Tag: Gaia
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Ancient supernova signature found in Pacific sediments
What the spike means A recent international study has uncovered an unusual spike in beryllium-10 (Be-10) within Pacific Ocean sediments. Be-10 is a radioactive isotope produced when cosmic rays collide with Earth’s atmosphere. Its presence in higher-than-normal amounts can act as a cosmic fingerprint, offering clues about dramatic astronomical events that may have influenced our…
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Pacific Be-10 Spike Suggests Nearby Ancient Supernova
Overview: A surprising isotopic signal in Pacific sediments Scientists have identified an unusual spike in the radioactive isotope beryllium-10 (Be-10) in ocean sediments from the Pacific Ocean. Because Be-10 forms when cosmic rays strike Earth’s atmosphere, such a spike can act as a cosmic fingerprint, potentially recording a nearby stellar explosion in Earth’s distant past.…
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Ancient Supernova Imprint in Pacific: Be-10 Spike Evidence
The Be-10 Spike: A Cosmic Fingerprint in Ocean Sediments A remarkable spike in the radioactive isotope beryllium-10 has been detected in sediments from the Pacific Ocean. Beryllium-10 is produced when cosmic rays strike Earth’s atmosphere, leaving a chemical signature that can reveal past astronomical events. The researchers suggest that this spike could point to a…
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Mysterious Sea Hint of Nearby Supernova: Could a 10-Million-Year-Old Explosion Have Shaped Earth?
The Mystery on the Pacific Seafloor Scientists have long hunted for signatures of past cosmic events that might have influenced life on Earth. This year, a German team reported an unusual spike in beryllium-10, a radioactive isotope created when cosmic rays hit Earth’s atmosphere, in Pacific Ocean sediments. The anomaly stands out because, while beryllium-10…
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Nearby Supernova Hint from Pacific Be-10 Spike: Could a Stellar Explosion Reach Earth 10 Million Years Ago?
New Clues from the Deep Sea: A Be-10 Spike That Sparks Cosmic Questions A mysterious spike in the radioactive isotope beryllium-10 has researchers peering toward the stars. Found in a Pacific Ocean seabed deposit, the anomaly dates back roughly 10 million years and could be the remnant signature of a nearby supernova. Beryllium-10 forms when…
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Exoplanets: 6,000 and counting — the next 30 years of discovery
Six thousand exoplanets and the long road ahead The catalog of worlds beyond our solar system has surpassed 6,000 confirmed exoplanets, a milestone that underscores both the advances in detection methods and the huge potential for future discoveries. Yet as astronomers celebrate the bounty, they are also sharpening their gaze toward the most elusive prize:…
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6,000 and Counting: The Next 30 Years in the Search for Exoplanets
Six Thousand Planets and Counting The catalog of confirmed exoplanets has just surpassed 6,000, a milestone that underscores both how far astronomy has come and how far it has yet to go. The current tally is a reminder that while we have found a great diversity of worlds—hot Jupiters, super-Earths, and mini-Neptunes—the search for a…
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Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: Clues to Ancient Milky Way Origin
New clues from a long, cosmic journey Astronomers weighing the origins of the interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS have sharpened their view of where it came from in the Milky Way. By tracing the comet’s path over the last 4.27 million years, researchers using Gaia data have built a narrative that the object might stem from the…
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What 3I/ATLAS Could Reveal About the Milky Way’s Ancient Frontier
Introduction: A visitor from the galaxy’s edge The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has captivated astronomers and space enthusiasts alike as it speeds through the inner solar system. First spotted in late June and confirmed by NASA in early July, this icy wanderer is not only the third known interstellar object to visit our cosmic neighborhood, but…
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What 3I/ATLAS Can Reveal About the Milky Way’s Ancient Border
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Voyager From the Galaxy’s Old Frontier Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has captured the imagination of the public and scientists alike. As it speeds through the inner solar system, its origin story remains a puzzle. A recent study using Gaia data and orbital backtracking proposes that this icy visitor could originate from the…