Tag: spectroscopy
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Nucleus Magnetism Revealed: Electrons as Probes
Introduction: A milestone in molecular physics For the first time, physicists have peer-ed inside the nucleus of a molecule, using electrons as a precise probe to map magnetism in a radioactive nucleus. This groundbreaking approach blends quantum mechanics, high-precision spectroscopy, and state-of-the-art electron scanning techniques to reveal how magnetic properties are distributed at the subatomic…
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First Radio Signal from 3I/ATLAS: OH Absorption Reveals Interstellar Chemistry
New Findings: OH Absorption from 3I/ATLAS Reported by MeerKAT In a groundbreaking development for radio astronomy, the MeerKAT array in South Africa has reported the detection of radio absorption lines attributable to hydroxyl radicals (OH) from the interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS. Operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), MeerKAT’s observations are shedding…
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Ion Recycling to Illuminate the Heaviest Elements
What is ion recycling and why it matters for the heavy end of the periodic table From the pigments in a painting to the medicines that save lives, the behavior of matter hinges on how atoms bond and interact. When scientists probe the heaviest elements—those at the far end of the periodic table—their fleeting existence…
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Ion Recycling to Illuminate the Heaviest Elements: A New Frontier in Atomic Science
Introduction: Aims and Accomplishments in Ion Recycling The study of the heaviest elements sits at the frontier where chemistry, physics, and materials science intersect. One emerging approach—ion recycling—offers a fresh way to reuse energetic ions produced in accelerators and reactors. By reconditioning and reusing ions after they interact with matter, researchers can probe the subtle…
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Ion Recycling Illuminates the Heaviest Elements
Introduction: Pushing the Boundaries of the Periodic Table The properties and behavior of matter hinge on how chemical elements bond and interact. As scientists push toward the heaviest elements, from actinides to superheavy varieties, traditional methods face challenges in producing, isolating, and studying these elusive atoms. A promising approach gaining traction is ion recycling —…
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Astronomers Spot a White Dwarf That’s Still Consuming its Planets
Unexpected Activity Around a Dying Star Astronomers have identified a white dwarf that appears to be actively consuming remnants of its former planetary system. This surprising discovery challenges long-held assumptions about how planetary bodies survive, break apart, or are torn apart after their star ends its life on the main sequence. By studying the chemical…
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Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Brightens as it Passes Behind the Sun
What makes 3I/ATLAS special? Interstellar 3I/ATLAS is one of the few known visitors from beyond our solar system. Unlike the comets and asteroids that orbit our Sun, 3I/ATLAS originated from another star system, likely sent drifting through the galaxy long before humanity existed. Its journey offered astronomers a rare chance to study material from another…
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Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Brightens as It Zooms Past the Sun: Blue Light Cues New Study
Overview: A Rare Visitor from Beyond Our Solar System Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS has captured the imagination of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike as it follows a path that takes it around the Sun’s gravity. A newly published study confirms that the object brightened rapidly as it approached perihelion, the closest point to the Sun, and…
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Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Turns Blue Near the Sun, Brightening Rapidly on Oct. 29
What happened to 3I/ATLAS on October 29? On October 29, 2025, the interstellar visitor designated 3I/ATLAS exhibited an unexpected and dramatic change in appearance as it drew closer to the Sun. In a sequence of rapid observations from multiple space-based solar observatories, the object shifted to a distinctly blue hue and brightened noticeably. This rare…
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Mars rovers glimpse interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS near Mars
Rising Challenge: Observing a Visitor from Another Star In October 2025, astronomers faced a familiar problem with an unfamiliar guest. Comet 3I/ATLAS, a rare interstellar visitor entering our Solar System, was about to be swallowed by solar glare as it approached the Sun. From Earth, the glare of the Sun would wash out any view.…