Latest news with #PietervanDokkum
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Witnessed the Birth of a Monster—8.3 Billion Years After It Happened
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and other telescopes have shown what appears to be a supermassive black hole forming right between two merging galaxies. There have been multiple hypotheses surrounding supermassive black hole formation, but these observations support the hypothesis that suggests these behemoths are the result of immense clouds of shocked and compressed gas collapsing in on themselves. Future observations with Webb may finally confirm how supermassive black holes come into being. Supermassive black holes lurk in almost every large galaxy, including our own, but their origins are more elusive. Did they appear after the demise of gargantuan stars in the early universe? Do they form from smaller black holes that merge? Is it possible they emerge from monstrous clouds of star-forming gas that collapse in on themselves? That last hypothesis might be onto something. The pair of galaxies merging into what is now known as the Infinity Galaxy (so named because of its uncanny resemblance to the infinity symbol) is 8.3 billion light-years away, meaning we are seeing events unfold as they did that many billions of years ago. Between them is what astronomers now believe to be a supermassive black hole (SMBH) in its infancy. Whatever the object is, it is accreting tons upon tons of material, and supermassive black holes are known for their voracious appetites. Observations of this galaxy and the thing spawning in the middle might be the first hard evidence of a supermassive black hole being born. Each of the galaxies that collided to form the Infinity Galaxy have their own glowing nuclei containing supermassive black holes, but the one supposedly forming in between is unrelated to either of them—its source is apparently something else. The mystery convinced astronomers Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University and Gabriel Brammer of the University of Copenhagen, who discovered the nascent black hole while analyzing images from the COSMOS-Web survey of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, that what they were seeing was no ordinary star. Van Dokkum and Brammer backed their findings up by poring over data from observations made by the W.M. Keck Observatory, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and more data from the archives of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Very Large Array. It was already strange that this black hole was not hiding in the nucleus of a galaxy, never mind that it was at the beginning of its life. Shrouded by clouds of gas between the two galaxies was most likely a supermassive black hole that probably formed from gas that had been shocked and compressed during the galactic merger, then collapsed in on itself. Witnessing one being born is unprecedented. 'The gas spans the entire width of the system and was likely shocked and compressed at the collision site,' they and their colleagues said in a study soon to be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. 'We suggest that the SMBH formed within this gas in the immediate aftermath of the collision, when it was dense and highly turbulent.' There are two main hypotheses for how supermassive black holes form. The 'light seeds' theory claims that supermassive black holes are the product of black holes that form after massive stars go supernova, collapsing in on themselves in violent explosions. These black holes then merge into larger black holes. The problem is that it would not only take an extremely long time for a supermassive black hole to form this way, this theory also cannot explain the existence of supermassive black holes, already observed by Webb, which were around when the universe was still young. The 'heavy seeds' hypothesis suggests that immense clouds of gas that collapse usually form stars, but sometimes, the gases collapse directly into supermassive black holes. This is the theory that seems to align with the more recent observations. About a few hundred million years after the universe dawned, clouds of gas in the middle of what would become galaxies collapsed. Hiding in those gaseous clouds were the seeds of supermassive black holes, whose powerful outflows and magnetic storms caused surrounding gas to collapse into multitudes of new stars. This explains the high populations of stars around galactic nuclei. 'If our proposed scenario is confirmed, the Infinity galaxy provides an empirical demonstration that direct-collapse formation of SMBHs can happen in the right circumstances—something that has so far only been seen in simulations and through indirect observations,' Brammer and van Dokkum said. More observations with Webb and other telescopes could finally reveal what a supermassive black hole's baby pictures look like. 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? Solve the daily Crossword
Scottish Sun
26-07-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Stunning space snap hides rare ‘one-in-a-thousand' secret – and it may be the first time it has ever been seen by humans
The phenomenon could help prove a popular theory IN THE STARS Stunning space snap hides rare 'one-in-a-thousand' secret – and it may be the first time it has ever been seen by humans Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A STUNNING photo has captured a rare secret among the stars - and it could be the first time the phenomenon has ever been seen. Astronomers believe they have photographed the first ever birth of a supermassive black hole. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up While experts have gained an understanding of what these supersized giants are, they previously didn't know how they were created. A supermassive black hole weighs millions, to tens of billions, of Suns, and form the centre of almost every galaxy. It forms the gravitational centre for everything else - including stars and planets - to revolve around. However, scientists now believe they have seen a supermassive black hole being formed for the first time ever. 1 Three supermassive black holes can be seen in a newfound discovery Credit: NASA This could provide valuable insight into the space wonder. The process was captured in a pair of galaxies whose light has travelled for 8.3 million years according to Science Alert. The discovery was made by a Yale-led astronomy team, in a galaxy they've called "Infinity". Its name comes from its figure-eight shape, as three supermassive black holes can be seen as the galaxies collide. Within each galaxy a supermassive black hole can be seen at its nucleus, with a third glowing at their overlap. The team used a James Webb Space Telescope to observe the two recently-collided galaxies. CLOSE CALL 'It was a sign' - Clare girl, 10, spots surprise comet that 'shines brighter than Venus' Within the cloud of gas at its centre, they identified a supermassive black hole. Unusually, the black hole was not located at the nucleus of the vast galaxy, but rather in the middle of where they were colliding. This gave them an indication that they might be witnessing an unprecedented event. Yale astonomer Pieter van Dokkum said: "We think we're witnessing the birth of a supermassive black hole - something that has never been seen before." There are currently a number of theories regarding the formation of black holes. This includes the "light seeds" theory, in which small black holes are believed to have been formed when stars' cores collapsed and exploded. These smaller black holes are believed to have then merged into the supermassive versions. However, this theory has been somewhat debunked by research that found supermassive black holes that were born too early for this long-term merging to have taken place. Instead, the "heavy seeds" theory has been favoured by some astronomers. This argues that larger black holes can form when large clouds of gas collapse, although typically this is known to form stars. The Infinity galaxy could support the "heavy seeds" theory by showing how, in extreme conditions, a gas collapse could create a black hole. The team is pursuing ongoing research to confirm the findings.
Engadget
15-07-2025
- Science
- Engadget
Webb spots 'Infinity Galaxy' that sheds light on black hole formation
Discoveries keep pouring out of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Researchers observed an unusual cluster, which they dubbed the Infinity Galaxy. It appears to support a leading theory on how some supermassive black holes form. Although "Infinity Galaxy" sounds like a place Thanos would hang out, it merely describes its appearance. Two compact, red nuclei, each surrounded by a ring, give the cluster the shape of an infinity symbol. What's inside is more interesting. (After all, this is a much lower-res image than some of the eye candy the Webb telescope has yielded.) Researchers believe the Infinity Galaxy formed when two spiral galaxies (the nuclei in the image) collided. Between them lies a young supermassive black hole within an enormous cloud of gas. Supermassive black holes can range from hundreds of thousands of times the size of our sun to millions or billions of times its size. This one is about a million times as big. The Infinity Galaxy, overlaid with a contour map indicating the supermassive black hole (NASA / JWST) The Infinity Galaxy lends weight to the direct collapse theory of black hole formation. As you probably know, most black holes form when massive stars collapse. The presence of supermassive ones is harder to explain. One theory proposes that smaller black holes merge over time to form a supermassive one. The problem there is that some supermassive black holes formed soon after the Big Bang. So, scientists think some supermassive ones form instead from the collapse of gas clouds, much like the one we see here. The Infinity Galaxy may be the best evidence yet for that direct collapse hypothesis. One of the paper's lead authors summarized the findings. "By looking at the data from the Infinity Galaxy, we think we've pieced together a story of how a direct collapse could have happened here," Pieter van Dokkum wrote in a press release. "Two disk galaxies collide, forming the ring structures of stars that we see. During the collision, the gas within these two galaxies shocks and compresses. This compression might just be enough to form a dense knot, which then collapsed into a black hole." The team can't definitively confirm the theory from their current data. "But we can say that these new data strengthen the case that we're seeing a newborn black hole, while eliminating some of the competing explanations," van Dokkum added. "We will continue to pore through the data and investigate these possibilities."
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovers earliest galaxy ever seen in the universe
Source: YouTube The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has once again made history by discovering the most distant and ancient galaxy ever observed, named MoM z14. Located just 280 million years after the Big Bang, this galaxy pushes the boundaries of cosmic observation. The finding highlights JWST's exceptional ability to peer into the early universe, offering unprecedented insights into the formation of the first galaxies. With its record-breaking redshift of z = 14.44, MoM z14 not only redefines our understanding of galaxy evolution but also suggests that even earlier galaxies may soon be within reach, marking a new era in astronomy. JWST discovers one of the earliest galaxies formed after the Big Bang NASA's $10 billion space telescope has spotted a galaxy that was present only 280 million years after the Big Bang, a time that astronomers refer to as "cosmic dawn." The discovery team dubbed this galaxy MoM z14—"Mother of all early galaxies" for short. "First and foremost, at the moment, this is the most distant object known to humanity," said Pieter van Dokkum, Yale University professor of Astronomy and Physics, in an interview. 'MoM z14 existed when the universe was about 280 million years old—we're getting quite close to the Big Bang. Just to put that in context, sharks have been around on Earth for a longer timespan!' Since entering service in mid-2022, the JWST has been outstanding at detecting very distant galaxies by means of an effect known as redshift. When the universe gets bigger, light from old galaxies gets stretched, moving toward the red end of the spectrum. The more distant and thus older the galaxy is, the higher the redshift. Prior to MoM z14, the then-record holder was a galaxy named JADES-GS-z14-0, seen at a redshift of z = 14.32, some 300 million years following the Big Bang. MoM z14 is all the more impressive with a redshift of z = 14.44, extending modern astronomy's observational limits. Discovery of MoM z14 reshapes the view of galaxy formation In van Dokkum's view, the discovery of MoM z14 is not merely a new record—it provokes earlier hypotheses on the early formation of galaxies. "The bigger picture here is that JWST wasn't supposed to discover any galaxies this early in the universe's history at least, or at least at this point in the mission," he states. Previous JWST models predicted significantly fewer bright galaxies in the universe's early days. Current observations indicate more than 100 such galaxies exist in the early universe—significantly more than before. What sets MoM z14 apart Aside from its record-setting age, scientists were able to glean useful insight into MoM z14's composition and structure: Size: Roughly 50 times smaller than the Milky Way. Star formation: The galaxy possesses unexplained emission lines showing that it is extremely young and quickly producing new stars. Chemical composition: Existence of carbon and nitrogen, which implies that it's not one of the absolute first generation galaxies. "These things suggest that there had to be previous galaxies made only of hydrogen and helium that existed prior to MoM z14," said van Dokkum. "MoM z14 might be the first generation of 'normal' galaxies that started making heavier elements using processes in stars." Also Read | Meteorite that hit Earth 3.26 billion years ago may have sparked good news for life, study reveals
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Hubble Reveals Cosmic Bullet That Gave The Bullseye Galaxy Its Record-Breaking Rings
Just like fingerprints and snowflakes, no two galaxies in the entire Universe are exactly alike. But a new discovery 567 million light-years away really is jaw-droppingly unique. There, astronomers have found a galaxy girdled by, not one, but nine concentric rings – the aftermath of a violent encounter with a blue dwarf galaxy that shot right through its heart, sending shockwaves rippling out into space. Officially named LEDA 1313424, this galaxy has been given the appropriate title of the Bullseye Galaxy, and its serendipitous discovery is a new window into galaxy-on-galaxy crime. "We're catching the Bullseye at a very special moment in time," says astronomer Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University. "There's a very narrow window after the impact when a galaxy like this would have so many rings." So-called ring galaxies are extremely rare in the Universe, and they are thought to be the result of a very specific set of circumstances. Although space is mostly empty, galaxies are drawn together along filaments of the cosmic web, resulting in more collisions between them than you might expect. Interactions between galaxies can take many forms, and produce varied results. Ring galaxies – such as the mysterious and famous Hoag's Object – are thought to be the result of a collision in which one galaxy blasts straight through the center of another. The Bullseye Galaxy has confirmed that this process does indeed take place. Not far from the larger galaxy is a smaller one, seen in visible light images using the Hubble Space Telescope. Observations taken using the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI), which is optimized for visible blue wavelengths, revealed that this smaller galaxy is not only close to Bullseye, at a distance of just 130,000 kilometers (about 80,000 miles), but linked. "KCWI provided the critical view of this companion galaxy that we see in projection near the bullseye," says astronomer Imad Pasha of Yale University. "We found a clear signature of gas extending between the two systems, which allowed us to confirm that this galaxy is in fact the one that flew through the center and produced these rings." "The data from KCWI that identified the 'dart' or impactor is unique. There hasn't been any other case where you can so clearly see the gas streaming from one galaxy to the other, " van Dokkum adds. "That there is all this gas right between the velocity of one galaxy and the other is the key insight, showing that material is being pulled out of one galaxy, left behind by the other, or both. It physically fills up the entire space. The KCWI data enables us to see the tendril of gas that is still connecting these two galaxies." The rings are regions of higher density, where the galactic material has been pushed together by the rippling shocks. The clumping of the dust and gas triggers star formation, resulting in higher star density, which is why the rings glitter so brightly. The most distant ring is relatively faint and tenuous, and was only spotted in the KCWI images, at quite a distance from the main body of the galaxy. The entire galaxy is 250,000 light-years across. That gap between the rings is a marvel, showing that the rings propagate outwards in almost exactly the same way as predicted by theory, with the first two rings spreading quickly, with the subsequent rings forming later. It's like dropping a pebble in a pond. "If we were to look down at the galaxy directly, the rings would look circular, with rings bunched up at the center and gradually becoming more spaced out the farther out they are," Pasha says. The data provided by this marvelous galaxy will help astronomers adjust their models and theories, to better understand how such collisions play out. The researchers also hope future observations with upcoming telescopes will ferret out even more ring galaxies, lurking out there in the wide expanses of the cosmos. The research has been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 10 Minutes of Violence Gave The Moon Its Very Own 'Grand Canyons' Astrophysicist Reveals The Key Facts About The Asteroid That May Hit Earth AI Can Predict Incredible Solar Storms Before They Strike
