Latest news with #cosmos
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
‘Beach resort' planet with '20C sea' could be future astro-tourist hotspot – but you may be DEAD by the time you arrive
THERE are planets beyond our own that could be hiding untouched paradises. Exoplanet LHS 1140 b is just one of them - and could make a great beach resort for astro-tourists of the future. 4 4 First unveiled in 2017, LHS 1140 b is 41 light-years away, and may be humanity's best chance of finding liquid water on a world outside our solar system. There's one pretty big hitch, however - anyone boarding a rocket destined for LHS 1140 b would likely die long before they arrived. If they don't, then they would probably be very old, and not quite up for the water sports that could be on the cards. Even the closest of exoplanets are too far away to visit. And although this world is relatively close to our own in cosmic terms, it would still take 41 years to get there - while travelling at the speed of light. Of course, we haven't yet mastered light speed travel - let alone anything faster. But with a possible ocean temperature of 20C (68F), this planet could host some epic beach days in a few millennia - if humans ever master interstellar travel. Last year, after falling under the James Webb Space Telescope 's keen eye, scientists were able to find out more about this distant world. They believe it is a potentially rocky world, much larger than Earth. Best-ever sign of ALIEN life found on distant planet as scientists '99.7% sure of astounding biological activity signal' It has a planet mass of 5.6 Earths and a year that lasts just 25 days, according to Nasa. Data gathered by JWST, the $10 billion telescope Nasa launched into space in 2021, strongly supports LHS 1140 b being an ocean world with a tentative nitrogen atmosphere. However, further observations are needed to fully confirm this. "Detecting an Earth-like atmosphere on a temperate planet is pushing Webb's capabilities to its limits; it's feasible; we just need lots of observing time,' René Doyon, of the International Research & Exchanges Board (iREx) who studied the data, said in a statement last year. 'The current hint of a nitrogen-rich atmosphere begs for confirmation with more data. 'We need at least one more year of observations to confirm that LHS 1140 b has an atmosphere, and likely two or three more to detect carbon dioxide." 4 LHS 1140 b is a super Earth exoplanet that lies in the so-called 'Goldilocks zone' of its nearest star. This is the area around a star where it's neither too hot nor too cold for a world to host liquid water. When the data was pinged back to Earth - a process that miraculously only takes about five seconds - it was the 'first time [scientists] have ever seen a hint of an atmosphere on a habitable zone rocky or ice-rich exoplanet," according to Ryan MacDonald, a Nasa Sagan Fellow in the University of Michigan's Department of Astronomy, who helped analyse LHS 1140 b's atmosphere. JWST data further suggests the exoplanet's mass might be made of between 10 and 20 per cent liquid water. While that could mean the planet looks like one big snowball - the side facing the sun could have a warm liquid ocean, making it look like an eyeball. Charles Cadieux, a doctoral student at the Université de Montréal and lead author of a paper on the discovery, said at the time: "Of all currently known temperate exoplanets, LHS 1140 b could well be our best bet to one day indirectly confirm liquid water on the surface of an alien world beyond our solar system. "This would be a major milestone in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets." 4
Gizmodo
21-05-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Astronomers Witness Galaxy Shanking Its Rival With a Beam of Radiation
In the cold, ancient reaches of the cosmos, two galaxies are duking it out in a battle that's been raging for billions of years. But it's not a fair fight, a team of astronomers recently found, as one of the galaxies is using a quasar to pierce the other, severely hampering its development. The team observed the 'cosmic joust,' as they've dubbed the interaction, using Chile's Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope. The researchers witnessed something bizarre: one galaxy shooting a beam of radiation directly into another, disrupting its ability to form new stars. The team's results, published today in Nature, offer a front-row seat to some of the most intense intergalactic violence the universe has to offer. The interaction is so distant that the light in the images took 11 billion years to reach us. The cosmic conflagration appears just as it did when the universe was just 18% of its current age. Though they appear plain and inert in the above image, the galaxies are actually hurtling towards one another at over 311 miles per second (500 kilometers per second). 'We discovered a quasar—likely triggered by the merging of two galaxies—that is actively transforming the gas structure in its companion galaxy,' Pasquier Noterdaeme, a CNRS researcher at the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris and lead author of the paper, told Gizmodo in an email. 'The idea that galaxy mergers give rise to quasars has long been proposed, mainly supported by statistical studies of host galaxy morphologies,' Noterdaeme added. 'In our case, we caught the two galaxies in the act.' The team found that radiation from one galaxy's quasar—an active galactic core powered by a supermassive black hole—was disrupting regions in the other galaxy. That energy is shooting straight into the other galaxy like a lance, slicing through clouds of gas and dust. Because of the disturbance, the researchers say, the regions are probably too small to form new stars; the quasar-wielding galaxy effectively sabotaged its opponent's ability to birth new light. 'We see for the first time the effect of a quasar's radiation directly on the internal structure of the gas in an otherwise regular galaxy,' said Sergei Balashev, co-lead author of the study and a researcher at the Ioffe Institute in Russia, in an ESO release. But the galaxy with the quasar isn't just chipping away at the other—it's also transforming itself. As the galaxies brush past one another, the interaction funnels gas toward the quasar's central black hole, fueling it for more violent outbursts. The unique interaction was made visible thanks to ALMA's high resolution, which allowed astronomers to see that the light source in deep space was actually two galaxies (previous observations made the closely spaced objects appear as a single entity). ESO's X-shooter scrutinized the quasar's light, helping the researchers understand how the radiation affected the other galaxy. There's more to discover beyond the horizon—and I'm not talking about the event horizon. Instruments like the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) could let scientists dissect even more of these ancient galactic brawls, giving us a clearer picture of how quasars shape the galaxies they live in—and destroy the ones they don't.
Gizmodo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Gravity Could Be Proof We're Living in a Computer Simulation, New Theory Suggests
Gravity may not be a fundamental force of nature, but a byproduct of the universe streamlining information like a cosmic computer. We have long taken it for granted that gravity is one of the basic forces of nature–one of the invisible threads that keeps the universe stitched together. But suppose that this is not true. Suppose the law of gravity is simply an echo of something more fundamental: a byproduct of the universe operating under a computer-like code. That is the premise of my latest research, published in the journal AIP Advances. It suggests that gravity is not a mysterious force that attracts objects towards one another, but the product of an informational law of nature that I call the second law of infodynamics. It is a notion that seems like science fiction—but one that is based in physics and evidence that the universe appears to be operating suspiciously like a computer simulation. In digital technologies, right down to the apps in your phone and the world of cyberspace, efficiency is the key. Computers compact and restructure their data all the time to save memory and computer power. Maybe the same is taking place all over the universe? Information theory, the mathematical study of the quantification, storage and communication of information, may help us understand what's going on. Originally developed by mathematician Claude Shannon, it has become increasingly popular in physics and is used in a growing range of research areas. In a 2023 paper, I used information theory to propose my second law of infodynamics. This stipulates that information 'entropy', or the level of information disorganisation, will have to reduce or stay static within any given closed information system. This is the opposite of the popular second law of thermodynamics, which dictates that physical entropy, or disorder, always increases. Take a cooling cup of coffee. Energy flows from hot to cold until the temperature of the coffee is the same as the temperature of the room and its energy is minimum—a state called thermal equilibrium. The entropy of the system is a maximum at this point—with all the molecules maximally spread out, having the same energy. What that means is that the spread of energies per molecule in the liquid is reduced. If one considers the information content of each molecule based on its energy, then at the start, in the hot cup of coffee, the information entropy is maximum and at equilibrium the information entropy is minimum. That's because almost all molecules are at the same energy level, becoming identical characters in an informational message. So the spread of different energies available is reduced when there's thermal equilibrium. But if we consider just location rather than energy, then there's lots of information disorder when particles are distributed randomly in space—the information required to keep pace with them is considerable. When they consolidate themselves together under gravitational attraction, however, the way planets, stars and galaxies do, the information gets compacted and more manageable. In simulations, that's exactly what occurs when a system tries to function more efficiently. So, matter flowing under the influence of gravity need not be a result of a force at all. Perhaps it is a function of the way the universe compacts the information that it has to work with. Here, space is not continuous and smooth. Space is made up of tiny 'cells' of information, similar to pixels in a photo or squares on the screen of a computer game. In each cell is basic information about the universe—where, say, a particle is–and all are gathered together to make the fabric of the universe. If you place items within this space, the system gets more complex. But when all of those items come together to be one item instead of many, the information is simple again. The universe, under this view, tends to naturally seek to be in those states of minimal information entropy. The real kicker is that if you do the numbers, the entropic 'informational force' created by this tendency toward simplicity is exactly equivalent to Newton's law of gravitation, as shown in my paper. This theory builds on earlier studies of 'entropic gravity' but goes a step further. In connecting information dynamics with gravity, we are led to the interesting conclusion that the universe could be running on some kind of cosmic software. In an artificial universe, maximum-efficiency rules would be expected. Symmetries would be expected. Compression would be expected. And law–that is, gravity—would be expected to emerge from these computational rules. We may not yet have definitive evidence that we live in a simulation. But the deeper we look, the more our universe seems to behave like a computational process. Melvin M. Vopson is an associate professor of physics at the University of Portsmouth. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
3 Most Powerful, Influential Birth Months, According to Experts
You've likely been curious about which zodiac signs are the most powerful, but have you considered which birth months are known for their empoweredaura? If you were born during these three months, you're born to be a leader, take charge, and influence every room you step into. Check if your birth month is listed as one of the most powerful, according to experts. MORE: Check for the month you were born to see if you're one of the most potent influences of the cosmos. NEXT: Your Birth Month's Tarot Card and What It Means January-born individuals are associated with initiation, the start of a fresh calendar year. They are inspirational but far from naive or soft. With a month characterized by harsh weather, long nights, and darkness, those born during this time are resilient, responsible, and disciplined. They don't believe in passively waiting for luck—they work hard for every success they attain. They commit to whatever they set their minds to, determined to come out on top with concentrated focus. READ: Feeling Drained? 10 Signs You're Absorbing Energy That's Not Yours In August, the weather is often hot and bold, embodying the peak of summer energy. People born in August tend to be confident, assertive, and comfortable being in the spotlight. They are not afraid to ask for what they truly desire and express themselves authentically. If you were born in this month, you're likely destined to take on leadership roles, accomplish significant tasks, delegate responsibilities, or use your creative talents to make a difference in the world. August-born individuals are not only heart-centered but also fierce, making their presence undeniably powerful. NEXT: Your Personal Angel Number, Based on Birth Month Those born in October embody the transformative spirit of the changing seasons. As daylight begins to fade, their introspective desires deepen, urging a focus on soulful connections and intentionality. October-born individuals are mindful and possess a quiet intensity. They may not be the loudest in the room, but their presence is deeply felt. Their emotional intelligence, keen observational skills, and heightened intuition enable them to discern deeper truths while others remain caught up in surface-level distractions. Comfortable working behind the scenes, they often find that their true influence is underestimated. Their secret to success lies in their preference for privacy. UP NEXT:
Sustainability Times
07-05-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'It's Huge, and It's Been Hidden for This Whole Time': Astronomers Staggered by Discovery of Eos, a Giant Glowing Cloud in Space
IN A NUTSHELL 🌌 Astronomers discovered Eos , a massive molecular cloud just 300 light-years from Earth, using innovative detection methods. , a massive molecular cloud just 300 light-years from Earth, using innovative detection methods. 🔍 Eos eluded previous detection due to its low carbon monoxide content, highlighting the need for new observational techniques. eluded previous detection due to its low carbon monoxide content, highlighting the need for new observational techniques. 🌠 The cloud's crescent shape is influenced by interactions with the North Polar Spur , offering insights into cosmic forces shaping molecular clouds. , offering insights into cosmic forces shaping molecular clouds. 🚀 A proposed NASA mission, the Eos space telescope, aims to measure molecular hydrogen across the Milky Way, expanding our understanding of the galaxy. In the vast expanse of the cosmos, the discovery of hidden celestial structures often transforms our understanding of the universe. Recently, astronomers unveiled Eos, a gigantic molecular cloud lurking just 300 light-years away from Earth. Despite its proximity and size, Eos remained hidden until now, offering a new perspective on the cosmic recycling of matter that fuels star and planet formation. This discovery marks a significant milestone in astronomical research, showcasing the relentless pursuit of knowledge that drives scientists to explore the unseen realms of our universe. The Enormity of Eos Eos, named after the Greek goddess of dawn, is an immense crescent-shaped molecular cloud composed primarily of hydrogen gas. Spanning approximately 100 light-years, it is one of the largest known structures in the sky. To illustrate, its width is equivalent to about 40 Earth moons lined up side by side. Despite its colossal size, Eos had eluded detection due to its low carbon monoxide (CO) content, a chemical signature typically used by astronomers to identify molecular clouds. The revelation of Eos challenges previous assumptions about the visibility and detectability of such clouds, highlighting the need for innovative approaches in astronomical observations. The discovery was led by Blakesley Burkhart, an associate professor at Rutgers University. Burkhart's team employed a novel method, detecting Eos through the fluorescent glow of hydrogen molecules. This breakthrough technique promises to uncover many more CO-dark clouds, potentially reshaping our understanding of the distribution and abundance of molecular hydrogen in the galaxy. 'Super-Earths Are Everywhere': New Study Reveals These Giant Alien Worlds Are Far More Common Than Scientists Ever Imagined A Window into Cosmic Recycling Molecular hydrogen is the most abundant substance in the universe, playing a crucial role in star and planet formation. By studying hydrogen-filled clouds like Eos, astronomers can better gauge the amount of material available for these processes. The discovery of Eos provides a unique opportunity to observe the cosmic recycling of matter up close. As hydrogen in these clouds collapses under gravity, it can form stars and planetary systems, making molecular clouds the nurseries of the cosmos. The findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy, marking a significant contribution to the field. By identifying hidden reservoirs of hydrogen, astronomers can refine models of star formation and improve our understanding of the Milky Way's structure. This research underscores the importance of exploring our galactic neighborhood and the potential for new discoveries that challenge existing paradigms. Breakthrough Space Discovery: Young Physics Student Stuns Scientists Worldwide With Game-Changing Astronomical Contribution The Role of the North Polar Spur Eos's distinctive crescent shape is influenced by its interaction with the North Polar Spur, a vast region of ionized gas extending from the Milky Way's plane toward the northern celestial pole. This colossal feature has likely shaped Eos through energy and radiation driven by past supernovas or stellar winds. The alignment of Eos with the North Polar Spur suggests a dynamic relationship between these structures, offering insights into the forces that sculpt molecular clouds. Simulations of Eos's evolution indicate that its molecular hydrogen reservoir is gradually torn apart by incoming photons and cosmic rays. This process suggests that Eos may evaporate in about 6 million years, highlighting the transient nature of such cosmic phenomena. The study of Eos and its interactions with the North Polar Spur provides a glimpse into the complex interplay of forces that govern the life cycles of molecular clouds. 'I'm Almost Certain There Are Inhabited Planets': Shocking Space Insider Confession Sparks Frenzy Over Alien Life Possibilities Future Explorations and Open Questions Building on the discovery of Eos, Burkhart and her colleagues are developing a mission concept for a NASA spacecraft named after the cloud. The proposed Eos space telescope would observe in far-ultraviolet wavelengths to measure molecular hydrogen content across the Milky Way. This ambitious project aims to conduct a comprehensive census of the formation and destruction of molecular hydrogen gas, offering new insights into the galaxy's evolution. While the discovery of Eos is a significant achievement, many questions remain unanswered. The cloud's potential for star formation, its interactions with surrounding structures, and its ultimate fate are subjects of ongoing research. As astronomers continue to explore the cosmos, the discovery of Eos serves as a reminder of the vastness and complexity of the universe. What other hidden wonders await our discovery, and how will they reshape our understanding of the cosmos? Did you like it? 4.4/5 (27)
