Latest news with #star
Forbes
6 days ago
- General
- Forbes
44-Minute Pulse From Mystery Star Baffles Scientists — What To Know
Scientists have discovered a star behaving like no other seen before, giving new clues about the ... More origin of a class of mysterious objects. This object, known as ASKAP J1832, shows regular changes in both radio wave and X-ray intensity every 44 minutes, the first time such variations have been seen for a class of objects discovered only three years ago. Scientists have discovered a unique star 15,000 light-years from the solar system that appears to pulse every 44.2 minutes. Separate data from NASA's orbital Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope in Western Australia found the star — named ASKAP J1832 — in 2024, according to the paper published today in Nature. The star is what astronomers call a long-period radio transient, which they have detected since 2022. However, this is the first time such an object has also been observed to emit X-rays. X-ray emission is high-energy electromagnetic radiation, which Earth's atmosphere blocks. Both the radio and X-ray pulses are tightly aligned in phase, so they must be coming from the same object. 'Astronomers have looked at countless stars with all kinds of telescopes, and we've never seen one that acts this way,' said Dr Ziteng Wang, first author of the paper, from the Curtin University node at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research in Australia. 'It's thrilling to see a new type of behavior for stars.' Scientists have discovered a star behaving like no other seen before, giving new clues about the ... More origin of a class of mysterious objects. This object, known as ASKAP J1832, shows regular changes in both radio wave and X-ray intensity every 44 minutes, the first time such variations have been seen for a class of objects discovered only three years ago. Long-period radio transients vary in the intensity of their radio waves in a regular way over tens of minutes, but this is by far the longest ever found. The discovery suggests that these strange objects can be significantly more energetic than previously believed. First observed in February 2024, ASKAP J1832 dropped in intensity in both radio waves and X-rays over the following six months, becoming 1,000 times fainter by August 2024. What exactly ASKAP J1832 is remains a mystery. The transient likely harbors a compact object, possibly an ultra-magnetized white dwarf (the dense core left by a star that has exhausted its fuel) or an old magnetar (the extremely dense remnant of a star that has exploded as a supernova). However, scientists cannot fully explain either origin. 'We looked at several different possibilities involving neutron stars and white dwarfs, either in isolation or with companion stars,' said co-author Dr Nanda Rea of the Institute of Space Sciences in Barcelona, Spain. 'So far, nothing exactly matches up, but some ideas work better than others.' Scientists have discovered a star behaving like no other seen before, giving new clues about the ... More origin of a class of mysterious objects. This object, known as ASKAP J1832, shows regular changes in both radio wave and X-ray intensity every 44 minutes, the first time such variations have been seen for a class of objects discovered only three years ago. ASKAP J1832 appears to be within a supernova remnant, but the researchers think that's a coincidence, so it may not be a magnetar. It may be a white dwarf star with a companion star, but only if it had the strongest magnetic field ever known for a white dwarf. 'We will continue to hunt for clues about what is happening with this object, and we'll look for similar objects,' said co-author Dr Tong Bao of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics – Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera in Italy. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to plant 5 flowers that stop weeds from taking over
These are five gorgeous flowers that do well in British gardens and which will prevent unwanted weed growth - even better they will grow back year after year so you only have to plant them once There are few things more infuriating than dealing with an infestation of weeds in your garden. Fortunately, experts recommend planting these flowers to put them off your lawn. With summer around the corner, you're probably noticing all sorts of unsightly growth cropping up on your lawn. Warmer weather and sunlight means that invasive plants are able to reproduce like wildfire. Common UK weeds include dandelion, chickweed and the dreaded prickly milk thistle. The worst part is that they can be incredibly hard to get rid of. More than just ruin the look of your lawn, weeds are known to cause huge damage to surrounding plants. This is because they leech nutrients from the soil, leaving little for the plants growing in your garden. They can also harbour problem insects, like aphids, caterpillars and mealybugs. But before you turn to a weed killer, Homes and Gardens recommend turning to these plants instead. Not only do they look gorgeous, these perennial plants blossom year and after year, saving you the hard work. Black-eyed Susans These bright yellow flowers have jet black stigmas that automatically draw the eye – hence the name. These unusual flowers will not only add intrigue to your garden, but also help stave off weeds. This is because they tend to grow in thick patches, which leaves little room for unwanted plants to worm their way in. They're best planted in spring as they require at least six hours of sunlight a day. Coneflowers These dusky pink delights are native to North America and are incredibly hardy. This means they're well suited to survive Britain's unpredictable weather. They prefer full or partial sun and need to be water twice a week. Katie Sunderlage, operations manager at the Holland Group, told Home and Gardens: 'Once settled into your yard, you will find coneflowers remarkably low-maintenance.' Verbenas These tall plants will produce purple flowers all summer long. Even better, they provide a high amount of ground cover, preventing weeds from taking hold. They should be planted in full or partial sun and in well-draining soil. It's also drought tolerant, which means you don't have to worry about it surviving a heat wave. Blazing star With their electric purple petals, these flowers look just like their name. They typically bloom in late summer and are great weed blockers as they tend to grow in clusters. Even better, they're relatively easy to grow – all they need is direct sunlight. Blue grama Native to the American Midwest, this grass is brilliant at preventing weeds. Of course, since it prefers warmer temperatures, it's a better option for those living in the south or coastal areas of the UK. Once planted, it needs very little watering.
