Explore

Gamma Cassiopeiae's X-Ray Emission Traced to Unseen Companion, Not the Star Itself

Gamma Cassiopeiae's X-Ray Emission Traced to Unseen Companion, Not the Star Itself

New observations from the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite have resolved a nearly 50-year-old mystery surrounding gamma Cassiopeiae, the middle star in the 'W' constellation of Cassiopeia. Since 1975, this Be star has been known to emit X-rays far more intensely and at much higher temperatures (around 150 million degrees) than expected for its type. A team led by Yaël Nazé of the University of Liège utilized XRISM's Resolve instrument to measure the iron signatures within these X-rays. By observing gamma Cassiopeiae at three different points in its 203-day orbital cycle, they detected shifts in the iron fluorescence line that correlated with the predicted motion of an unseen companion object, rather than the star itself. The X-ray emission's velocity shift was measured at 148 kilometers per second, while the Be star's own velocity changed by only seven kilometers per second in the opposite direction, definitively pointing to the companion as the source of the anomalous X-rays.

Scientific Consensus: Most Elements in Human Body Forged by Stars, Hydrogen Predates Stellar Formation

Scientific Consensus: Most Elements in Human Body Forged by Stars, Hydrogen Predates Stellar Formation

Scientific understanding confirms that nearly every element comprising the human body, with the notable exception of hydrogen, originated from stars. The calcium in bones and much of the iron in blood are products of ancient supernovae and other stellar processes. In contrast, the hydrogen present in the body is far older, having formed in the early universe before the existence of the first stars. This distinction highlights two different eras of cosmic history within human biology. While hydrogen nuclei were created in the young universe, elements like oxygen were built much later inside stars and released through stellar events. The concept of humans being 'stardust' is therefore a literal description of nuclear physics and galactic recycling, where different elements have distinct cosmic origins and pathways before becoming part of Earth and its inhabitants. The universe initially consisted primarily of hydrogen and helium, with heavier elements being synthesized over billions of years through stellar ...

Bucks County Courier Times

Here's when you can see September's full moon, the harvest moon 2026

Here's when you can see September's full moon, the harvest moon 2026

The harvest moon is one of the year's most famous full moons. Here's when it peaks, why it's special and best nights to watch September's full moon.

Mars's Surface Area Nearly Matches Earth's Landmass Despite Smaller Size

Mars's Surface Area Nearly Matches Earth's Landmass Despite Smaller Size

Mars, despite being roughly half the diameter of Earth, possesses a total surface area that is nearly equivalent to all of Earth's continents combined. This surprising comparison arises because oceans cover approximately 71% of Earth's surface, whereas modern Mars lacks permanent bodies of liquid water. Mars has a mean radius of about 3,390 kilometers, compared to Earth's 6,371 kilometers, making its volume only about 15% of Earth's. However, when considering only the landmass, Mars's surface area is approximately 145 million square kilometers, which is about 97% of Earth's land area of roughly 149 million square kilometers. This comparison highlights a unique aspect of planetary geography rather than indicating similar overall planetary sizes or habitability. While Mars does not have surface liquid water, it holds significant water ice in its polar caps and beneath its surface, with possible underground liquid reservoirs still under investigation.

NASA Funds 'Slingshot' Concept to Map Minerals on Celestial Bodies Across Solar System

NASA Funds 'Slingshot' Concept to Map Minerals on Celestial Bodies Across Solar System

NASA has provided funding for an early-stage project named 'Interworld Slingshot Resource Surveys,' or 'Slingshot,' which aims to extend 'Landsat-style mineral intelligence' to other celestial bodies, including the Moon. This concept is a Phase 1 study for a future large-scale Discovery-class mission. The proposed spacecraft would travel between various worlds, such as the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, and Mars' moon Phobos, to scan for minerals. The primary goal is to determine if Raman spectroscopy, a technique currently used for close-up mineral and water detection by missions like NASA's Perseverance on Mars, can be effectively employed from orbit or during a flyby. This method involves using reflected light from a laser to analyze the molecular structure and composition of minerals. The project seeks to overcome the significant challenge of distance, as Raman scattering is very faint and difficult to detect from far away. Current tests have achieved detection at approximately 120 meters, but this study ...

Scientists Propose Dark Matter Enables Tiny Black Holes to Grow Inside Stars

Scientists Propose Dark Matter Enables Tiny Black Holes to Grow Inside Stars

New research suggests that black holes as light as 40 metric tons, roughly the mass of a loaded semi-truck, could exist and grow inside compact stars like neutron stars and white dwarfs, provided dark matter is involved. This challenges Stephen Hawking's 1974 prediction that lighter black holes evaporate quickly through Hawking radiation. The study posits that hypothetical ultraheavy asymmetric dark matter particles can accumulate in a star's core, become self-gravitating, and collapse to form a tiny 'endoparasitic' black hole. Once formed, this black hole's fate is determined by a competition between mass gain from accreting ordinary stellar matter and continued dark matter supply, versus mass loss through Hawking radiation. Under specific conditions, particularly in dark matter-rich environments like the Galactic bulge, a black hole with an initial mass of just 40 metric tons could have a positive growth rate, eventually consuming its host star.

NASA Funds 'Slingshot' Concept for Mineral Mapping Across Solar System

NASA Funds 'Slingshot' Concept for Mineral Mapping Across Solar System

NASA has provided a Phase 1 grant to the 'Interworld Slingshot Resource Surveys' study, a conceptual project aimed at developing a small spacecraft capable of mapping minerals on various celestial bodies within a single mission. This initiative, whimsically named 'Slingshot,' seeks to bring 'Landsat-style mineral intelligence' to destinations beyond Earth, including the Moon, near-Earth asteroids, and Mars' moon Phobos. The primary goal is to assess the feasibility of using Raman spectroscopy from orbital or flyby distances (approximately 30 to 50 kilometers) to identify mineral compositions. Raman spectroscopy, which analyzes reflected light from a laser to determine molecular structure, is currently used for close-up mineral detection, such as by NASA's Perseverance mission on Mars. The project addresses the challenge of detecting faint Raman scattering over vast distances, with previous tests reaching only about 120 meters.

JWST Observations Reveal Rapid Gas Loss in Young Star Systems, Impacting Giant Planet Formation

JWST Observations Reveal Rapid Gas Loss in Young Star Systems, Impacting Giant Planet Formation

New observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) of 72 young, Sun-like stars indicate that the gas necessary for giant planet formation is steadily being swept away from protoplanetary disks. This process, which changes as these young systems age, suggests that gas giants may have a limited timeframe to form. Planets begin to take shape within these disks of gas and dust, and for gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, this gas is crucial for building their massive atmospheres. The study, led by Naman Bajaj of the University of Arizona and coauthored by SETI Institute scientist Uma Gorti, utilized archival observations from JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to examine disks at various developmental stages. Researchers tracked two primary indicators of escaping gas: molecular hydrogen, the most abundant molecule in these disks, and ionized neon. Extended molecular hydrogen and ionized neon emission were detected in 66 of the 72 disks, with conical molecular hydrogen winds in 46 systems and fas...

German space rocket reaches orbit in Europe's first commercial launch

German space rocket reaches orbit in Europe's first commercial launch

By Terje Solsvik OSLO, Sept 6 (Reuters) - German startup Isar Aerospace on Sunday said it would rapidly expand satellite deployments after the first orbital launch of its Spectrum rocket from Arctic Norway, a milestone for Europe's efforts to secure independent access to space.

Cecilia Payne's 1925 Calculation on Stellar Composition Initially Dismissed by Senior Astronomer

Cecilia Payne's 1925 Calculation on Stellar Composition Initially Dismissed by Senior Astronomer

In 1925, 24-year-old graduate student Cecilia Payne calculated that the Sun and other stars are overwhelmingly composed of hydrogen and helium. This finding contradicted the prevailing astronomical belief that stars shared similar elemental proportions to Earth. Her thesis, advised by influential Princeton astronomer Henry Norris Russell, was met with skepticism from Russell, who deemed her results 'clearly impossible.' Consequently, Payne included a statement in her thesis that the enormous abundances she derived were 'almost certainly not real.' Four years later, Russell independently reached the same conclusion through his own analysis and acknowledged Payne's priority in the discovery. Payne's breakthrough involved correctly interpreting spectral lines by applying new atomic physics theories, particularly those developed by Meghnad Saha and refined by Ralph Fowler and Edward Milne, to estimate the true abundance of elements in stellar atmospheres.

NASA Introduces New Opportunity for Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations

NASA Introduces New Opportunity for Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations

NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has released Amendment 68 to ROSES-2025, introducing a new opportunity for Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations (HWO-PSI) under program element D.8. This initiative aims to advance the scientific foundation necessary to reduce risks for a potential future Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) mission. The HWO mission concept, recommended by the Astro2020 decadal survey, is envisioned as the first space mission specifically designed to search for life beyond our solar system, capable of transformative science across astrophysics and planetary science. Mandatory Notices of Intent for this program are due by September 10, 2026, with full proposals due by October 26, 2026. Proposals will undergo dual anonymous peer review. Additionally, Amendment 73 to ROSES-2025 includes a correction to Section 3.3.2 of D.9 Habitable Worlds Observatory Instrument Concept Assessments (HWO-ICA) concerning collaborators on category 2 proposals, with proposals for D.9...

Jeff Bezos' Childhood 'Star Trek' Fandom Inspired Blue Origin's Space Endeavors

Jeff Bezos' Childhood 'Star Trek' Fandom Inspired Blue Origin's Space Endeavors

Jeff Bezos' Childhood 'Star Trek' Fandom Inspired Blue Origin's Space Endeavors