Remarkably, public volunteers identified this star as an object of interest within three and a half hours of the image being taken by the GOTO telescopes – this discovery could have been missed among many other objects without their efforts.' Volunteer Cledison Marcos da Silva said: 'This discovery was very important to me, as I was going through a serious health problem and the citizen science we do at Kilonova Seekers was distracting me from my situation. 'I never imagined that we would discover such a bright transient, so it was a huge surprise, and we were very happy when we found out. 'This discovery shows the importance of citizen science, both scientifically and personally. Even from your bed, or on the street with your cell phone, there is the possibility of making a very important discovery.'
Leader Live
02-07-2025
- Science
- Leader Live
Citizen astronomers see moment star explodes by playing ‘spot the difference'
The volunteers had joined the Kilonova Seekers project to identify cosmic explosions of neutron stars and black holes colliding in distant galaxies. They managed to identify a cataclysmic variable star, named GOTO0650, which had undergone 'extreme brightening' compared to an image taken just two days before. The results have been published in a paper in the scientific journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. A cataclysmic variable star is a binary star system made up of a white dwarf primary and a secondary star which are so close to each other that the gravity of the white dwarf distorts the second one. For the Kilonova Seekers project, members of the public are asked to compare data from two gravitational-wave optical transient observer (GOTO) telescopes – one in La Palma in the Canary Islands and the other at Australia's Siding Spring Observatory. More than 3,500 people take part in the project from countries around the world. Professor Laura Nuttall, from the University of Portsmouth, said: 'I'm really proud of everything Kilonova Seekers is achieving. 'We're engaging with people in just about every time zone, and thanks to their enthusiasm for the project, they are making discoveries and contributing to furthering our understanding of astrophysics.' Dr Lisa Kelsey, from the University of Cambridge, said: 'Citizen science is a powerful way to make novel serendipitous discoveries in vast datasets that would normally need to be analysed in depth by scientists. 'With over 2.8 million classifications so far, the discovery of GOTO0650 is really the pinnacle of two years of consistent hard work from our volunteers. 'Without the Kilonova Seekers volunteers flagging this object, rapid follow-up would not have been possible, and this object may have been missed entirely.' Co-lead of Kilonova Seekers, Dr Tom Killestein, at the University of Warwick, said: 'Kilonova Seekers is a unique opportunity for members of the public to take part in true real-time astrophysics. 'Remarkably, public volunteers identified this star as an object of interest within three and a half hours of the image being taken by the GOTO telescopes – this discovery could have been missed among many other objects without their efforts.' Volunteer Cledison Marcos da Silva said: 'This discovery was very important to me, as I was going through a serious health problem and the citizen science we do at Kilonova Seekers was distracting me from my situation. 'I never imagined that we would discover such a bright transient, so it was a huge surprise, and we were very happy when we found out. 'This discovery shows the importance of citizen science, both scientifically and personally. Even from your bed, or on the street with your cell phone, there is the possibility of making a very important discovery.' Another participant Mayahuel Torres-Guerrero said: 'It was very exciting when GOTO0650 produced an echo outburst on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. It was a great journey for someone who has studied social sciences like me.'
