Tag Archives: science

Einstein’s theory of gravity still reigns supreme, even in the strongest gravitational environment yet probed

Einstein’s theory of gravity still reigns supreme, even in the strongest gravitational environment yet probed.

The ever-tighter orbit of two stars, as predicted by the theory of relativity.
The ever-tighter orbit of two stars, as predicted by the theory of relativity. Credit: Luis Calcada/ESO

New Ability to Tie Water Provides Insight into Elementary Particle Physics [Nature]

In my Nature article Physicists twist water into knots, Dustin Kleckner and William Irvine, physicists at University of Chicago, Illinois, break new ground by capturing the twisting and knotting of a vortex in water. They do so, in part, through the use of a three-dimensional printer and laser-scanned air bubbles injected into the fluid. Better understanding these complex vortices is important to elementary particle physics and understanding why the Sun’s outer atmosphere is hotter than its surface.

A knotted vortex in water. Credit: Robert Kozloff/University of Chicago
A knotted vortex in water. Credit: Robert Kozloff/University of Chicago

Continue reading New Ability to Tie Water Provides Insight into Elementary Particle Physics [Nature]

Newly Discovered Van Allen Belt of Radiation Around Earth [Nature]

My article in Nature, Ephemeral Third Ring of Radiation Makes Appearance Around Earth, discusses how twin spacecraft studying the Van Allen radiation belt overturned a fifty year old model: Instead of seeing two rings of high-energy particles circling the Earth, an unexpected third ring has been found.

Earth's third Van Allen Belt
Earth’s third Van Allen Belt. Credit: NASA Van Allen Probes/Goddard Space Flight Center

Continue reading Newly Discovered Van Allen Belt of Radiation Around Earth [Nature]

Watching a Star’s Last Days [Nature]

A major focus of astronomy is supernova activity, and yet we have a limited understanding of what happens before the explosion. Recent research, which is covered in my Nature article Astronomers catch rare glimpse of a star’s final moments, captured the months leading up to a supernova. The data provides important insight into those final moments, and aligns nicely with existing theories.

Credit: Caltech Astronomy; Photo of Palomar Observatory in California
Credit: Caltech Astronomy; Photo of Palomar Observatory in California

Continue reading Watching a Star’s Last Days [Nature]

Donated Spy Satellite to Help NASA Find Exoplanets [Nature]

Although NASA is used to making the most of limited resources, it isn’t used to making the most of spy satellites. That’s about to change, as the National Reconnaissance Office donated two spy satellites to NASA, which will modify their spy technology to aid in the hunt for exoplanets. In my latest Nature article, Fresh bid to see exo-Earths, the latest developments about the satellites and general hunt for exo-planets are detailed.

Continue reading Donated Spy Satellite to Help NASA Find Exoplanets [Nature]

Recently Launched Observatory Identifies Two Unknown and Important Black Holes [Nature]

NASA’s NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Array) X-ray observatory was launched in June and already is providing important findings. My article in Nature, NuSTAR spies black holes in galactic web, details the finding of two possible intermediate-mass black holes in the nearby galaxy IC 342:

The image below shows the galaxy IC 342, with the two black holes displayed in false color magenta. For more information about the new observatory and the black holes, read the rest of the article at Nature.

Credit: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/DSS
Credit: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/DSS

Continue reading Recently Launched Observatory Identifies Two Unknown and Important Black Holes [Nature]

Finding Record-Old Galaxies at the Limits of Hubble Space Telescope [Nature]

Recent infrared images taken from the Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 are the deepest taken of the Universe, and they reveal several galaxies, including one that is the most distant object we’ve ever found. This galaxy is 13.29 billion light years (4.1 billion parsecs) from Earth and were first visible when the Universe was only 450 million years old (only 4 percent of what it is now). From my recent article in Nature, Galaxy found at record-breaking distance:

Source: NASA, ESA, R. Ellis (CALTECH), and the HUDF 2012 Team
Source: NASA, ESA, R. Ellis (CALTECH), and the HUDF 2012 Team

Continue reading Finding Record-Old Galaxies at the Limits of Hubble Space Telescope [Nature]

Big Black Holes in Small Galaxies [Nature]

Scientists’ discovery of a large black hole in a relatively small galaxy is causing them to rethink our understanding of black holes and their growth. From my latest Nature article, Small galaxy harbours super-hefty black hole:

NGC 1277, the galaxy sporting a surprisingly large black hole Credit: A. C. FABIAN/ESA/NASA
NGC 1277, the galaxy sporting a surprisingly large black hole
Credit: A. C. FABIAN/ESA/NASA

Continue reading Big Black Holes in Small Galaxies [Nature]