WhyCosmo

  Astrophysicists have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting long-period gravitational waves using data from 68 pulsars . This significant finding, reported by NANOGrav , aligns with predictions of general relativity and provides new insights into supermassive black holes and galaxy mergers. Artist’s interpretation of an array of pulsars being affected by gravitational ripples produced by a supermassive black hole binary in a distant galaxy. Credit: Aurore Simonnet for the NANOGrav Collaboration Using large radio telescopes, researchers observed cosmic clocks to find evidence for gravitational waves oscillating over years to decades. This continuous signal followed over 15 years, transforms our sector of the Milky Way into a vast gravitational-wave detector. Pulsars, the ultra-dense remnants of massive stars, serve as precise cosmic timepieces. By monitoring 68 pulsars with facilities like Arecibo Observatory and Green Bank Telescope, NANOGrav has shown the first evidence f...

 The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured an intriguing image of the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 5238 , located 14.5 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. At first glance, this galaxy might appear as a simple, oversized star cluster rather than a classic galaxy, but there's more to it than meets the eye. This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image captures the dwarf irregular galaxy Hubble's image reveals a complex structure teeming with countless stars and globular clusters. Astronomers believe that NGC 5238 had a close encounter with another galaxy approximately a billion years ago. This interaction likely caused the distorted shape of NGC 5238 as gravitational forces pulled and twisted the stars. The absence of a nearby galaxy suggests that NGC 5238 devoured a smaller satellite galaxy. By studying the star population within NGC 5238, astronomers hope to find traces of this consumed galaxy. Indicators include groups of stars with distinct prope...

  Decades-old Radar Images Reveal Fresh Lava Flows For years, scientists believed Venus was geologically dead, but new evidence suggests that active volcanoes may be common on this second planet from the sun. This groundbreaking discovery emerged from a careful review of photos taken over 30 years ago. "This definitely is another step in the path to understanding Venus as a living, breathing world," says Paul Byrne, a planetary scientist at Washington University in St. Louis. The slopes of Sif Mons, a large volcano on Venus, show signs of relatively recent lava flows (above arrow, highlighted in red). A NASA spacecraft that orbited Venus took this image in the early 1990s. Key Findings: Venus is nearly Earth-sized, and its core might be as hot as Earth's, which could drive volcanic activity. Between 1990 and 1992, NASA's Magellan spacecraft captured radar images of Venus. Recently, researchers found evidence of volcanic activity in these images. The study uncovered tw...

  Astronomers have made groundbreaking discoveries in studying dark matter by observing a unique collision between two galaxy clusters . This monumental event showcases the separation of dark matter from ordinary matter, offering new insights into the mysterious nature of dark matter and setting the stage for future research. This artist’s concept shows what happened when two massive clusters of galaxies, collectively known as MACS J0018.5, collided: The dark matter in the galaxy clusters (blue) sailed ahead of the associated clouds of hot gas, or normal matter (orange). Both dark matter and normal matter feel the pull of gravity, but only the normal matter experiences additional effects like shocks and turbulence that slow it down during collisions. Credit: W.M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko Key Findings Collision of Galaxy Clusters: Astronomers observed the collision between two massive clusters, MACS J0018.5+1626, revealing that dark matter and ordinary matter decouple dur...

  NASA 's Perseverance rover has made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars , potentially uncovering signs of ancient life ! The rover's latest findings have the scientific community buzzing with excitement, though caution remains as further analysis is needed to confirm these monumental discoveries. NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered a rock on Mars that may have once hosted microbial life. The rock, nicknamed Cheyava Falls, has chemical compositions and structures that could have been formed by ancient life, although non-biological processes cannot yet be ruled out.   (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS) Key Findings: Intriguing Rock Formation: Perseverance discovered an arrowhead-shaped rock, nicknamed "Cheyava Falls," containing chemical signatures and structures that microbial life might have formed billions of years ago. Organic Compounds: The rover detected organic compounds within the rock, crucial precursors to life as we know it. Calcium Sulfate Ve...

  In a groundbreaking achievement, NASA has successfully streamed 4K video from an aircraft to the International Space Station (ISS) and back, marking a significant leap in space communication technology . This advancement promises high-definition entertainment for astronauts and paves the way for more efficient data transfer during future space missions, including the highly anticipated Artemis lunar landing missions. A graphic representation of a laser communications relay between the International Space Station, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration spacecraft, and the Earth. Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan Revolutionizing Space Communication: NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland spearheaded this innovative project, utilizing laser communications to achieve unprecedented data transfer speeds. Unlike traditional radio waves with limited bandwidth, laser communications can transmit 10 to 100 times more data, enabling high-definition video streaming and enhanced scientific d...

 Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have made an incredible discovery: a massive exoplanet , six times the size of Jupiter , lurking just 12 light-years from Earth. Named Epsilon Indi Ab , this gas giant is the coldest and oldest exoplanet ever directly imaged. JWST directly imaged the gas giant planet Epsilon Indi Ab by blocking out the light from its host star (located where the white star symbol is placed). Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, STScI, E. Matthews (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy) The surprise find came after a case of cosmic mistaken identity, as astronomers initially believed they were observing a different planet. Instead, they uncovered Epsilon Indi Ab, which orbits its star at a distance of 28 astronomical units (AU) – a whopping threefold increase from the initially thought nine AU. Epsilon Indi Ab orbits an orange dwarf star named Epsilon Indi A, part of a fascinating binary system with a brown dwarf. This unique setup makes it an exciti...

  Jupiter’s Great Red Spot , the most significant storm in the Solar System, has been a subject of fascination for centuries. However, this colossal storm has raged for over 400 years and is mysteriously shrinking . Planetary scientists now believe they have found an explanation: the Great Red Spot is starving. Hubble’s 2021 image of Jupiter shows the Great Red Spot, along with smaller storms that may be affecting its size over time. Courtesy NASA/ESA/STScI. The Mystery Unfolds Since its discovery in the mid-1600s, the Great Red Spot (GRS) has intrigued astronomers. This massive, high-pressure region generates a storm 16,000 km wide, with winds exceeding 321 km per hour, extending 250 km deep into Jupiter’s atmosphere. Since the late 1800s, continuous observations have documented numerous GRS changes, but recent studies reveal it’s shrinking. The Role of Smaller Storms: Yale Ph.D. student Caleb Keaveney and his team proposed that smaller storms feeding the GRS play a crucial rol...

🚀 The Final Journey of the ISS 🚀 In collaboration with SpaceX, NASA is gearing up for a historic mission: the controlled deorbit of the International Space Station (ISS). As the ISS approaches its retirement in 2030, this mission marks a significant milestone in space exploration and technological innovation. A recent shot of the International Space Station captured by a Maxar commercial imaging satellite. Boeing’s Starliner capsule can be seen at center, lower right, extending from the station’s forward docking port. SpaceX’s Deorbit Vehicle will dock to that same forward port to safely push the lab out of orbit when the program comes to an end around 2030. Image: Maxar What's the Plan? SpaceX is engineering a cutting-edge spacecraft, dubbed the ISS Deorbit Vehicle (DV), specifically designed to guide the ISS safely out of orbit. The goal? To ensure any debris that survives the fiery re-entry lands harmlessly in an uninhabited part of the ocean. Key Details: Contract Value: NA...

  NASA 's Curiosity rover has done it again, making headlines with a jaw-dropping discovery on the Red Planet . On May 30, 2024 , while exploring the rugged terrain of the Gediz Vallis channel on Mount Sharp , Curiosity's wheels accidentally cracked open a Martian rock, revealing something extraordinary: yellow sulfur crystals . This is a first in the history of Martian exploration and has left scientists both amazed and eager to uncover more about this unexpected find. Yellow crystals of pure, elemental sulfur appear inside a crushed Mars rock that NASA's Curiosity rover accidentally drove over.   (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS) Unearthing the Unexpected: Elemental Sulfur Crystals Since landing on Mars in 2012, Curiosity has been a trailblazer in planetary exploration, continually providing invaluable insights into the planet's past. The recent discovery of elemental sulfur crystals is no exception. Unlike previous sulfur detections on Mars, which were in the ...