WhyCosmo

Astronomers have made an incredible discovery of a pair of galaxies merging 12.8 billion years ago , which will deepen our understanding of early galaxy evolution. This cosmic dance is expected to birth a "monster galaxy" —one of the universe's brightest and most powerful objects . Artist's impression of the interacting galaxies observed in this research. The gravitational interactions during the merger trigger both starburst and quasar activity. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), T.Izumi et al. Using the ALMA radio telescope, an international team led by Takuma Izumi studied these galaxies in the constellation Virgo during the universe's infancy, just 900 million years after the Big Bang. The team observed a "bridge" of gas and dust connecting the galaxies, confirming that they were in the process of merging. This discovery suggests that the merger will result in more vigorous quasar activity caused by gas falling into supermassive black holes and lead t

Astronomers have made an exciting discovery of a peculiar lithium-rich star named J0524-0336 that challenges current theories of stellar evolution. This red giant, which is about 40 times the size of our Sun, has been found to contain 100,000 times more lithium than our Sun at a similar stage of life. The discovery, published in the Astrophysical Journal , could indicate a new evolutionary phase in a star's life cycle. Artist rendering of a red giant. Credit: DarkBlackKnight / Wikimedia Commons. (CC-BY-SA-4.0) Stars typically burn lighter elements like hydrogen, helium, and lithium to produce heavier ones through nuclear fusion. However, J0524-0336 defies the norm, suggesting that unknown mechanisms might be at play that allow this star to retain or produce lithium in large amounts. The research team led by Professor Rana Ezzeddine from the University of Florida proposes two possibilities: either J0524-0336 is undergoing a new evolutionary phase, or it may have absorbed a lithiu

Astonishing New Study Suggests How Advanced Civilizations Could Use Black Holes as Infinite Power Sources English physicist and Nobel laureate Roger Penrose's revolutionary ideas from 1971 might hold the key to detecting alien civilizations. Ray traced shadow of a spinning and charged black hole. Credit: Simon Tyran, CC BY-SA 4.0 Scientists constantly search for signs of extraterrestrial life; the latest theory may involve black holes. A recent Harvard Professor Avi Loeb's study proposed that advanced civilizations could use black holes to generate limitless power for their home planets. This theory builds on the famous 1971 concept by physicist Roger Penrose, who suggested that energy could be extracted from a black hole's accretion disk. Researchers have explored using black holes as energy sources in the decades since, pointing to their incredible potential. In his recent paper, Professor Loeb suggests that an advanced civilization could use a small black hole orbiting

  Exciting news from NASA! A groundbreaking discovery brings us one step closer to sending missions to Jupiter's icy moon, Europa—a place scientists believe could harbor life beneath its frozen surface. This artist concept depicts the Juno spacecraft which arrived at Jupiter in 2016 after a five-year journey to study the giant planet. Credit: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JPL NASA's Juno mission has given us the first-ever detailed 3D radiation map of Jupiter's system, providing crucial data to help future missions navigate safely through the harsh environment surrounding Europa. Thanks to Juno's innovative use of star cameras, this radiation map is not only possible but is also changing the way scientists plan to explore one of the most intriguing moons in our solar system. Europa: A New Frontier With its vast icy crust and potential subsurface ocean, Europa has long been a space exploration target. However, one of the biggest hurdles has been the intense radiation

 In a dramatic bid to save one of NASA 's most productive space observatories, astronomers across the globe are uniting to prevent the shutdown of the Chandra X-ray Observatory . Launched in 1999 , Chandra has revolutionized our understanding of the universe by providing stunning insights into black holes , stellar explosions , and other cosmic wonders . Despite being fully operational with a decade of fuel left, NASA's budget shortfalls have placed the telescope on the chopping block. An artist's impression of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Credit: NASA/CXC & J. Vaughan This decision has sparked worldwide protests under the #SaveChandra movement, with scientists warning that shutting down such a technologically advanced telescope would leave an irreplaceable gap in X-ray astronomy. Chandra's unique ability to provide high-resolution images of distant cosmic phenomena remains unmatched by any existing or upcoming projects from Europe or China. NASA released this c

  In a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and ISRO, India is preparing to send its first astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) by April 2025 . This historic mission, announced by Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh , is part of the prestigious Axiom Space Ax-4 mission . Indian astronauts Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair are undergoing intense training in the US for the mission. Shukla has been chosen for the Ax-4 mission, while Nair will be his backup. This momentous news coincides with India's first-ever National Space Day on August 23, marking the Chandrayaan-3 mission's landing on the Moon. The theme, "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga," reflects the nation's continued rise as a global space power. In addition to the astronaut mission, ISRO is gearing up for other ambitious projects, including the NISAR satellite launch (post-February 2024) and the upcoming Cha

  Nearly two years after NASA 's InSight Lander mission ended, scientists are still making groundbreaking discoveries from its data. The latest finding? A massive underground reservoir of liquid water on Mars ! This water lies deep beneath the surface, between 11.5 and 20 km , but it provides the best evidence that Mars still has liquid water in addition to its frozen poles . Representation of water (Credit:- AI) This astonishing discovery opens up new possibilities for the Red Planet's past climate and its potential to sustain life! While drilling to this depth would be a challenge for future human expeditions, the presence of water gives scientists new hope. Water is essential for life as we know it, and now we know Mars has plenty—hidden beneath its surface. Seismic data from InSight hints at a vast reservoir of groundwater that could theoretically host life, much like the deep mines and ocean floors on Earth do. Could Mars have the conditions to support life? While no l

 Monash University , Australia's astrophysicists have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by creating the first accurate simulation of a supermassive black hole shredding a star . This cosmic dance, known as a tidal disruption event (TDE) , reveals black holes' fascinating and violent nature. An illustration of a supermassive black hole   (Image credit: MARK GARLICK via Getty Images) According to lead scientist Professor Daniel Price, this study helps explain why stars falling into black holes emit visible light rather than X-rays—a mystery until now. Price compares the event to overeating: the black hole can't process the excess material, resulting in a massive 'cosmic burp' of energy. This simulation provides critical insight into these events and prepares astronomers for the flood of observations expected from the upcoming Rubins Observatory in Chile. Stay tuned as more stars fall prey to these galactic giants! By:- Ranjan #SupermassiveBlackHole, #TidalDisrupti

Mission RHUMI 2024 Takes Off to Battle Climate Change Chennai, Aug. 24, 2024: Today, Tamil Nadu-based start-up Space Zone India successfully launched India's first-ever reusable hybrid rocket – "RHUMI-1" from Thiruvidanthai, near Chennai. This ground-breaking launch is part of Mission RHUMI 2024 , aimed at addressing pressing environmental issues like global warming and climate change. Officials and others during the launch of Mission Rhumi 2024, in Thiruvidanthai, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (PTI) The 3.5-meter-tall rocket carried three CUBE satellites and 50 Pico satellites , gathering critical data on cosmic radiation, UV levels, air quality, and ozone conditions. Despite strong winds, the launch was successful, reaching an altitude of 35 kilometers . Spearheaded by Space Zone India CEO Anand Megalingam with the guidance of former ISRO Director Mylswamy Annadurai , this mission marks a new era of sustainable space exploration . Why It Matters The RHUMI-1 rocket int

 On the magical nights of August 12 and 13 , the skies above the historic 11th Century Corfe Castle in the UK witnessed a cosmic spectacle like no other! Photographer Josh Dury , who ventured out to capture the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, was gifted a breathtaking surprise. Not only did the Perseid meteors dazzle across the sky, but the Northern Lights and a rare SAR arc ( Stable Auroral Red ) made an unexpected appearance alongside the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies. Perseid meteor shower, northern lights and rare SAR arc glow during the night of Aug.12/13.   (Image credit: Josh Dury) Dury's camera immortalized this once-in-a-lifetime celestial phenomenon. "I had no idea the Northern Lights would show up. The sky lit up in an extraordinary play of colors, with meteors, auroras, and even a rare SAR arc visible only by the camera," Dury exclaimed. The SAR arc, a deep red glow in the upper atmosphere, is often too faint for the human eye to catch, adding even

  NASA to Announce Safety Verdict for Boeing's Starliner Capsule Amid Concerns NASA is gearing up to make a critical decision this Saturday on whether Boeing's new Starliner capsule is safe enough to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams back from space. The astronauts have been stationed on the International Space Station (ISS) since June, waiting for a safe return amid a series of technical malfunctions aboard the Starliner. Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module of the International Space Station on the company’s Orbital Flight Test-2 mission. Credit: NASA The capsule, part of Boeing's first-ever astronaut mission, experienced thruster failures and helium leaks, prompting NASA to reconsider its return plans. A decision, expected to be announced after a high-level meeting chaired by NASA's top officials, could either greenlight Starliner for return or leave the task to SpaceX, delaying the astronauts' return until February 202

  In a breakthrough discovery, India's lunar rover " Pragyan " has unveiled evidence of the Moon's ancient global magma ocean . The findings, published in Nature by an Indian research team, mark the first-ever measurements from the Moon's polar highlands , broadening our understanding of the Moon's early history. The Pragyan rover’s wheels penetrated several centimeters into the lunar soil, allowing the rover’s APXS instrument to analyze the composition of the lunar regolith below the top surface layer. Credit: ISRO Around 4.5 billion years ago, a cataclysmic collision in the early solar system led to the formation of the Moon, which was once covered by a vast ocean of molten magma. This theory gained more robust backing after Pragyan's investigation of the rocks at the Vikram lander's site, now named "Point Shiv Shakti," located near the Moon's south pole. The rover analyzed samples using an Alpha Particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS),