WhyCosmo

A new study has uncovered that the explosive deaths of massive , spinning stars can send gravitational waves rippling across the universe , detectable right here on Earth. These stellar explosions, known as collapsars , occur when stars 15-20 times the mass of the Sun exhaust their nuclear fuel, collapsing inwards and forming black holes . After the death of a massive, spinning star, a disk of material forms around the central black hole. As the material cools and falls into the black hole, new research suggests that detectable gravitational waves are created. Credit: Ore Gottlieb. The intense implosion and subsequent explosion leave behind a swirling disc of matter around the black hole, which distorts space and generates powerful gravitational waves. These waves, traveling across the cosmos, have the potential to be detected by instruments like the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) , which first observed such waves in 2015. LIGO Lead researcher Ore Gottlie...

 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...