Tag: gravity
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Dark Matter Acts Surprisingly Normal in a New Cosmic Test
Introduction: A century-old mystery tested anew For decades, scientists have searched for how dark matter, the unseen backbone of the cosmos, fits within the familiar suite of forces that govern ordinary matter. Gravity is the only force clearly required to explain its gravitational pull. The question has long been whether dark matter might also feel…
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Does Quantum Gravity Exist? New Experiment Deepens Mystery
Introduction: A mystery that rattles our understanding of physics In recent years, physicists have chased a single, unifying dream: to reconcile the smooth geometry of Einstein’s gravity with the quirky, probabilistic world of quantum mechanics. A bold new claim from two London-based researchers is pushing this conversation into unsettling territory. They report a gravitational scenario…
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Unveiling J0529: How Blazing Outflows Shrinked the Universe’s Brightest Quasar Mass by 10x
Revisiting a Cosmic heavyweight J0529 stands as the Universe’s brightest known quasar, a blazing beacon powered by a supermassive black hole that formed not long after the Big Bang. In 2024, estimates pegged its mass at about 10 billion solar masses, a figure that underscored how rapidly supermassive black holes could grow in the early…
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New GRAVITY+ Reveal Shrinks Brightest Quasar Mass by Order of Magnitude
New measurements by GRAVITY+ challenge long-held estimates of the Universe’s brightest quasar Peering back to the early universe often requires scientists to rely on indirect methods and assumptions. A recent study, however, leveraged the GRAVITY+ instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer (ESO VLT) to map the Broad Line Region (BLR) of…
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Blazing Outflow Shrinks Mass of Universe’s Brightest Quasar by 10x
Revisiting a Cosmic Beacon The universe’s brightest known quasar, J0529, has puzzled astronomers for years. The object sits in the distant cosmos—nearly 12.5 billion light-years away when the universe was only about 1.5 billion years old—making it a prime target for peering into the early stages of galaxy and black hole growth. A fresh measurement…
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Astronomers Edge Closer to 3I/ATLAS’s Origins and Other Striking Science Finds This Week
Interstellar Clues: 3I/ATLAS and the Quest to Determine Its Origins The week’s science headlines were dominated by an enigmatic visitor from beyond our solar system: the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. First spotted in late June, this icy traveler has become a window into the distant past of our galaxy. Researchers are piecing together a story about…
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Gravity’s Tug-of-War: How Gravity Reorients Magnetic Fields in Star Clusters
Overview: A cosmic tug-of-war in star-forming clouds In the largest and most detailed survey to date, astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have captured new evidence about how gravity and magnetic fields shape the birth of massive stars. Focusing on regions where gas and dust densify to form protostars, researchers mapped the magnetic…
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What Happens When You Shoot a Gun in Space?
The Fascinating Physics of Shooting in Space Shooting a gun in the vast emptiness of space might sound like a scene from a sci-fi movie, but it’s entirely possible—and it showcases some unique physical phenomena that differ drastically from what we experience on Earth. Contrary to common belief, modern ammunition does not rely on atmospheric…
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What Happens When You Fire a Gun in Space?
Understanding Gunfire in the Vacuum of Space Firing a gun in the endless void of space is not only possible but also leads to fascinating physical phenomena that starkly contrast with conditions on Earth. Contrary to common belief, modern ammunition does not require atmospheric oxygen to fire. Gunpowder contains its own oxidizer, igniting a combustion…