Latest news with #UniversityofBonn
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Big Bang's Glowing 'Echo' May Be Something Else Entirely
Part of the reason scientists have settled on the Big Bang theory as the best explanation of how the Universe came into being is because of an 'afterglow' it emits – but a new study suggests we may need to rethink the source of this faint radiation. Technically, this afterglow is known as Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, and it's been traveling through space for more than 13 billion years, since soon after the Big Bang first went bang. It can be picked up by our most advanced telescopes. Now, researchers from Nanjing University in China and the University of Bonn in Germany have run calculations suggesting we've overestimated the strength of the CMB. In fact, it might not even be there at all. The rocking of the cosmological boat, as it were, is driven by new evidence of early-type galaxies (ETGs). Recent data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests these ETGs might account for some or even all of the CMB, depending on the simulation used. "Our results are a problem for the standard model of cosmology," says physicist Pavel Kroupa, from the University of Bonn. "It might be necessary to rewrite the history of the Universe, at least in part." Scientists already know plenty about ETGs, which are usually elliptical in shape. What's new is that recent studies, and this latest interpretation of them, point to these types of galaxies having formed even earlier than previous models accounted for. If that timeline shifts, then so does the pattern of radiation spreading out across the Universe. In simple terms, the Universe may have moved through its initial phase of gas surges and galaxy formation quicker than we imagined. "The Universe has been expanding since the Big Bang, like dough that is rising," says Kroupa. "This means that the distance between galaxies is increasing constantly." "We have measured how far apart elliptical galaxies are from one another today. Using this data and taking into account the characteristics of this group of galaxies, we were then able to use the speed of expansion to determine when they first formed." This earlier estimate for the formation of these ETGs means that their brightness could emerge "as a non-negligible source of CMB foreground contamination", the researchers write. We should bear in mind that this research is still in its preliminary stages. It's not time yet to start pulping scientific textbooks – or whatever the modern equivalent is. Rewriting Wikipedia, perhaps? But this research certainly raises some big questions. Given the almost unimaginable timescales and distances involved, it's difficult for astrophysicists to always be precise. The researchers suggest anywhere from 1.4 percent to 100 percent of the CMB could be explained by their new models. What's certain is that as our space telescopes and analysis systems get more sophisticated, we're learning more about the surrounding Universe than ever before – and that in turn means some previous assumptions may have to be readjusted, including those about the very formation of the Universe itself. "In the view of the results documented here, it may become necessary to consider [other] cosmological models," write the researchers in their published paper. The research has been published in Nuclear Physics B. A Serious Threat May Be Lurking in The Orbit of Venus, Says Study We Now Know What Switched The Lights on at The Dawn of Time Light Travels Across The Universe Without Losing Energy. But How?
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Water overuse is causing land upliftment in South Africa, study suggests
Image: Getty Images A new study has revealed that the land in South Africa is rising, and the reason may be more alarming than previously thought. Between 2012 and 2020, researchers recorded an average uplift of 6 millimetres, or nearly 2 millimetres each year. While it was earlier believed that geological activity or mantle flow was causing this change, recent findings suggest that drought and water loss might be the real culprits. As water levels drop, the Earth's crust experiences an upward rebound, hinting at a deep and complex relationship between climate change, water management, and urban development. No tectonic plates but vanishing water is causing upliftment Previously, scientists assumed that rising land in South Africa was due to seismic or volcanic activity, especially from the Quathlamba hotspot. However, researchers from the University of Bonn have now linked the vertical land movement to the loss of surface and subsurface water. During droughts, as groundwater, soil moisture, and surface water disappear, the weight pressing down on the crust reduces. This results in the land bouncing back, a phenomenon called elastic rebound, observed through advanced satellite and ground-based measurements. How Cape Town's drought revealed the trend Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Cape Town's infamous Day Zero crisis, which began in 2015, was a key case for studying this phenomenon. The research team initially set out to investigate water loss during the city's extreme drought between 2015 and 2018. Using data from South Africa's GNSS-Trignet base stations, which track vertical land motion, scientists confirmed that land uplift closely followed periods of reduced water mass. This showed that water scarcity has a visible, measurable effect on the very shape of the Earth's surface. Scientists track the uplift through satellite and GPS To understand the uplift pattern across South Africa, scientists analysed GPS data from 2000 to 2021. They used geophysical models to convert vertical land movement into estimates of water loss. These were cross-checked with satellite gravity data from GRACE and other hydrological models. The findings confirmed a consistent correlation between water loss and land rise across multiple regions, not just Cape Town. This made it clear that the pattern is national, not local. The science behind land rising and sinking While drought-related uplift is becoming more common, it contrasts sharply with land subsidence caused by groundwater over-extraction in other parts of the world. Researcher Christian Mielke explained that two processes are at play. The loading effect causes uplift when surface water mass is lost and the crust rebounds. On the other hand, the poro-elastic effect causes land to sink when aquifers dry up and collapse. Which effect dominates depends on the local geology and the type of water loss. South Africa's water use under scrutiny The study also revealed that South Africa's water consumption is far higher than the global average. South Africans use around 237 litres of water per person per day, compared to the global average of 173 litres. Gauteng and the Western Cape, which include major cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town, are among the highest consumers. With increasing droughts, this level of usage is unsustainable and contributes to the complex challenges of land deformation and water stress. Rising inequality in water access The water crisis is not equally shared. A Cape Town survey showed that the wealthiest 13.7 percent of residents consumed more than half of the city's total water. Elite households used up to 2,161 litres daily, while lower-income families used just 178 litres. Informal settlement dwellers survived on as little as 41 litres per day. This imbalance worsens the impact of water shortages and puts additional strain on urban infrastructure and the environment. A warning sign for urban development The study is a reminder that urbanisation without planning can have invisible, long-term consequences. As soil moisture declines and concrete replaces natural recharge zones, the Earth's crust is affected in ways not immediately visible. These shifts influence groundwater storage, increase vulnerability to future droughts, and alter land stability. Urban design must now consider the broader impacts of water loss, not just for environmental sustainability but also for infrastructure resilience. A call to rethink water management Cape Town and other South African cities need to urgently revise their water strategies. Measures such as reducing waste, recycling treated wastewater, and enhancing rainwater harvesting are critical. Long-term planning must address both climate resilience and social equity. As climate change deepens the gap between supply and demand, cities must act now to protect both people and the planet. The rising land is not just a geological anomaly—it is a warning from nature to change course.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Austria's Lutheran Church appoints first female bishop
A woman is set to head the Lutheran Church in Austria for the first time. Cornelia Richter, a 54-year-old professor of theology, was elected on Friday as the Protestant church's first female bishop at a synod in Vienna. Richter, who teaches at the University of Bonn in Germany, was the only candidate. She will take office on January 1 next year. Like her predecessor, who is retiring for age reasons, Richter wants to campaign for the reintroduction of Good Friday as a public holiday in Austria. She had previously stated that she intends to give up her teaching position in Bonn. With just over 237,000 members, the Protestant Lutheran Church is one of the less prominent denominations in Austria. There are around 4.5 million Catholics in the Alpine republic, followed by sizeable communities of Muslims and Orthodox Christians.
Business Mayor
21-05-2025
- Science
- Business Mayor
Agrivoltaics enjoys comparatively high acceptance
Photovoltaic systems are increasingly being installed not only on roofs but also on open land. This does not always meet with citizens' approval. What is known as agrivoltaics (Agri-PV), however, is viewed more favorably, as researchers at the University of Bonn have now been able to show. In this case, the solar cells are installed in spaces used for agriculture — such as on pastures or as a canopy over grapevines. According to a survey of almost 2,000 people, this form enjoys much higher acceptance than normal solar parks. The study has been published in the journal Land Use Policy . Solar electricity is an important environmentally friendly energy source. However, the light-sensitive panels swallow up a great deal of space. Many citizens also consider the systems to be unattractive and annoying — especially if arable land and grassland has been sacrificed for them. One alternative is what is known as agrivoltaics. This involves installing the panels on land that continues to be used for agriculture — grain fields, pastures, apple orchards, or vineyards. 'They usually reduce the yield,' explains Hendrik Zeddies from the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn. 'However, they sometimes also create synergies. For example, the solar cells can be used as a transparent canopy to protect fruit trees or grapevines from hailstones or harsh sunlight. On wheat fields, they often serve as wind protection — similar to a wall or a hedge.' Cows graze between solar panels The study that has now been published also shows that agrivoltaics offers a further advantage that should not be underestimated: It clearly enjoys much greater acceptance among the public than conventional solar parks. This is at least what the results of an online survey involving almost 2,000 men and women from Germany indicate. Zeddies is one of its initiators, alongside his colleagues Dr. Martin Parlasca and Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim, Director of the ZEF. The respondents were chosen in such a way that their composition with regard to age, sex, education, income, and state of residency reflected the German population. They were initially given information on the advantages and disadvantages of agrivoltaics and conventional solar parks on open land. They were then assigned at random to one of three groups. The first saw photos of a pasture and, as a comparison, a meadow on which long rows of solar panels stood between the grazing cows. Similarly, the second group looked at pairs of images of a wheat field with and without solar panels, the third of a vineyard. These images were each compared with pure solar parks in the same landscape scene. 'We asked the participants how they assessed the intervention in the respective landscape,' explains Zeddies. 'For instance, how attractive or unattractive they found the areas shown or how they assessed their recreational value.' In addition, they were asked to state whether they would be willing to accept a price premium for the electricity produced in the respective areas — or the reverse: Whether they would pay money to prevent the solar park. Almost 44 percent would pay more for agrivoltaic electricity The results show that agrivoltaics met with much higher acceptance — regardless of the scenario shown: Almost 44 percent would pay more for electricity from these areas; however, only 29 percent would be willing to do so for normal solar parks on open land. Just 2.9 percent would also finance measures to prevent agrivoltaics out of their own pockets — the figure was 4.8 percent for conventional parks. Although the respondents were generally of the opinion that photovoltaics impairs the view of the landscape, these negative impacts were lower in their eyes when it came to agrivoltaics — presumably because it makes a difference whether solar energy production is pushing agriculture aside or whether energy and food production are combined. 'Our survey is hypothetical — the participants do not really have to spend any money,' stresses Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim, who is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) 'Sustainable Futures' and the Cluster of Excellence 'PhenoRob.' 'Nevertheless, the results allow us to conclude that agrivoltaics meets with greater acceptance among the public than normal open-space solar systems.' Agrivoltaics could, therefore, be a way to accelerate the development of environmentally friendly energy without provoking major conflicts among the population and jeopardizing food security. However, Zeddies, who himself grew up on a farm, still sees unanswered questions. For instance, the costs for these systems are higher than for conventional open-space systems. As agrivoltaics also delivers lower electricity yields, these initial investments only amortize very slowly. 'Without subsidies, it will presumably not be possible to install many systems,' he says.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
South Africa's ground is rising, but it's not volcanic; here's what's really happening
In a dramatic geological change, researchers have discovered that areas of South Africa are rising by as much as 2 millimeters annually. Although this movement was originally thought to be caused by deep mantle processes below the Earth's surface, recent studies indicate a more proximate, surface-based cause: the removal of groundwater. Extended drought has caused extensive groundwater loss, lessening the load on the Earth's crust and allowing it to gradually rise. This finding demonstrates the larger geophysical effect of climate change and drought , revealing that even changes in the water table can quietly remake the Earth's surface. New study reveals how droughts cause Earth's crust to 'spring back' in South Africa A revolutionary study conducted by researchers at the University of Bonn revealed that the apparent "bulging" of the Earth's crust in South Africa is not the result of volcanic or tectonic activity. Instead, it's the crust reacting to a massive loss of groundwater. When droughts become more severe, the weight of water stored in soil and aquifers vanishes, leading the Earth's crust to rise—a process previously misunderstood by geologists. To comprehend this phenomenon, consider compressing a foam ball. Under pressure, the ball compacts; upon pressure release, it returns to its original form. In the same way, the Earth's crust is elastic. When groundwater is drained, the weight bearing down upon the crust lessens and the crust "springs back" partially. This is called elastic rebound—a recognized geophysical response but infrequently ascribed to drought to this degree prior to the present research. GPS and satellite data link drought to ground rise in South Africa Between 2012 and 2020, a GPS array of South African stations had measured vertical land movements up to 6 millimeters. At first mystifying scientists, the observation later led to the development of a new paradigm regarding what was happening below the ground. The GPS data provided precise and reliable observations of vertical displacement, in conflict with the usual expectations regarding deep Earth processes in the area. Findings by NASA's GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite mission also corroborated the findings. GRACE tracks changes in Earth's gravity field, which can be converted into changes in mass—such as water. Satellite observations independently confirmed a loss of mass where drought was most extreme, namely in soil moisture and groundwater storage. These areas corresponded to the same places where ground uplift had been recorded by GPS, ensuring there to be a close cause-and-effect connection. New findings show drought causes land uplift, not volcanic activity Geophysicists long speculated that rising landmasses in south Africa were being induced by mantle plumes—pipes of hot rock forced upward from below the ground. But the new evidence indicates massive uplift can take place with not even the slightest deep volcanic or tectonic ructions. This is a paradigm shift at the very root of surface deformation science, especially in regions previously considered geologically dormant. The 2015–2019 Cape Town drought had the city hanging in the balance on the eve of "Day Zero"—when municipal water taps would be shut. During that period, researchers noted the most extreme land uplifts ever in the Western Cape. This spatial-time coincidence bears witness to how close the severity of drought and ground deformation are. One of the most significant potential applications of this research is its use in groundwater monitoring. Since land uplift is linearly proportional to water loss, scientists can now use ground vertical motion as a non-destructive and inexpensive alternative for water level measurement. No drilling into the earth is required using this approach, allowing real-time analysis through satellite and GPS. New study shows how climate-driven droughts impact With climate change fueling increased and intensified droughts around the world—from California to the Horn of Africa—the results from South Africa may have far-reaching consequences. This work offers a fresh paradigm for viewing how water poverty impacts the crust of the Earth and presents an important tool for monitoring hydrologic change in risk-prone areas. Also Read | This 400-year-old Catholic saint's body has amazed scientists with its preservation; discover the science behind
