<p>Scientists have found that some stars in our Milky Way galaxy are leaving and getting ejected into intergalactic space. They then spend the rest of their lives on an uncertain journey.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To understand this strange phenomenon, a group of astronomers examined the most massive of these runaway stars to see if they could figure out how they left, or why.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The astronomers concluded when they were analysing the velocity distribution, which is one of the ways they measure when they study a field of stars in the Milky Way.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/milky-ways-twin-astronomers-spot-mysterious-galaxy-that-looks-eerily-similar-to-our-own-657452">Milky Way's twin? Astronomers spot mysterious galaxy that looks eerily similar to our own</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The star population's general velocity dispersion reflects the rotation of the galaxy. When a star deviates from the galaxy's rotation, it is noticed by the astronomers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When this phenomenon was noticed by a team of scientists, who were working with two enormous star catalogues and discovered a slew of stars moving at a different rate than the galaxy. Actually, they were rogue stars on their way out of the galaxy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two big star catalogues are the Galactic O-Star Catalog (GOSC) and the Be Star Spectra (BeSS). Reports have mentioned that they both are catalogues of different types of massive stars, which are O-type stars and Be-type stars, and their sub-types.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/global-warming-has-upped-greenland-glacier-melting-five-folds-in-20-years-657471">Global warming has upped Greenland glacier melting five-folds in 20 years</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Mar Carretero Castrillo, who is a post-grad researcher in the Department of Quantum Physics and Astrophysics, Institute of Cosmos Sciences, University of Barcelona, is the lead author of a study which will be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. The new findings are in a paper titled "Galactic runaway O and Be stars found using Gaia DR3."&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, the astronomers don't know how many runaway stars are on their way out of our galaxy, but they are trying to find the answer. They have estimated the number of runaway stars in the Milky Way at 10 million, but it's not confirmed.&nbsp;</p>


Scientists have found that some stars in our Milky Way galaxy are leaving and getting ejected into intergalactic space. They then spend the rest of their lives on an uncertain journey.

Scientists have found that some stars in our Milky Way galaxy are leaving and getting ejected into intergalactic space. They then spend the rest of their lives on an uncertain journey. To understand this strange phenomenon, a group of astronomers examined the most massive of these runaway stars to see if they could figure out how they left, or why. The astronomers concluded when they were analysing the velocity distribution, which is one of the ways they measure when they study a field of stars in the Milky Way. Also read: Milky Way's twin? Astronomers spot mysterious galaxy that looks eerily similar to our own The star population's general velocity dispersion reflects the rotation of the galaxy. When a star deviates from the galaxy's rotation, it is noticed by the astronomers. When this phenomenon was noticed by a team of scientists, who were working with two enormous star catalogues and discovered a slew of stars moving at a different rate than the galaxy. Actually, they were rogue stars on their way out of the galaxy. The two big star catalogues are the Galactic O-Star Catalog (GOSC) and the Be Star Spectra (BeSS). Reports have mentioned that they both are catalogues of different types of massive stars, which are O-type stars and Be-type stars, and their sub-types. Also read: Global warming has upped Greenland glacier melting five-folds in 20 years Mar Carretero Castrillo, who is a post-grad researcher in the Department of Quantum Physics and Astrophysics, Institute of Cosmos Sciences, University of Barcelona, is the lead author of a study which will be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. The new findings are in a paper titled "Galactic runaway O and Be stars found using Gaia DR3." So far, the astronomers don't know how many runaway stars are on their way out of our galaxy, but they are trying to find the answer. They have estimated the number of runaway stars in the Milky Way at 10 million, but it's not confirmed.

Some stars are breaking up with our Milky Way galaxy. But why?

<p>In an astonishing discovery, the astronomers have found a mysterious galaxy which is eerily similar to our own.<br />
<br />
The distant galaxy, which is known as ceers-2112, was identified by an international team of researchers recently by analysing the images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Near Infrared Camera.<br />
<br />
Although the images did not reveal anything other than a hazy blob, after astronomers carried out further investigation by using a range of wavelengths, they saw a complex and barred spiral structure which appeared very similar to the Milky Way.<br />
<br />
The galaxies are present in all manner of sizes, shapes and luminosities and some of them are blobby and large, some are irregular and small, and some are stretched out and gigantic.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-worlds-nasas-telescope-hunts-down-8-super-earths-to-solve-cosmic-puzzle-656913">Alien worlds: NASA's telescope hunts down 8 'super-Earths' to solve cosmic puzzle</a></p>

<p>Galaxies like the Milky Way swirl, as its gas and stars remain concentrated in radiating lines which curve like cosmic ribbons that appear trailing from a spinning gymnast.<br />
<br />
Although different factors influence the shape of a galaxy, which can be monolithic collisions or the crowding of neighbours, it has been understood for a long time that complex shapes take time to form.</p>

<h2><strong>Astronomers believe galaxy ceers-2112 has 'matured'</strong></h2>

<p>As per the observations, barred spiral galaxies like the Milky Way did not exist before 8 billion years. However, a measure of stretched light from a newly found galaxy suggests that it may have existed two billion years after the Big Bang.<br />
<br />
Even though the galaxy is still too faint to observe the details of its spiralling arms, a thickened bar seen by the astronomers in its centre is enough to convince them ceers-2112 is well-developed for its age.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Cosmic journey: Space balloons &amp; space station visit part of the tour</strong></p>

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<p>"Nearly all bars are found in spiral galaxies," stated Alexander de la Vega, who is an astronomer at the University of California, Riverside.<br />
<br />
"The bar in ceers-2112 suggests that galaxies matured and became ordered much faster than we previously thought, which means some aspects of our theories of galaxy formation and evolution need revision,” he added while speaking to science alert.<br />
<br />
The galaxies are generally major concentrations of gas and dust which come together under gravity. The debris itself provides some of that gravity, and a significant proportion of it is believed to be made of dark matter.<br />
<br />
After enough material gets collected in one spot, nuclear fusion takes place which helps in the formation of stars and planets.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In an astonishing discovery, the astronomers have found a mysterious galaxy which is eerily similar to our own. The distant galaxy, which is known as ceers-2112, was identified by an international team of researchers recently by analysing the images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Near Infrared Camera.

In an astonishing discovery, the astronomers have found a mysterious galaxy which is eerily similar to our own. The distant galaxy, which is known as ceers-2112, was identified by an international team of researchers recently by analysing the images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Near Infrared Camera. Although the images did not reveal anything other than a hazy blob, after astronomers carried out further investigation by using a range of wavelengths, they saw a complex and barred spiral structure which appeared very similar to the Milky Way. The galaxies are present in all manner of sizes, shapes and luminosities and some of them are blobby and large, some are irregular and small, and some are stretched out and gigantic. ALSO READ | Alien worlds: NASA's telescope hunts down 8 'super-Earths' to solve cosmic puzzle Galaxies like the Milky Way swirl, as its gas and stars remain concentrated in radiating lines which curve like cosmic ribbons that appear trailing from a spinning gymnast. Although different factors influence the shape of a galaxy, which can be monolithic collisions or the crowding of neighbours, it has been understood for a long time that complex shapes take time to form. Astronomers believe galaxy ceers-2112 has 'matured' As per the observations, barred spiral galaxies like the Milky Way did not exist before 8 billion years. However, a measure of stretched light from a newly found galaxy suggests that it may have existed two billion years after the Big Bang. Even though the galaxy is still too faint to observe the details of its spiralling arms, a thickened bar seen by the astronomers in its centre is enough to convince them ceers-2112 is well-developed for its age. WATCH | Cosmic journey: Space balloons & space station visit part of the tour "Nearly all bars are found in spiral galaxies," stated Alexander de la Vega, who is an astronomer at the University of California, Riverside. "The bar in ceers-2112 suggests that galaxies matured and became ordered much faster than we previously thought, which means some aspects of our theories of galaxy formation and evolution need revision,” he added while speaking to science alert. The galaxies are generally major concentrations of gas and dust which come together under gravity. The debris itself provides some of that gravity, and a significant proportion of it is believed to be made of dark matter. After enough material gets collected in one spot, nuclear fusion takes place which helps in the formation of stars and planets. (With inputs from agencies)

Milky Way's twin? Astronomers spot mysterious galaxy that looks eerily similar to our own

<p>Our Milky Way Galaxy has billions of stars and planets. And at the centre, there is a supermassive black hole with unimaginable gravity that's holding the entire mass of stars and planets in place. And scientists have now found that the supermassive black hole is spinning incredibly fast.</p>

<p>Before we get there, a little conceptual understanding.</p>

<p>When we stand on the surface of the Earth, our weight isn't just determined by gravity but also by the centrifugal force generated by Earth's rotation. The centrifugal force tries to 'fling' us off the Earth but gravity, acting in opposite direction, glues us to the surface. The presence of this centrifugal force means that our weight at the equator is slightly less than that at the poles. The difference is 0.3 per cent. In the universe, everything that can rotate has a maximum rate of rotation.</p>

<p>The rule applies to black holes as well. But the key difference is, like planets, black holes do not have a physical surface. But they still have maximum rotation rate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Due to its huge gravity, black hole distorts the spacetime fabric around it. The rotation of a black hole is defined in terms of this distortion.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ancient-supervolcano-in-us-believe-to-contain-huge-lithium-deposits-that-can-transform-the-world-635907">This ancient supervolcano is a treasure trove of lithium. Here's why it matters</a></strong></p>

<p>In Einstein's equation of general relativity, the spin of a black hole is denoted by a property 'a' which can either have a value 0 or 1. Zero denotes least spin while 1 denotes maximum spin.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/californias-supervolcano-shows-signs-of-activity-over-2000-earthquakes-rumble-beneath-valley-650724">California's supervolcano shows signs of activity, over 2,000 earthquakes rumble beneath valley</a></strong></p>

<p>According to a report in ScienceAlert, a team of scientists analysed radio and X-Ray observations of the black hole to estimate the spin.</p>

<p>The team found that the 'a'&nbsp;value of our black hole is between 0.84 and 0.96. The value is very close to 1, that is, the maximal speed. The scientists have hence underlined incredible rotational spin of the black hole at the centre of our galaxy.<br />
<br />
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Our Milky Way Galaxy has billions of stars and planets. And at the centre, there is a supermassive black hole with unimaginable gravity that's holding the entire mass of stars and planets in place.

Our Milky Way Galaxy has billions of stars and planets. And at the centre, there is a supermassive black hole with unimaginable gravity that's holding the entire mass of stars and planets in place. And scientists have now found that the supermassive black hole is spinning incredibly fast. Before we get there, a little conceptual understanding. When we stand on the surface of the Earth, our weight isn't just determined by gravity but also by the centrifugal force generated by Earth's rotation. The centrifugal force tries to 'fling' us off the Earth but gravity, acting in opposite direction, glues us to the surface. The presence of this centrifugal force means that our weight at the equator is slightly less than that at the poles. The difference is 0.3 per cent. In the universe, everything that can rotate has a maximum rate of rotation. The rule applies to black holes as well. But the key difference is, like planets, black holes do not have a physical surface. But they still have maximum rotation rate. Due to its huge gravity, black hole distorts the spacetime fabric around it. The rotation of a black hole is defined in terms of this distortion. Also Read | This ancient supervolcano is a treasure trove of lithium. Here's why it matters In Einstein's equation of general relativity, the spin of a black hole is denoted by a property 'a' which can either have a value 0 or 1. Zero denotes least spin while 1 denotes maximum spin. Also Read | California's supervolcano shows signs of activity, over 2,000 earthquakes rumble beneath valley According to a report in ScienceAlert, a team of scientists analysed radio and X-Ray observations of the black hole to estimate the spin. The team found that the 'a' value of our black hole is between 0.84 and 0.96. The value is very close to 1, that is, the maximal speed. The scientists have hence underlined incredible rotational spin of the black hole at the centre of our galaxy. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Milky Way's black hole is spinning incredibly fast, say scientists

<p>Astronomers have made a remarkable discovery within the remnants of a cosmic collision that occurred about a billion years ago.</p>

<p>The celestial event involved a pair of colossal black holes hidden within the heart of NGC 7727, a galaxy formed through the merger of two spiral galaxies, situated approximately 90 million light-years away from Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How was this discovery made?</strong></h2>

<p>This discovery was made possible by the use of the Gemini South telescope, in the Chilean Andes in South America.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/auroras-make-celestial-light-show-on-uranus-possible-scientists-find-652347">Auroras make celestial light show on Uranus possible, scientists find</a></strong></p>

<p>The present state of NGC 7727 holds particular intrigue for astronomers, as it provides a glimpse into the future appearance of our own Milky Way.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our Milky Way is projected to undergo a collision with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy in roughly 4.5 billion years. Andromeda remains some 2.5 million light years apart from our home galaxy.</p>

<h2><strong>What this cosmic collision looks like?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The newfound pair of supermassive black holes in NGC 7727 appears to be in orbit around each other. They possess astonishing masses of 154 million times and 6.3 million times that of our Sun, respectively. These black holes are separated by about 1,600 light years, but, akin to their parent galaxies, they will eventually converge and merge.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;India sun mission Aditya-L1 begins collecting data from distance of 50,000 kms | World DNA</strong></p>

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<p>This merger will culminate in the creation of an even more potent supermassive black hole, combined from the masses of these two entities.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it speak about the host galaxies?</strong></h2>

<p>During the early stages of their host galaxies' merger, these dueling black holes would have incited chaos by redistributing stars and dust away from the galactic centers. These stray objects would subsequently succumb to the powerful gravitational pull of the supermassive black holes, leading to discernible alterations in the shapes of the galaxies.</p>

<p>NGC 7727, situated in the constellation of Aquarius, exemplifies the transformative effects of galactic collisions, having evolved into a singular, shapeless mass devoid of the distinctive features of its precursor galaxies. The once-prominent spiral arms have been erased, replaced by a state of disarray.</p>

<p>At least 23 stellar nurseries within this galaxy reportedly bear the potential to evolve into "globular clusters". Such aggregations consist of the tens of thousands or&nbsp;even millions of stars.</p>

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Astronomers have made a remarkable discovery within the remnants of a cosmic collision that occurred about a billion years ago. The celestial event involved a pair of colossal black holes hidden within the heart of NGC 7727, a galaxy formed through the merger of two spiral galaxies, situated approximately 90 million light-years away from Earth.

Astronomers have made a remarkable discovery within the remnants of a cosmic collision that occurred about a billion years ago. The celestial event involved a pair of colossal black holes hidden within the heart of NGC 7727, a galaxy formed through the merger of two spiral galaxies, situated approximately 90 million light-years away from Earth. How was this discovery made? This discovery was made possible by the use of the Gemini South telescope, in the Chilean Andes in South America. Also read | Auroras make celestial light show on Uranus possible, scientists find The present state of NGC 7727 holds particular intrigue for astronomers, as it provides a glimpse into the future appearance of our own Milky Way. Our Milky Way is projected to undergo a collision with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy in roughly 4.5 billion years. Andromeda remains some 2.5 million light years apart from our home galaxy. What this cosmic collision looks like? The newfound pair of supermassive black holes in NGC 7727 appears to be in orbit around each other. They possess astonishing masses of 154 million times and 6.3 million times that of our Sun, respectively. These black holes are separated by about 1,600 light years, but, akin to their parent galaxies, they will eventually converge and merge. Also watch | India sun mission Aditya-L1 begins collecting data from distance of 50,000 kms | World DNA × This merger will culminate in the creation of an even more potent supermassive black hole, combined from the masses of these two entities. What does it speak about the host galaxies? During the early stages of their host galaxies' merger, these dueling black holes would have incited chaos by redistributing stars and dust away from the galactic centers. These stray objects would subsequently succumb to the powerful gravitational pull of the supermassive black holes, leading to discernible alterations in the shapes of the galaxies. NGC 7727, situated in the constellation of Aquarius, exemplifies the transformative effects of galactic collisions, having evolved into a singular, shapeless mass devoid of the distinctive features of its precursor galaxies. The once-prominent spiral arms have been erased, replaced by a state of disarray. At least 23 stellar nurseries within this galaxy reportedly bear the potential to evolve into "globular clusters". Such aggregations consist of the tens of thousands or even millions of stars. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists get crucial insight into how our Milky Way will meet its end 

<p>Astronomers recently came across tellurium, an element&nbsp;rarer than platinum on Earth, about 1 billion light years away. The observation was done using NASA's powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is believed that the element was created after the violent collision of two neutron stars that were booted out of their galaxy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The explosion unleashed a burst of gamma rays more than one million times brighter than the Milky Way. Gamma-ray bursts are short emissions of the most energetic form of light. This explosion blasted material into space that formed the rare element tellurium and others known as actinides and lanthanides.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-390-million-year-old-murder-mystery-finally-solved-and-the-culprit-still-exists-651774">A 390-million-year-old murder mystery has finally been solved, and the culprit still exists</a></strong></p>

<p>The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the conditions in which precious chemical elements are created in the universe.</p>

<p>"Just over 150 years since Dmitri Mendeleev wrote down the periodic table of elements, we are now finally in the position to start filling in those last blanks of understanding where everything was made, thanks to Webb," study lead author Andrew Levan of Radboud University in the Netherlands and lead author of the study said in a statement.</p>

<p>Scientists suspect the merging neutron stars may have formerly been big, garden-variety stars that were gravitationally imprisoned in their native galaxy. It seems that one of the stars shot out of its galaxy and landed 120,000 light-years away when it neared the end of its existence and burst into a supernova. The second star followed suit.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/venus-in-its-youth-may-have-earth-like-features-study-651806">Venus in its youth may have had Earth-like features: Study</a></strong></p>

<p>Scientists suggest that despite being violently expelled from their galaxy, the neutron-star pair remained gravitationally bonded. Many hundred million years later, on March 7 of this year, to be accurate, we witnessed their merging into one body.</p>

<p>"Webb provides a phenomenal boost and may find even heavier elements," said study co-author Ben Gompertz, a professor at the University of Birmingham in the UK. The observatory "has certainly opened the door to do a lot more, and its abilities will be completely transformative for our understanding of the universe."</p>

<p>The violent cosmic merger, known to astronomers as a kilonova, sparked a gamma-ray burst (GRB) witnessed by scientists on March 7 — the second brightest GRB since the search for these phenomena began 50 years ago. NASA's Fermi satellite observatory was the first to see the glow, which lasted a record 200 seconds. In barely two seconds, similar lights from earlier star mergers dispersed</p>

<p>Kilonovae are extremely rare; scientists have witnessed only one other such event in sufficient detail to deduce elements potentially made in the explosion. While supernovae, or exploding stars, produce elements like iron and nickel, heavier elements seem to be best formed by more severe neutron-star collisions.</p>

<p>They are also difficult to observe, but astronomers look for short gamma-ray bursts, which only last about two seconds.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Astronomers recently came across tellurium, an element rarer than platinum on Earth, about 1 billion light years away. The observation was done using NASA's powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Astronomers recently came across tellurium, an element rarer than platinum on Earth, about 1 billion light years away. The observation was done using NASA's powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). It is believed that the element was created after the violent collision of two neutron stars that were booted out of their galaxy. The explosion unleashed a burst of gamma rays more than one million times brighter than the Milky Way. Gamma-ray bursts are short emissions of the most energetic form of light. This explosion blasted material into space that formed the rare element tellurium and others known as actinides and lanthanides. Also read: A 390-million-year-old murder mystery has finally been solved, and the culprit still exists The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the conditions in which precious chemical elements are created in the universe. "Just over 150 years since Dmitri Mendeleev wrote down the periodic table of elements, we are now finally in the position to start filling in those last blanks of understanding where everything was made, thanks to Webb," study lead author Andrew Levan of Radboud University in the Netherlands and lead author of the study said in a statement. Scientists suspect the merging neutron stars may have formerly been big, garden-variety stars that were gravitationally imprisoned in their native galaxy. It seems that one of the stars shot out of its galaxy and landed 120,000 light-years away when it neared the end of its existence and burst into a supernova. The second star followed suit. Also read: Venus in its youth may have had Earth-like features: Study Scientists suggest that despite being violently expelled from their galaxy, the neutron-star pair remained gravitationally bonded. Many hundred million years later, on March 7 of this year, to be accurate, we witnessed their merging into one body. "Webb provides a phenomenal boost and may find even heavier elements," said study co-author Ben Gompertz, a professor at the University of Birmingham in the UK. The observatory "has certainly opened the door to do a lot more, and its abilities will be completely transformative for our understanding of the universe." The violent cosmic merger, known to astronomers as a kilonova, sparked a gamma-ray burst (GRB) witnessed by scientists on March 7 — the second brightest GRB since the search for these phenomena began 50 years ago. NASA's Fermi satellite observatory was the first to see the glow, which lasted a record 200 seconds. In barely two seconds, similar lights from earlier star mergers dispersed Kilonovae are extremely rare; scientists have witnessed only one other such event in sufficient detail to deduce elements potentially made in the explosion. While supernovae, or exploding stars, produce elements like iron and nickel, heavier elements seem to be best formed by more severe neutron-star collisions. They are also difficult to observe, but astronomers look for short gamma-ray bursts, which only last about two seconds. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Two neutron stars collided about 1 billion light years away, releasing a rare element

<p>NASA is gearing up for humanity's deepest-ever peek into the heart of our Milky Way Galaxy. For this, it will make use of its Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will monitor the vast expanse of space for "tell-tale flickers" for secrets that may change our understanding of the world "out there".</p>

<h2><strong>What does Roman </strong>Telescope&nbsp;<strong>expect to find?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the NASA website, the Roman Space Telescope will monitor "hundreds of millions of stars," looking for "telltale flickers that betray the presence of planets, distant stars, small icy objects that haunt the outskirts of our solar system, isolated black holes, and more."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/artemis-ii-orion-crew-service-modules-joined-together-as-nasas-moon-mission-set-to-launch-next-year-650991">Artemis II Orion crew, service modules joined together as NASA's moon mission set to launch next year</a></strong></p>

<p>Scientists expect that the telescope will "likely" establish a record for the farthest-known exoplanet. This, they say, may offer us a "glimpse" into unknown galactic neighbourhoods that may be home to worlds different from the 5,500 known to us.</p>

<h2><strong>What is the Roman Telescope?</strong></h2>

<p>Roman Telescope is NASA's long-term monitoring system. As per NASA, it "represents a boon to what scientists call time-domain astronomy" or the study of how the universe changes over time.</p>

<p>The telescope "will join a growing, international fleet of observatories working together to capture these changes as they unfold."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/supercomputer-simulations-unveils-new-mysteries-of-universe-651119">Scientists have created an 'identical twin' universe using the biggest supercomputer</a></strong></p>

<p>NASA expects to launch Roman by May 2027.</p>

<p>Its Galactic Bulge Time-Domain Survey will focus on the Milky Way. For this, it will use infrared vision to peer through clouds of dust that can potentially block the view of the crowded central region of our galaxy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Roman plans to capture this by taking an image every 15 minutes around the clock for about two months. This process will be repeated six times over Roman's five-year primary mission, which will total more than a year of observations.</p>

<p>Scientists will also conduct stellar seismology studies on a million giant stars. This will be done by analysing the brightness changes a star undergoes when sound waves are echoed through its gaseous interior. This will help them learn about the star's structure, age and other properties.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA is gearing up for humanity's deepest-ever peek into the heart of our Milky Way Galaxy. For this, it will make use of its Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will monitor the vast expanse of space for "tell-tale flickers" for secrets that may change our understanding of the world "out there".

NASA is gearing up for humanity's deepest-ever peek into the heart of our Milky Way Galaxy. For this, it will make use of its Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will monitor the vast expanse of space for "tell-tale flickers" for secrets that may change our understanding of the world "out there". What does Roman Telescope expect to find? As per the NASA website, the Roman Space Telescope will monitor "hundreds of millions of stars," looking for "telltale flickers that betray the presence of planets, distant stars, small icy objects that haunt the outskirts of our solar system, isolated black holes, and more." Also read | Artemis II Orion crew, service modules joined together as NASA's moon mission set to launch next year Scientists expect that the telescope will "likely" establish a record for the farthest-known exoplanet. This, they say, may offer us a "glimpse" into unknown galactic neighbourhoods that may be home to worlds different from the 5,500 known to us. What is the Roman Telescope? Roman Telescope is NASA's long-term monitoring system. As per NASA, it "represents a boon to what scientists call time-domain astronomy" or the study of how the universe changes over time. The telescope "will join a growing, international fleet of observatories working together to capture these changes as they unfold." Also read | Scientists have created an 'identical twin' universe using the biggest supercomputer NASA expects to launch Roman by May 2027. Its Galactic Bulge Time-Domain Survey will focus on the Milky Way. For this, it will use infrared vision to peer through clouds of dust that can potentially block the view of the crowded central region of our galaxy. Roman plans to capture this by taking an image every 15 minutes around the clock for about two months. This process will be repeated six times over Roman's five-year primary mission, which will total more than a year of observations. Scientists will also conduct stellar seismology studies on a million giant stars. This will be done by analysing the brightness changes a star undergoes when sound waves are echoed through its gaseous interior. This will help them learn about the star's structure, age and other properties. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA readies to launch Roman telescope for humanity's farthest-ever peek into Milky Way galaxy

<p>As per the latest study, if two decaying stars get involved in a rare cataclysmic collision in the Milky Way galaxy, it can rip off the protective ozone layer from Earth and lead to the mass extinction of all life forms on the planet.<br />
<br />
Till now, only some similar neutron star collision events, which are known as kilonovas, have been observed by astronomers. If such an explosion occurs in Earth's close proximity, it may turn dangerous for life on Earth, stated scientists, including those who worked at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States.<br />
<br />
The research, which is yet-to-be peer-reviewed, can help determine the possibility of life surviving on other worlds, which are close to these star collision events.<br />
<br />
The biggest threat to the planes from such a collision between stars is the burst of radiation from them, which includes an X-ray afterglow they produce and gamma rays, as per the scientists.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/halleys-comet-set-to-unleash-shooting-stars-for-the-first-time-in-37-years-heres-when-to-watch-648249">Orionid meteor shower is coming this weekend, courtesy Halley's Comet</a></p>

<p>“Ionizing radiation from these sources can be dangerous for life on Earth-like planets when located too close,” stated researchers, in the study. The possibilities of these events and how they will affect Earth were studied by scientists on the basis of an analysis of what we know is the first-ever neutron star collision detected, a stellar event called GW170817.<br />
<br />
The researchers stated that any living thing which is present within the narrow range of around 297 light-years (97 parsecs) of such an explosion faces the possibility of getting burned by powerful gamma radiation.</p>

<h2><strong>Explosion can rip off Earth's&nbsp;stratospheric ozone</strong></h2>

<p>If the Earth was in such a zone, scientists stated that the stratospheric ozone may get stripped from the Earth due to the radiation, which may require some years to recover.<br />
<br />
The scientists said that the x-rays from the afterglow of the kilonova are likely to be more lethal as they are likely to last longer than the gamma-ray emissions, adding that the life-destroying effects will remain within about 16 light years.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gaganyaan: India's first mission to send astronauts to space</strong></p>

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<p>“For baseline kilonova parameters, we find that the X-ray emission from the afterglow may be lethal out to ∼5 pc and the off-axis gamma-ray emission may threaten a range out to ∼4 pc,” noted scientists.<br />
<br />
“The greatest threat comes years after the explosion, from the cosmic rays accelerated by the kilonova blast, which can be lethal out to distances up to ∼ 11 pc,” they stated.<br />
<br />
The study, however, cautioned that the findings have “significant uncertainties” and they will depend on the “viewing angle, ejected mass, and explosion energy”.<br />
<br />
“The rarity of binary neutron star mergers combined with a small range of lethality means that they are probably not important threats to life on Earth. We find that the mean recurrence time of lethal mergers at the location of the Sun is much larger than the age of the Universe,” they stated.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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As per the latest study, if two decaying stars get involved in a rare cataclysmic collision in the Milky Way galaxy, it can rip off the protective ozone layer from Earth and lead to the mass extinction of all life forms on the planet.

As per the latest study, if two decaying stars get involved in a rare cataclysmic collision in the Milky Way galaxy, it can rip off the protective ozone layer from Earth and lead to the mass extinction of all life forms on the planet. Till now, only some similar neutron star collision events, which are known as kilonovas, have been observed by astronomers. If such an explosion occurs in Earth's close proximity, it may turn dangerous for life on Earth, stated scientists, including those who worked at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States. The research, which is yet-to-be peer-reviewed, can help determine the possibility of life surviving on other worlds, which are close to these star collision events. The biggest threat to the planes from such a collision between stars is the burst of radiation from them, which includes an X-ray afterglow they produce and gamma rays, as per the scientists. ALSO READ | Orionid meteor shower is coming this weekend, courtesy Halley's Comet “Ionizing radiation from these sources can be dangerous for life on Earth-like planets when located too close,” stated researchers, in the study. The possibilities of these events and how they will affect Earth were studied by scientists on the basis of an analysis of what we know is the first-ever neutron star collision detected, a stellar event called GW170817. The researchers stated that any living thing which is present within the narrow range of around 297 light-years (97 parsecs) of such an explosion faces the possibility of getting burned by powerful gamma radiation. Explosion can rip off Earth's stratospheric ozone If the Earth was in such a zone, scientists stated that the stratospheric ozone may get stripped from the Earth due to the radiation, which may require some years to recover. The scientists said that the x-rays from the afterglow of the kilonova are likely to be more lethal as they are likely to last longer than the gamma-ray emissions, adding that the life-destroying effects will remain within about 16 light years. WATCH | Gaganyaan: India's first mission to send astronauts to space “For baseline kilonova parameters, we find that the X-ray emission from the afterglow may be lethal out to ∼5 pc and the off-axis gamma-ray emission may threaten a range out to ∼4 pc,” noted scientists. “The greatest threat comes years after the explosion, from the cosmic rays accelerated by the kilonova blast, which can be lethal out to distances up to ∼ 11 pc,” they stated. The study, however, cautioned that the findings have “significant uncertainties” and they will depend on the “viewing angle, ejected mass, and explosion energy”. “The rarity of binary neutron star mergers combined with a small range of lethality means that they are probably not important threats to life on Earth. We find that the mean recurrence time of lethal mergers at the location of the Sun is much larger than the age of the Universe,” they stated. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Collision between rare stars in Milky Way to end life on Earth, says study

<p>Scientists at the European Space agency have made a&nbsp;stunning discovery:&nbsp;half a million new stars within the Omega Centauri cluster.</p>

<p>Launched by the ESA a decade ago, the Gaia space mission set out to create a comprehensive 3D map of our Milky Way galaxy. After surveying approximately 1.8 billion stars and nearly completing their galactic map, scientists identified a significant gap in their data related to densely populated star regions in the sky. To address this shortfall, the team behind the Gaia space observatory decided to focus on globular clusters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Globular clusters are popularly known for their dense concentrations of hundreds of thousands of stars. They represent some of the oldest objects in the universe. So, the scientists conducted a reanalysis of previously collected data.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-to-unveil-fascinating-bennu-asteroid-sample-to-the-public-645380">NASA to unveil fascinating Bennu asteroid sample to the public</a></p>

<p>This time, they turned their attention to a globular cluster known as Omega Centauri cluster. It is located some 17,090 light years away from Earth.</p>

<h2><strong>What revelations came out of Omega Centauri?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The study unveiled&nbsp;half a million new stars within the Omega Centauri cluster.</p>

<p>It also revealed the presence of cosmic objects so massive that they could bend light. This amazing phenomenon is called gravitational lensing.</p>

<p>By studying globular clusters, scientists gained insights into the structure of the Milky Way galaxy. They realised that the sun is not situated at the galaxy's centre.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dogs-likely-dream-about-their-owners-during-sleep-says-study-645353">Dogs likely dream about their human companions during sleep, says study</a></p>

<p>Most globular clusters in the Milky Way are located near its core.</p>

<p>Gaia's observations enabled the determination that the sun, along with Earth, resides in one of the galaxy's spiral arms, which is known as the Sagittarius arm. The sheer abundance of stars in globular clusters sometimes overwhelmed telescopes and complicated accurate readings.</p>

<p>Bright stars can overshadow their fainter counterparts, and some stars are positioned so closely together that they cannot be individually defined. However, Gaia has now provided a clearer and more detailed view of these clusters.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Omega Centauri?</strong></h2>

<p>Omega Centauri holds the distinction of being the largest known globular cluster in the Milky Way visible from Earth. It appears nearly as large as a full moon when observed from remote, dark areas and boasts a vast diameter of 150 light years.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/whatsapp-secret-code-feature-for-easy-access-to-locked-chats-645408"><strong>WhatsApp 'secret code' feature for easy access to locked chats</strong></a></p>

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<p>This massive cluster is estimated to be four million times heavier than the sun and consists of around 10 million stars. The revelation of half a million new stars in Omega Centauri is a significant finding and it marks it as the most densely populated region explored by Gaia to date.</p>

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Scientists at the European Space agency have made a stunning discovery: half a million new stars within the Omega Centauri cluster. Launched by the ESA a decade ago, the Gaia space mission set out to create a comprehensive 3D map of our Milky Way galaxy.

Scientists at the European Space agency have made a stunning discovery: half a million new stars within the Omega Centauri cluster. Launched by the ESA a decade ago, the Gaia space mission set out to create a comprehensive 3D map of our Milky Way galaxy. After surveying approximately 1.8 billion stars and nearly completing their galactic map, scientists identified a significant gap in their data related to densely populated star regions in the sky. To address this shortfall, the team behind the Gaia space observatory decided to focus on globular clusters. Globular clusters are popularly known for their dense concentrations of hundreds of thousands of stars. They represent some of the oldest objects in the universe. So, the scientists conducted a reanalysis of previously collected data. Also Read | NASA to unveil fascinating Bennu asteroid sample to the public This time, they turned their attention to a globular cluster known as Omega Centauri cluster. It is located some 17,090 light years away from Earth. What revelations came out of Omega Centauri? The study unveiled half a million new stars within the Omega Centauri cluster. It also revealed the presence of cosmic objects so massive that they could bend light. This amazing phenomenon is called gravitational lensing. By studying globular clusters, scientists gained insights into the structure of the Milky Way galaxy. They realised that the sun is not situated at the galaxy's centre. Also Read | Dogs likely dream about their human companions during sleep, says study Most globular clusters in the Milky Way are located near its core. Gaia's observations enabled the determination that the sun, along with Earth, resides in one of the galaxy's spiral arms, which is known as the Sagittarius arm. The sheer abundance of stars in globular clusters sometimes overwhelmed telescopes and complicated accurate readings. Bright stars can overshadow their fainter counterparts, and some stars are positioned so closely together that they cannot be individually defined. However, Gaia has now provided a clearer and more detailed view of these clusters. Why Omega Centauri? Omega Centauri holds the distinction of being the largest known globular cluster in the Milky Way visible from Earth. It appears nearly as large as a full moon when observed from remote, dark areas and boasts a vast diameter of 150 light years. Watch | WhatsApp 'secret code' feature for easy access to locked chats × This massive cluster is estimated to be four million times heavier than the sun and consists of around 10 million stars. The revelation of half a million new stars in Omega Centauri is a significant finding and it marks it as the most densely populated region explored by Gaia to date. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Stunning discovery: Scientists find half a million new stars in Omega Centauri cluster

<p>A mysterious structure of galaxies in a giant bubble found not too far from the Milky Way could be a relic from the Big Bang, said researchers who stumbled upon the weird cluster in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal, earlier this month.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is it?</strong></h2>

<p>The structure which consists of a group of galaxies clustered around a gigantic spherical void just 820 million light years from the Milky Way is believed to be a fossil-like remnant of the birth of the universe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mysterious finding has been named Ho’oleilana, inspired by the Hawaiian creation chant evoking the origin of the structure, Kumulipo.</p>

<p>Researchers stumbled upon the structure which they believe is baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) and has been described as a fossilised acoustic wave frozen in time from the beginning of the cosmos and then stretched out to galactic scales by the universe’s expansion.</p>

<p>While researchers have previously found a number of such oscillations throughout the universe, it is the close proximity of this structure to our home galaxy that has left astronomers gobsmacked.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We were not looking for it. It is so huge that it spills to the edges of the sector of the sky that we were analysing,” said Brent Tully, an astronomer at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tully also said that the finding could imply the universe is expanding more rapidly than we thought, adding that the “very large diameter of one billion light years is beyond theoretical expectations.”&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How was it found?</strong></h2>

<p>The findings are based on a catalogue compiled by Tully and his colleagues called Cosmicflows-4 after measuring the distances to 55,877 galaxies in a specific sector of the sky, using eight distinct methodologies for the most accurate map yet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was after they mapped out the distance between galaxies that patterns and their density started to come together and the researchers discovered a ring which is 1 billion light-years wide, its circumference dotted with galaxies and connected to cosmic filaments.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the structure’s interior was empty aside from a galaxy supercluster called the Bootes Supercluster in its centre.</p>

<p>“I am the cartographer of the group, and mapping Hoʻoleilana in three dimensions helps us understand its content and relationship with its surroundings,” said Daniel Pomarede, a cosmographer at CEA Paris-Saclay University in France.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “It was an amazing process to construct this map and see how the giant shell structure of Hoʻoleilana is composed of elements that were identified in the past as being themselves some of the largest structures of the universe.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since Hoʻoleilana is bigger than most baryon acoustic oscillations, researchers believe that the universe may be expanding at a faster rate – at roughly 76.9 kilometres per second per megaparsec – than the standard range of 67 to 74.</p>

<h2><strong>How was it created?</strong></h2>

<p>In the well-established Big Bang theory, when the universe was very new, it was filled with a hot, dense plasma that behaved like a fluid. During this time, regions with slightly higher density began to collapse under gravity while the intense bath of radiation attempted to push matter apart.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was this struggle between gravity and radiation which produced spherical acoustic waves that travelled through the plasma and when the universe eventually cooled the outward rippling of the acoustic waves stopped and became frozen as regions of higher density in the matter that was forming.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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A mysterious structure of galaxies in a giant bubble found not too far from the Milky Way could be a relic from the Big Bang, said researchers who stumbled upon the weird cluster in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal, earlier this month.

A mysterious structure of galaxies in a giant bubble found not too far from the Milky Way could be a relic from the Big Bang, said researchers who stumbled upon the weird cluster in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal, earlier this month. What is it? The structure which consists of a group of galaxies clustered around a gigantic spherical void just 820 million light years from the Milky Way is believed to be a fossil-like remnant of the birth of the universe. The mysterious finding has been named Ho’oleilana, inspired by the Hawaiian creation chant evoking the origin of the structure, Kumulipo. Researchers stumbled upon the structure which they believe is baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) and has been described as a fossilised acoustic wave frozen in time from the beginning of the cosmos and then stretched out to galactic scales by the universe’s expansion. While researchers have previously found a number of such oscillations throughout the universe, it is the close proximity of this structure to our home galaxy that has left astronomers gobsmacked. “We were not looking for it. It is so huge that it spills to the edges of the sector of the sky that we were analysing,” said Brent Tully, an astronomer at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, in a statement. Tully also said that the finding could imply the universe is expanding more rapidly than we thought, adding that the “very large diameter of one billion light years is beyond theoretical expectations.” How was it found? The findings are based on a catalogue compiled by Tully and his colleagues called Cosmicflows-4 after measuring the distances to 55,877 galaxies in a specific sector of the sky, using eight distinct methodologies for the most accurate map yet. It was after they mapped out the distance between galaxies that patterns and their density started to come together and the researchers discovered a ring which is 1 billion light-years wide, its circumference dotted with galaxies and connected to cosmic filaments. While the structure’s interior was empty aside from a galaxy supercluster called the Bootes Supercluster in its centre. “I am the cartographer of the group, and mapping Hoʻoleilana in three dimensions helps us understand its content and relationship with its surroundings,” said Daniel Pomarede, a cosmographer at CEA Paris-Saclay University in France. He added, “It was an amazing process to construct this map and see how the giant shell structure of Hoʻoleilana is composed of elements that were identified in the past as being themselves some of the largest structures of the universe.” Since Hoʻoleilana is bigger than most baryon acoustic oscillations, researchers believe that the universe may be expanding at a faster rate – at roughly 76.9 kilometres per second per megaparsec – than the standard range of 67 to 74. How was it created? In the well-established Big Bang theory, when the universe was very new, it was filled with a hot, dense plasma that behaved like a fluid. During this time, regions with slightly higher density began to collapse under gravity while the intense bath of radiation attempted to push matter apart. It was this struggle between gravity and radiation which produced spherical acoustic waves that travelled through the plasma and when the universe eventually cooled the outward rippling of the acoustic waves stopped and became frozen as regions of higher density in the matter that was forming. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ginormous ‘fossilised’ bubble near Milky Way could be relic of the Big Bang

<p>Astronomers used a galaxy-sized antenna of millisecond pulsars in the Milky Way to spot low-frequency <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/for-first-time-scientists-hear-sound-of-gravitational-waves-610001">gravitational waves</a> for the first time in history. The "background hum" is rumbling throughout the universe and it is the first evidence of a long-theorised form of gravitational waves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This becomes a notable event in the history of astrophysics - all thanks to the breakthrough made by hundreds of scientists using radio telescopes in North America, Europe, China, India and Australia after years of work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The day has been hailed as a major milestone that opens a new window into the universe as it comes around eight years after scientists spotted the elusive ripples in space-time.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are gravitational waves?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Astrophysicists have previously stated that gravitational waves are 'ripples' in space-time created by some of the universe's most destructive and intense activities. It is also an attestation of what Albert Einstein had predicted in 1916, in his general theory of relativity.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/wion-exclusive-chandrayaan-3-launch-on-july-13-lunar-landing-by-august-end-609776">Chandrayaan-3 launch on July 13, lunar landing by August-end</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Theory of relativity</h2>

<p>Einstein's theories are said to be one of the most important papers ever published in the field of physics. In layman's terms, the theory of relativity consists of two interrelated physics theories; special relativity and general relativity. Special relativity applies to all physical phenomena in the absence of gravity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, general relativity describes the law of gravitation and its relationship to natural forces. It applies to cosmology and astrophysics, especially astronomy. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The general theory of relativity is a major building block of modern physics and is related to gravity, which is one of the fundamental forces in the universe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It basically talks about the force of gravity and how it arises from the curvature of space and time. Well, an elaborated mathematical formula is followed, which is for the experts, not us. We need to understand the latest announcement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/europes-space-telescope-to-target-universes-dark-mysteries-610172">Europe's space telescope to target universe's dark mysteries</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h2>What do we know about the latest finding?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>As mentioned earlier, gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of the universe that travel through everything at the speed of light almost entirely unimpeded. However, their existence was not confirmed until 2015, when the US and Italian observatories detected the first gravitational waves created by two black holes colliding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These "high-frequency" waves were caused by a single explosive event that sent a powerful, brief burst rippling towards Earth. However, scientists have been looking for low-frequency gravitational waves, which are considered to be constantly rolling across space like background noise, for decades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To know more about the phenomenon, scientists joined forces under the banner of the International Pulsar Timing Array consortium and worked at gravitational wave detectors on several continents. They finally revealed on Thursday that they have found strong evidence of these background waves.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Oregon State University astrophysicist Xavier Siemens said, "As gravitational waves pass through the galaxy, they stretch and they squeeze it. And then these times of arrival of these pulses are changed. So one pulsar, as it's approaching the earth, its pulses will arrive a little earlier than we expect, as other pulsars will be away from the earth because it's being affected by the gravitational wave and those pulses arrive a little later."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Siemens is a co-director of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), a collaboration of more than 190 scientists from the United States and Canada who worked to monitor the gravitational wave signals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gravitational waves, as well as ghostly subatomic particles known as neutrinos, allow for a more thorough exploration of the universe. Seven years ago, physicists revealed that the&nbsp;gravitational waves were&nbsp;generated by two distant black holes - extremely compact objects with gravity so powerful that not even light can escape. Gravitational waves can be caused by the motion of black holes and other enormous objects.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Siemens told Reuters, "So if you imagine, you know, the collection of supermassive black holes that were that, you know, we were seeing correlations for as kind of like a choir or an orchestra... Imagine one of these orchestra members is a little bit close or is playing a little bit louder for some reason. That only happens with supermassive black holes."&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How did scientists carry out the research?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Scientists issued radio telescopes around the world, which were aimed at a total of 115 pulsars throughout the Milky Way, to carry out the new research.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists then measured the incredibly small differences in the timing of the pulses, searching for the signs of gravitational waves. French astrophysicist Antoine Petiteau said they were able to "detect changes of less than one-millionth of a second across more than 20 years".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maura McLaughlin of the US Pulsar Search Collaboratory programme said they were "awestruck" after first seeing evidence of the waves in 2020. During the press conference, she said that it was "really a magical moment".&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Siemens, the data would be able to help scientists map out how galaxies form over time. He said, "I am surprised that we were able to (do this) in some ways because it's a little bit of a long shot. And I think another part of the surprise is the amplitude of the signal is actually a little bit larger than we expected."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Astronomers used a galaxy-sized antenna of millisecond pulsars in the Milky Way to spot low-frequency gravitational waves for the first time in history. The "background hum" is rumbling throughout the universe and it is the first evidence of a long-theorised form of gravitational waves.

Astronomers used a galaxy-sized antenna of millisecond pulsars in the Milky Way to spot low-frequency gravitational waves for the first time in history. The "background hum" is rumbling throughout the universe and it is the first evidence of a long-theorised form of gravitational waves. This becomes a notable event in the history of astrophysics - all thanks to the breakthrough made by hundreds of scientists using radio telescopes in North America, Europe, China, India and Australia after years of work. The day has been hailed as a major milestone that opens a new window into the universe as it comes around eight years after scientists spotted the elusive ripples in space-time. What are gravitational waves? Astrophysicists have previously stated that gravitational waves are 'ripples' in space-time created by some of the universe's most destructive and intense activities. It is also an attestation of what Albert Einstein had predicted in 1916, in his general theory of relativity. Also read: Chandrayaan-3 launch on July 13, lunar landing by August-end Theory of relativity Einstein's theories are said to be one of the most important papers ever published in the field of physics. In layman's terms, the theory of relativity consists of two interrelated physics theories; special relativity and general relativity. Special relativity applies to all physical phenomena in the absence of gravity. Meanwhile, general relativity describes the law of gravitation and its relationship to natural forces. It applies to cosmology and astrophysics, especially astronomy. The general theory of relativity is a major building block of modern physics and is related to gravity, which is one of the fundamental forces in the universe. It basically talks about the force of gravity and how it arises from the curvature of space and time. Well, an elaborated mathematical formula is followed, which is for the experts, not us. We need to understand the latest announcement. Also read: Europe's space telescope to target universe's dark mysteries What do we know about the latest finding? As mentioned earlier, gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of the universe that travel through everything at the speed of light almost entirely unimpeded. However, their existence was not confirmed until 2015, when the US and Italian observatories detected the first gravitational waves created by two black holes colliding. These "high-frequency" waves were caused by a single explosive event that sent a powerful, brief burst rippling towards Earth. However, scientists have been looking for low-frequency gravitational waves, which are considered to be constantly rolling across space like background noise, for decades. To know more about the phenomenon, scientists joined forces under the banner of the International Pulsar Timing Array consortium and worked at gravitational wave detectors on several continents. They finally revealed on Thursday that they have found strong evidence of these background waves. Watch this report: × As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Oregon State University astrophysicist Xavier Siemens said, "As gravitational waves pass through the galaxy, they stretch and they squeeze it. And then these times of arrival of these pulses are changed. So one pulsar, as it's approaching the earth, its pulses will arrive a little earlier than we expect, as other pulsars will be away from the earth because it's being affected by the gravitational wave and those pulses arrive a little later." Siemens is a co-director of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), a collaboration of more than 190 scientists from the United States and Canada who worked to monitor the gravitational wave signals. Gravitational waves, as well as ghostly subatomic particles known as neutrinos, allow for a more thorough exploration of the universe. Seven years ago, physicists revealed that the gravitational waves were generated by two distant black holes - extremely compact objects with gravity so powerful that not even light can escape. Gravitational waves can be caused by the motion of black holes and other enormous objects. Siemens told Reuters, "So if you imagine, you know, the collection of supermassive black holes that were that, you know, we were seeing correlations for as kind of like a choir or an orchestra... Imagine one of these orchestra members is a little bit close or is playing a little bit louder for some reason. That only happens with supermassive black holes." How did scientists carry out the research? Scientists issued radio telescopes around the world, which were aimed at a total of 115 pulsars throughout the Milky Way, to carry out the new research. Scientists then measured the incredibly small differences in the timing of the pulses, searching for the signs of gravitational waves. French astrophysicist Antoine Petiteau said they were able to "detect changes of less than one-millionth of a second across more than 20 years". Maura McLaughlin of the US Pulsar Search Collaboratory programme said they were "awestruck" after first seeing evidence of the waves in 2020. During the press conference, she said that it was "really a magical moment". According to Siemens, the data would be able to help scientists map out how galaxies form over time. He said, "I am surprised that we were able to (do this) in some ways because it's a little bit of a long shot. And I think another part of the surprise is the amplitude of the signal is actually a little bit larger than we expected." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Gravitational waves and the cosmic 'background hum'

The scientists, in their latest search for extraterrestrial life, are trying to carefully listen to the radio pulses that are emerging from the centre of our galaxy. Stars, known as pulsars, naturally emit narrow-frequency pulses, but humans also use them deliberately in technology such as radar.

Aliens lurking at the heart of the Milky Way?

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - 'Filed false harassment case on Brij Bhushan', says father of minor wrestler, Aliens saying hello through signals from centre of Milky Way, suggests new study.

'Filed false harassment case on Brij Bhushan', says father of minor wrestler | Trending On WION

<p>The scientists, in their latest search for extraterrestrial life, are trying to carefully listen to the radio pulses that are emerging from the centre of our galaxy.</p>

<h2><strong>Hunting aliens through radio signals</strong></h2>

<p>The new direction in the investigation of extraterrestrial life has been taken with the hypothesis that intelligent aliens could be lurking at the heart of our galaxy - the Milky Way.<br />
<br />
Stars, known as pulsars, naturally emit narrow-frequency pulses, but humans also use them deliberately in technology such as radar.<br />
<br />
Since these pulses have the capability to stand out against the space's background radio noise, they are likely to be an effective way to communicate at such long distances. Hence, scientists have considered them as a good option to listen to while they hunt for alien civilisations.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-bodycam-captures-ufo-falling-from-sky-minutes-later-family-complains-about-aliens-in-backyard-602205">WATCH | Bodycam captures UFO falling from sky, minutes later family complains about 'aliens' in backyard</a></p>

<h2><strong>Alien-hunting strategy</strong></h2>

<p>In a new study which was published in The Astronomical Journal, the scientists explained the alien-hunting strategy they have adopted in detail.</p>

<p>The software has been developed by the researchers, headed by Cornell University graduate student Akshay Suresh, to detect the repetitive frequency patterns which were tested on known pulsars&nbsp;known for perfectly picking up the narrow frequencies.<br />
<br />
These frequency ranges have been very small, their width being around a tenth of the frequencies which are generally used by an FM radio station. Data from Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia was then searched by the researchers using the method.<br />
<br />
"Until now, radio SETI has primarily dedicated its efforts to the search for continuous signals," said study co-author Vishal Gajjar of the SETI Institute in a statement.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US intelligence officer turns whistleblower | UFOs, Alien vehicles &amp; covert operations</strong></p>

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<p>"Our study sheds light on the remarkable energy efficiency of a train of pulses as a means of interstellar communication across vast distances. Notably, this study marks the first-ever comprehensive endeavour to conduct in-depth searches for these signals,” he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Why are scientists focussing on the centre of the Milky Way?</strong></h2>

<p>The signals emerging from the centre of the Milky Way have been the focus of researchers because they are dense with stars and potentially habitable exoplanets. Also, if intelligent aliens are present at the core of the Milky Way and wish to reach out to other galaxies, they might send signals across a wide range of planets as they are at the centre of the galaxy.<br />
<br />
"Breakthrough Listen captures huge volumes of data, and Akshay’s technique provides a new method to help us search that haystack for needles that could provide tantalising evidence of advanced extraterrestrial life forms," study co-author and project scientist with the Breakthrough Listen programme Steve Croft said.</p>

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The scientists, in their latest search for extraterrestrial life, are trying to carefully listen to the radio pulses that are emerging from the centre of our galaxy.

The scientists, in their latest search for extraterrestrial life, are trying to carefully listen to the radio pulses that are emerging from the centre of our galaxy. Hunting aliens through radio signals The new direction in the investigation of extraterrestrial life has been taken with the hypothesis that intelligent aliens could be lurking at the heart of our galaxy - the Milky Way. Stars, known as pulsars, naturally emit narrow-frequency pulses, but humans also use them deliberately in technology such as radar. Since these pulses have the capability to stand out against the space's background radio noise, they are likely to be an effective way to communicate at such long distances. Hence, scientists have considered them as a good option to listen to while they hunt for alien civilisations. ALSO READ | WATCH | Bodycam captures UFO falling from sky, minutes later family complains about 'aliens' in backyard Alien-hunting strategy In a new study which was published in The Astronomical Journal, the scientists explained the alien-hunting strategy they have adopted in detail. The software has been developed by the researchers, headed by Cornell University graduate student Akshay Suresh, to detect the repetitive frequency patterns which were tested on known pulsars known for perfectly picking up the narrow frequencies. These frequency ranges have been very small, their width being around a tenth of the frequencies which are generally used by an FM radio station. Data from Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia was then searched by the researchers using the method. "Until now, radio SETI has primarily dedicated its efforts to the search for continuous signals," said study co-author Vishal Gajjar of the SETI Institute in a statement. WATCH | US intelligence officer turns whistleblower | UFOs, Alien vehicles & covert operations "Our study sheds light on the remarkable energy efficiency of a train of pulses as a means of interstellar communication across vast distances. Notably, this study marks the first-ever comprehensive endeavour to conduct in-depth searches for these signals,” he added. Why are scientists focussing on the centre of the Milky Way? The signals emerging from the centre of the Milky Way have been the focus of researchers because they are dense with stars and potentially habitable exoplanets. Also, if intelligent aliens are present at the core of the Milky Way and wish to reach out to other galaxies, they might send signals across a wide range of planets as they are at the centre of the galaxy. "Breakthrough Listen captures huge volumes of data, and Akshay’s technique provides a new method to help us search that haystack for needles that could provide tantalising evidence of advanced extraterrestrial life forms," study co-author and project scientist with the Breakthrough Listen programme Steve Croft said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Aliens saying 'hello' through signals from centre of Milky Way, suggests new study

<p>A groundbreaking discovery has emerged from the heart of the Milky Way where an international team of astrophysicists stumbled upon an entirely new population of threads at the centre of this massive galaxy, as per a study.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Farhad Yusef-Zadeh from Northwestern University in the early 1980s identified colossal one-dimensional filaments vertically hanging near Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole residing at the centre of our galaxy.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-landslide-claims-14-lives-in-sichuan-province-5-still-missing-600355">China: Landslide claims 14 lives in Sichuan province, 5 still missing</a></p>

<p>Fast forward to the present day, and Yusef-Zadeh, an esteemed radio astronomer, along with his collaborators, has stumbled upon an entirely new population of threads.&nbsp;However, these threads differ from their vertical counterparts, being significantly shorter and arranged horizontally or radially, resembling spokes radiating outward from the black hole, like Morse code's dots and dashes.</p>

<h2><strong>Different Origins</strong></h2>

<p>Although the two sets of filaments share certain similarities, Yusef-Zadeh believes that they likely originate from different sources.&nbsp;While the vertical filaments sweep across the galaxy, towering as high as 150 light-years, the horizontal filaments punctuate only one side of Sagittarius A* and exhibit a pattern akin to Morse code.</p>

<p>Yusef-Zadeh expressed his astonishment, stating, "It was a surprise to suddenly find a new population of structures that seem to be pointing in the direction of the black hole."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-of-magnitude-6-jolts-indonesias-maluku-600379">Earthquake of magnitude 6 jolts Indonesia's Maluku</a></p>

<p>"We had to do a lot of work to establish that we weren't fooling ourselves. And we found that these filaments are not random but appear to be tied to the outflow of our black hole. By studying them, we could learn more about the black hole's spin and accretion disk orientation. It is satisfying when one finds order in a middle of a chaotic field of the nucleus of our galaxy."</p>

<h2><strong>Horizontal dashes vs. Vertical dashes&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>After meticulously studying vertical filaments for decades, Yusef-Zadeh was taken aback upon uncovering their horizontal counterparts, estimated to be around six million years old.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We have always been thinking about vertical filaments and their origin," he said. "I'm used to them being vertical. I never considered there might be others along the plane."</p>

<p>Vertical filaments stand perpendicular to the galactic plane, while horizontal filaments are parallel to the plane but radiate toward the galaxy's center, where the black hole resides. While vertical filaments possess magnetic and relativistic properties, horizontal filaments emit thermal radiation.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Chinese astronauts return to Earth | East-Asian space race | World News</strong></p>

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<p>Vertical filaments involve particles approaching the speed of light, while horizontal filaments appear to accelerate thermal material within a molecular cloud. The number of vertical filaments reaches several hundred, whereas horizontal filaments are limited to just a few hundred.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We think they must have originated with some kind of outflow from an activity that happened a few million years ago," Yusef-Zadeh said. "It seems to be the result of an interaction of that outflowing material with objects near it. Our work is never complete. We always need to make new observations and continually challenge our ideas and tighten up our analysis."</p>

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A groundbreaking discovery has emerged from the heart of the Milky Way where an international team of astrophysicists stumbled upon an entirely new population of threads at the centre of this massive galaxy, as per a study.

A groundbreaking discovery has emerged from the heart of the Milky Way where an international team of astrophysicists stumbled upon an entirely new population of threads at the centre of this massive galaxy, as per a study. Farhad Yusef-Zadeh from Northwestern University in the early 1980s identified colossal one-dimensional filaments vertically hanging near Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole residing at the centre of our galaxy. Also Read | China: Landslide claims 14 lives in Sichuan province, 5 still missing Fast forward to the present day, and Yusef-Zadeh, an esteemed radio astronomer, along with his collaborators, has stumbled upon an entirely new population of threads. However, these threads differ from their vertical counterparts, being significantly shorter and arranged horizontally or radially, resembling spokes radiating outward from the black hole, like Morse code's dots and dashes. Different Origins Although the two sets of filaments share certain similarities, Yusef-Zadeh believes that they likely originate from different sources. While the vertical filaments sweep across the galaxy, towering as high as 150 light-years, the horizontal filaments punctuate only one side of Sagittarius A* and exhibit a pattern akin to Morse code. Yusef-Zadeh expressed his astonishment, stating, "It was a surprise to suddenly find a new population of structures that seem to be pointing in the direction of the black hole." Also Read | Earthquake of magnitude 6 jolts Indonesia's Maluku "We had to do a lot of work to establish that we weren't fooling ourselves. And we found that these filaments are not random but appear to be tied to the outflow of our black hole. By studying them, we could learn more about the black hole's spin and accretion disk orientation. It is satisfying when one finds order in a middle of a chaotic field of the nucleus of our galaxy." Horizontal dashes vs. Vertical dashes After meticulously studying vertical filaments for decades, Yusef-Zadeh was taken aback upon uncovering their horizontal counterparts, estimated to be around six million years old. "We have always been thinking about vertical filaments and their origin," he said. "I'm used to them being vertical. I never considered there might be others along the plane." Vertical filaments stand perpendicular to the galactic plane, while horizontal filaments are parallel to the plane but radiate toward the galaxy's center, where the black hole resides. While vertical filaments possess magnetic and relativistic properties, horizontal filaments emit thermal radiation. Watch | Chinese astronauts return to Earth | East-Asian space race | World News × Vertical filaments involve particles approaching the speed of light, while horizontal filaments appear to accelerate thermal material within a molecular cloud. The number of vertical filaments reaches several hundred, whereas horizontal filaments are limited to just a few hundred. "We think they must have originated with some kind of outflow from an activity that happened a few million years ago," Yusef-Zadeh said. "It seems to be the result of an interaction of that outflowing material with objects near it. Our work is never complete. We always need to make new observations and continually challenge our ideas and tighten up our analysis." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Celestial Morse Code? New study reveals mysterious dashes at heart of Milky Way

<p>If you are a space enthusiast, the Milky Way Photographer of the Year might just be the thing you need to see. The competition features photos from all over the globe capturing the beauty and complexity of the night sky. The photos were taken in locations like Namibia, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Hosted by photography blog Capture the Atlas, this year’s images were revealed on Wednesday. All we can say is that the 25 winning images can leave you stunned by the magnificence present in the universe.</p>

<p>“Modern cameras can capture vibrant details and colours in the night sky beyond what our eyes can see. However, what really matters in any great image is the photographer behind the camera, who provides the idea, plan, and creativity to bring the image to life,” Capture the Atlas stated on its blog.</p>

<p>The first photo in the set is from Yemen’s Socotra. The stars are captured from between the trees. The sky is coloured in hues of pink and purple. The image will surely leave you awestruck.</p>

<p>The second picture is from Argentina’s Cafayate Desert. The vast emptiness adds a stark contrast to the brightly lit sky.</p>

<p>The other photos similarly capture the Milky Way in all its glory. All the photos can be found at Capture the Atlas’s website.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">✨THE 2023 MILKYWAY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR✨<a href="https://t.co/gaSaoIlrS5">https://t.co/gaSaoIlrS5</a><br />
<br />
Be inspired by the best Milky Way images taken around the world! <a href="https://t.co/2kUwblXctj">pic.twitter.com/2kUwblXctj</a></p>
— Capture the Atlas (@capturetheatlas) <a href="https://twitter.com/capturetheatlas/status/1663673792798003200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Photography tips</h2>

<p>Capture the Atlas stated that the Milky Way season takes place between February and October in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere it can be seen from January to November. In both hemispheres, the best time to photograph the Milky Way is between May and June.</p>

<p>If you are a space photography fan, Capture the Atlas blog also has some tips to capture the Milky Way on your camera. This includes keeping the aperture to the widest possible setting. Make sure that the exposure is between 3200 and 6400. “Generally, the best time of day to see the Milky Way is between 00:00 and 5:00 on nights with a new moon during the Milky Way season,” the blog stated. Other important factors to consider are the sunrise/sunset time, Milky Way visibility and the phase of the moon.</p>

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If you are a space enthusiast, the Milky Way Photographer of the Year might just be the thing you need to see. The competition features photos from all over the globe capturing the beauty and complexity of the night sky.

If you are a space enthusiast, the Milky Way Photographer of the Year might just be the thing you need to see. The competition features photos from all over the globe capturing the beauty and complexity of the night sky. The photos were taken in locations like Namibia, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Hosted by photography blog Capture the Atlas, this year’s images were revealed on Wednesday. All we can say is that the 25 winning images can leave you stunned by the magnificence present in the universe. “Modern cameras can capture vibrant details and colours in the night sky beyond what our eyes can see. However, what really matters in any great image is the photographer behind the camera, who provides the idea, plan, and creativity to bring the image to life,” Capture the Atlas stated on its blog. The first photo in the set is from Yemen’s Socotra. The stars are captured from between the trees. The sky is coloured in hues of pink and purple. The image will surely leave you awestruck. The second picture is from Argentina’s Cafayate Desert. The vast emptiness adds a stark contrast to the brightly lit sky. The other photos similarly capture the Milky Way in all its glory. All the photos can be found at Capture the Atlas’s website. ✨THE 2023 MILKYWAY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR✨https://t.co/gaSaoIlrS5 Be inspired by the best Milky Way images taken around the world! pic.twitter.com/2kUwblXctj — Capture the Atlas (@capturetheatlas) May 30, 2023 × Photography tips Capture the Atlas stated that the Milky Way season takes place between February and October in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere it can be seen from January to November. In both hemispheres, the best time to photograph the Milky Way is between May and June. If you are a space photography fan, Capture the Atlas blog also has some tips to capture the Milky Way on your camera. This includes keeping the aperture to the widest possible setting. Make sure that the exposure is between 3200 and 6400. “Generally, the best time of day to see the Milky Way is between 00:00 and 5:00 on nights with a new moon during the Milky Way season,” the blog stated. Other important factors to consider are the sunrise/sunset time, Milky Way visibility and the phase of the moon. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

The Milky Way Photographer of the year is all about spectacular images of our universe

In Pics | Milky Way Photographer of the Year

<p>A new study has suggested that the Milky Way Galaxy harbours one-third of planets that have water and as a consequence, are suitable for life.&nbsp;</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">This study, based on recent telescope data provided by the Kepler Mission, states that there are billions of planets — which are smaller and cooler, with half the mass of the Sun — that revolve around M dwarfs (also knowns Red dwarf).</p>

<p dir="ltr">Of those, around two-thirds of the planets could be “roasted” by tidal extremes and sterilising them, leaving one-third of the planets across the galaxy in the Goldilocks zone possibly habitable.</p>

<p dir="ltr">“I think this result is really important for the next decade of exoplanet research, because eyes are shifting toward this population of stars. These stars are excellent targets to look for small planets in an orbit where it’s conceivable that water might be liquid and therefore the planet might be habitable,” said Sheila Sagear, lead author of the study, in a press statement. Sagear is a doctoral student at the University of Florida.</p>

<p dir="ltr">According to the study, this is possible because of a phenomenon called tidal heating. The planets that orbit around M dwarfs are elongated and have oval orbits, leaving them fried by the star if they're close enough.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The tidal heating is generated&nbsp;due to the planets orbiting in an oval shape, which leads to stretching and squeezing from the star's gravity.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The&nbsp;stretching and squeezing cause friction heat and as a result, a planet loses its water, along with the chances for life to evolve on its surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">If a planet around an M dwarf was further away, that distance may prevent torment by tidal heating — but, then the planet would be too cold, lacking the warmth needed for life. Therefore, exoplanets around M dwarfs must live close to their stars for even a chance of being warm enough for life, putting them at risk of tidal heating if their orbit isn’t a clean circle.</p>

<p dir="ltr">It's only for these small stars that the zone of habitability is close enough for these tidal forces to be relevant," Sarah Ballard said in the statement.</p>

<p dir="ltr">These findings were published on May 30 in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.<br />
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A new study has suggested that the Milky Way Galaxy harbours one-third of planets that have water and as a consequence, are suitable for life. This study, based on recent telescope data provided by the Kepler Mission, states that there are billions of planets — which are smaller and cooler, with half the mass of the Sun — that revolve around M dwarfs (also knowns Red dwarf).

A new study has suggested that the Milky Way Galaxy harbours one-third of planets that have water and as a consequence, are suitable for life. This study, based on recent telescope data provided by the Kepler Mission, states that there are billions of planets — which are smaller and cooler, with half the mass of the Sun — that revolve around M dwarfs (also knowns Red dwarf). Of those, around two-thirds of the planets could be “roasted” by tidal extremes and sterilising them, leaving one-third of the planets across the galaxy in the Goldilocks zone possibly habitable. “I think this result is really important for the next decade of exoplanet research, because eyes are shifting toward this population of stars. These stars are excellent targets to look for small planets in an orbit where it’s conceivable that water might be liquid and therefore the planet might be habitable,” said Sheila Sagear, lead author of the study, in a press statement. Sagear is a doctoral student at the University of Florida. According to the study, this is possible because of a phenomenon called tidal heating. The planets that orbit around M dwarfs are elongated and have oval orbits, leaving them fried by the star if they're close enough. The tidal heating is generated due to the planets orbiting in an oval shape, which leads to stretching and squeezing from the star's gravity. The stretching and squeezing cause friction heat and as a result, a planet loses its water, along with the chances for life to evolve on its surface. If a planet around an M dwarf was further away, that distance may prevent torment by tidal heating — but, then the planet would be too cold, lacking the warmth needed for life. Therefore, exoplanets around M dwarfs must live close to their stars for even a chance of being warm enough for life, putting them at risk of tidal heating if their orbit isn’t a clean circle. It's only for these small stars that the zone of habitability is close enough for these tidal forces to be relevant," Sarah Ballard said in the statement. These findings were published on May 30 in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Milky Way galaxy has hundreds of millions of potentially habitable planets, says new study

<p>A supermassive black hole was found by astronomers at the heart of an ancient galaxy which is five times bigger than the expected size, on the basis of the number of stars it contains.<br />
<br />
The immense black hole was spotted by researchers in a galaxy called GS-9209, which lies 25 billion light-years away from Earth, making it one of the farthest to have been discovered and recorded.<br />
<br />
The team of astronomers at Edinburgh University, with the use of the James Webb space telescope (JWST), observed the galaxy and revealed fresh information about its history and composition.<br />
<br />
Dr Adam Carnall, who headed the team, said that the telescope, which is the most powerful ever built, helped them see how galaxies were growing more “larger and earlier” than what astronomers expected in the universe's first billion years.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/extraordinary-event-astronomers-witness-largest-cosmic-explosion-in-space-591670">'Extraordinary event': Astronomers witness largest cosmic explosion in space</a></p>

<p>“This work gives us our first really detailed look at the properties of these early galaxies, charting in detail the history of GS-9209, which managed to form as many stars as our own Milky Way in just 800mn years after the big bang,” he stated.<br />
<br />
Carnall added the “very massive black hole” spotted at the centre of GS-9209 was a “big surprise” that appeared to be supporting the theory that such enormous black holes stopped the formation of stars in early galaxies.<br />
<br />
“The evidence we see for the supermassive black hole was really unexpected,” Carnall said. “This is the kind of detail we’d never have been able to see without JWST,” he added.</p>

<h2><strong>GS-9209 galaxy is&nbsp;one-tenth of Milky Way in size</strong></h2>

<p>Edinburgh's former PhD student and now a professor of observational cosmology at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Karina Caputi, had discovered the GS-9209 galaxy in 2004.<br />
<br />
While GS-9209 contains around as many stars as are present in our home galaxy along with a combined mass which is equivalent to 40 billion suns, the galaxy's size is only one-tenth of the Milky Way.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;How our sun will swallow the earth</strong></p>

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<p>The galaxy is one of the earliest known examples of the ones that have stopped forming stars, stated the researchers.<br />
<br />
“The fact (that the black hole) is so massive, means it must have been very active in the past, with lots of gas falling in, which would have shone extremely brightly as a quasar,” said Carnall said. “All that energy spewing out from the black hole in the centre of the galaxy would have seriously disrupted the whole galaxy, stopping gas from collapsing to form new stars,” he added.</p>

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A supermassive black hole was found by astronomers at the heart of an ancient galaxy which is five times bigger than the expected size, on the basis of the number of stars it contains.

A supermassive black hole was found by astronomers at the heart of an ancient galaxy which is five times bigger than the expected size, on the basis of the number of stars it contains. The immense black hole was spotted by researchers in a galaxy called GS-9209, which lies 25 billion light-years away from Earth, making it one of the farthest to have been discovered and recorded. The team of astronomers at Edinburgh University, with the use of the James Webb space telescope (JWST), observed the galaxy and revealed fresh information about its history and composition. Dr Adam Carnall, who headed the team, said that the telescope, which is the most powerful ever built, helped them see how galaxies were growing more “larger and earlier” than what astronomers expected in the universe's first billion years. ALSO READ | 'Extraordinary event': Astronomers witness largest cosmic explosion in space “This work gives us our first really detailed look at the properties of these early galaxies, charting in detail the history of GS-9209, which managed to form as many stars as our own Milky Way in just 800mn years after the big bang,” he stated. Carnall added the “very massive black hole” spotted at the centre of GS-9209 was a “big surprise” that appeared to be supporting the theory that such enormous black holes stopped the formation of stars in early galaxies. “The evidence we see for the supermassive black hole was really unexpected,” Carnall said. “This is the kind of detail we’d never have been able to see without JWST,” he added. GS-9209 galaxy is one-tenth of Milky Way in size Edinburgh's former PhD student and now a professor of observational cosmology at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Karina Caputi, had discovered the GS-9209 galaxy in 2004. While GS-9209 contains around as many stars as are present in our home galaxy along with a combined mass which is equivalent to 40 billion suns, the galaxy's size is only one-tenth of the Milky Way. WATCH | How our sun will swallow the earth The galaxy is one of the earliest known examples of the ones that have stopped forming stars, stated the researchers. “The fact (that the black hole) is so massive, means it must have been very active in the past, with lots of gas falling in, which would have shone extremely brightly as a quasar,” said Carnall said. “All that energy spewing out from the black hole in the centre of the galaxy would have seriously disrupted the whole galaxy, stopping gas from collapsing to form new stars,” he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Astronomers discover supermassive black hole at the heart of ancient galaxy

<p>A supermassive blackhole has changed its direction and is now facing Earth, scientists at the Royal Astronomical Society discovered, after they reclassified a galaxy that is 657 million light-years away from the blue planet.</p>

<p>According to scientists, this galaxy— called PBC J2333.9-2343— has a blazar (active galactic nucleus) in its core with a relativistic jet (which is also known as a super-massive black hole).</p>

<p>Blazars are very high energy objects and are considered to be one of the most powerful phenomena in the universe.</p>

<p>Researchers have said that the galaxy now stretches nearly 4 million light-years across — nearly 40 times the size of the Milky Way.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/move-over-ai-world-is-getting-ready-for-artificial-meteor-shower-577329">Move over AI, world is getting ready for 'artificial meteor shower'</a></strong><br />
<br />
Their research published on March 21 has revealed that the galaxy—which was earlier classified as a radio galaxy—drastically turned its direction by up to 90 degrees, and is now directly pointing towards Earth.</p>

<p>“We started to study this galaxy as it showed peculiar properties,” spokesperson, Dr Lorena Hernández-García said.</p>

<p>"Our hypothesis was that the relativistic jet of its supermassive black hole&nbsp;had changed its direction, and to confirm that idea we had to carry out a lot of observations.”</p>

<p>“The fact that we see the nucleus is not feeding the lobes anymore means that they are very old. They are the relics of past activity, whereas the structures located closer to the nucleus represent younger and active jets.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-the-shape-of-our-universe-new-theory-suggests-it-might-not-be-flat-after-all-576053">Is the universe really flat? New theory suggests otherwise</a></p>

<p>Scientists are unsure what has caused the change in direction and how it could affect our galaxy.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-massive-tornado-on-the-sun-the-height-of-14-earths-caught-on-camera-574514">A massive 'tornado' on the sun, the height of 14 Earths, caught on camera</a></p>

<p>They suspect that PBC J2333.9-2343 might have collided with another galaxy, causing&nbsp;it to shift its direction.</p>

<p>Notably, this black hole is not the only threat that the Earth faces. According to new data published in The Astronomical Journal., three near-Earth asteroids (NEA) were&nbsp;discovered in the inner solar system&nbsp;and could pose a serious risk to Earth.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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A supermassive blackhole has changed its direction and is now facing Earth, scientists at the Royal Astronomical Society discovered, after they reclassified a galaxy that is 657 million light-years away from the blue planet.

A supermassive blackhole has changed its direction and is now facing Earth, scientists at the Royal Astronomical Society discovered, after they reclassified a galaxy that is 657 million light-years away from the blue planet. According to scientists, this galaxy— called PBC J2333.9-2343— has a blazar (active galactic nucleus) in its core with a relativistic jet (which is also known as a super-massive black hole). Blazars are very high energy objects and are considered to be one of the most powerful phenomena in the universe. Researchers have said that the galaxy now stretches nearly 4 million light-years across — nearly 40 times the size of the Milky Way. Also Read | Move over AI, world is getting ready for 'artificial meteor shower' Their research published on March 21 has revealed that the galaxy—which was earlier classified as a radio galaxy—drastically turned its direction by up to 90 degrees, and is now directly pointing towards Earth. “We started to study this galaxy as it showed peculiar properties,” spokesperson, Dr Lorena Hernández-García said. "Our hypothesis was that the relativistic jet of its supermassive black hole had changed its direction, and to confirm that idea we had to carry out a lot of observations.” “The fact that we see the nucleus is not feeding the lobes anymore means that they are very old. They are the relics of past activity, whereas the structures located closer to the nucleus represent younger and active jets.” Also read | Is the universe really flat? New theory suggests otherwise Scientists are unsure what has caused the change in direction and how it could affect our galaxy. Also read | A massive 'tornado' on the sun, the height of 14 Earths, caught on camera They suspect that PBC J2333.9-2343 might have collided with another galaxy, causing it to shift its direction. Notably, this black hole is not the only threat that the Earth faces. According to new data published in The Astronomical Journal., three near-Earth asteroids (NEA) were discovered in the inner solar system and could pose a serious risk to Earth. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

A supermassive blackhole has changed direction and now facing Earth, say scientists

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<p>A new research has revealed that our home galaxy, the Milky Way, might be forming stars at a much higher rate than previous estimates. The study conducted by the scientists at the University of Würzburg in Germany has surprised the scientific community.</p>

<p>The research published in the journal 'Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics' found that stars are forming at a rate four to eight times the mass of the Sun per year — which is two to four times more than current estimates given by astrophysicists.</p>

<p>The number becomes even bigger if we count&nbsp;the stars that are not as massive as Sun.&nbsp; Meaning, the Milky way is far more chaotic with 10 to 20 infant stars forming in our neighbourhood annually.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Understanding star formation rate is akin to taking the pulse of the galaxy. Scientists have concluded that the more stars a galaxy churns out, the faster it enriches itself with oxygen, iron, and other important elements that stars create.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The star formation rate is very important to understand for galaxy evolution,"&nbsp;said astrophysicist Thomas Siegert, associated with the study.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-big-space-james-webb-telescope-makes-shocking-discovery-shows-extreme-promise-early-on-565092" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | The Big Space: James Webb Telescope makes shocking discovery, shows extreme promise early on</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>How star rate formation is calculated?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Astronomers find the rate of star formation by estimating the amount of gamma radiation produced following the decay of aluminum-26. This isotope is formed during the birth and death of a star and has a half-life of about 700,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It has a cyclical effect as the birth and death of stars spews heavier elements into interstellar space. The interstellar dust caused by supernova explosions and the formation of new stars&nbsp;pumps our galaxy with the required elements to repeat the process all over again.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-astronauts-stunning-image-of-auroras-from-space-is-nothing-like-anything-you-have-ever-seen-566987" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: NASA astronaut clicks 'unreal' photo of auroras from space</strong></a></p>

<p>The researchers, however, added the caveat that current models may not present an accurate picture as it is difficult to determine the source's distance. It is perhaps the reason the scientists could only give a range for the star formation rate and not the exact numbers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A new research has revealed that our home galaxy, the Milky Way, might be forming stars at a much higher rate than previous estimates. The study conducted by the scientists at the University of Würzburg in Germany has surprised the scientific community.

A new research has revealed that our home galaxy, the Milky Way, might be forming stars at a much higher rate than previous estimates. The study conducted by the scientists at the University of Würzburg in Germany has surprised the scientific community. The research published in the journal 'Astronomy & Astrophysics' found that stars are forming at a rate four to eight times the mass of the Sun per year — which is two to four times more than current estimates given by astrophysicists. The number becomes even bigger if we count the stars that are not as massive as Sun. Meaning, the Milky way is far more chaotic with 10 to 20 infant stars forming in our neighbourhood annually. Understanding star formation rate is akin to taking the pulse of the galaxy. Scientists have concluded that the more stars a galaxy churns out, the faster it enriches itself with oxygen, iron, and other important elements that stars create. "The star formation rate is very important to understand for galaxy evolution," said astrophysicist Thomas Siegert, associated with the study. WATCH | The Big Space: James Webb Telescope makes shocking discovery, shows extreme promise early on × How star rate formation is calculated? Astronomers find the rate of star formation by estimating the amount of gamma radiation produced following the decay of aluminum-26. This isotope is formed during the birth and death of a star and has a half-life of about 700,000. It has a cyclical effect as the birth and death of stars spews heavier elements into interstellar space. The interstellar dust caused by supernova explosions and the formation of new stars pumps our galaxy with the required elements to repeat the process all over again. Read more: NASA astronaut clicks 'unreal' photo of auroras from space The researchers, however, added the caveat that current models may not present an accurate picture as it is difficult to determine the source's distance. It is perhaps the reason the scientists could only give a range for the star formation rate and not the exact numbers. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Chaos in Milky Way? Stars forming at greater pace than previously thought, study shows

<p>Milky Way Galaxy is huge. So huge that even if we travel at the speed of light (300,000 kilometres per second) it would take us 100,000 years to go from one end to the other. But the visible portion of our spiral galaxy, glowing with stars is not the only part in its structure.</p>

<p>A little away from the star-rich centre and even spiral arms of the galaxy, it is enclosed in what is called galactic stellar halo which is much bigger than the galaxy and another 100,000 light-years across. The study of the galactic halo is difficult because it hardly has any stars and is also made up of dark matter.</p>

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<p><em>(Image: NASA)</em></p>

<p>Scientists were studying something else and accidentally stumbled upon some stars located in the halo. Discovery of these stars is sure to help us study the vast space sparsely illuminated by stars</p>

<p>The stars that have been discovered are RR Lyrae variables. They orbit our galaxy through the galactic halo and are 1 million light-years away from the centre of the galaxy.</p>

<p>These stars are interesting to study. But what scientists have found handy is that their use as 'space candles' to determine distances and to find out more stars, if any, in the lonesome stellar halo part outside our galaxy.</p>

<p>"This study is redefining what constitutes the outer limits of our galaxy," said Astronomer Raja GuhaThakurta of the University of California Santa Cruz</p>

<p>"[It] and Andromeda are both so big, there's hardly any space between the two galaxies."</p>

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Milky Way Galaxy is huge. So huge that even if we travel at the speed of light (300,000 kilometres per second) it would take us 100,000 years to go from one end to the other.

Milky Way Galaxy is huge. So huge that even if we travel at the speed of light (300,000 kilometres per second) it would take us 100,000 years to go from one end to the other. But the visible portion of our spiral galaxy, glowing with stars is not the only part in its structure. A little away from the star-rich centre and even spiral arms of the galaxy, it is enclosed in what is called galactic stellar halo which is much bigger than the galaxy and another 100,000 light-years across. The study of the galactic halo is difficult because it hardly has any stars and is also made up of dark matter. (Image: NASA) Scientists were studying something else and accidentally stumbled upon some stars located in the halo. Discovery of these stars is sure to help us study the vast space sparsely illuminated by stars The stars that have been discovered are RR Lyrae variables. They orbit our galaxy through the galactic halo and are 1 million light-years away from the centre of the galaxy. These stars are interesting to study. But what scientists have found handy is that their use as 'space candles' to determine distances and to find out more stars, if any, in the lonesome stellar halo part outside our galaxy. "This study is redefining what constitutes the outer limits of our galaxy," said Astronomer Raja GuhaThakurta of the University of California Santa Cruz "[It] and Andromeda are both so big, there's hardly any space between the two galaxies." You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

These 'space candle' stars help study Milky Way's empty reaches

A dormant black hole nine times the mass of the Sun has been found outside the Milky Way for the first time. Molly Gambhir tells you all about this new discovery.

WION Fineprint | Scientists discover the first 'invisible' Black Hole

<p>A team of scientists on Monday (July 18) announced the discovery of the first "dormant" stellar-mass black hole, that is spotted orbiting a star in a nearby galaxy. The astrophysicists have said that the black hole in the Large Magellanic Cloud is the first to be confirmed outside of the Milky Way.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tomer Shenar, an astrophysicist at the University of Amsterdam said that the international debunking team has found a "needle in a haystack."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shenar, who is the lead author of a new study, told news agency AFP, "We found a quite massive star, that weighs 25 times the mass of our Sun, that is orbiting around something that we do not see."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shenar added: "We've never really detected such systems before. There have been a few claims in the last years, but they have all more or less been refuted."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study mentioned tha the team was actually looking at the skies for something that could eventually become a binary black hole - which means two black holes orbit each other after swallowing their stars in a supernovae explosion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists have noted that in the blue star, the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy, a galaxy that neighbours our Milky Way, is locked in a death dance with a black hole that has nine times the mass of our Sun.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Normally, X-ray radiation detects these kinds of&nbsp;black&nbsp;holes. But this binary system is called dormant because it does not emit X-rays.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Why is this discovery important?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>It is understood that these black holes are common throughout the universe, however, it has been difficult to find them. The discovery could also give an insight into how black holes are formed.</p>

<p>The experts have said that there have been several possible candidates in recent years that have been rejected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The discovery could also give an insight into how&nbsp;black&nbsp;holes are formed.</p>

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A team of scientists on Monday (July 18) announced the discovery of the first "dormant" stellar-mass black hole, that is spotted orbiting a star in a nearby galaxy.

A team of scientists on Monday (July 18) announced the discovery of the first "dormant" stellar-mass black hole, that is spotted orbiting a star in a nearby galaxy. The astrophysicists have said that the black hole in the Large Magellanic Cloud is the first to be confirmed outside of the Milky Way. Tomer Shenar, an astrophysicist at the University of Amsterdam said that the international debunking team has found a "needle in a haystack." Shenar, who is the lead author of a new study, told news agency AFP, "We found a quite massive star, that weighs 25 times the mass of our Sun, that is orbiting around something that we do not see." Shenar added: "We've never really detected such systems before. There have been a few claims in the last years, but they have all more or less been refuted." The study mentioned tha the team was actually looking at the skies for something that could eventually become a binary black hole - which means two black holes orbit each other after swallowing their stars in a supernovae explosion. Scientists have noted that in the blue star, the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy, a galaxy that neighbours our Milky Way, is locked in a death dance with a black hole that has nine times the mass of our Sun. Normally, X-ray radiation detects these kinds of black holes. But this binary system is called dormant because it does not emit X-rays. Why is this discovery important? It is understood that these black holes are common throughout the universe, however, it has been difficult to find them. The discovery could also give an insight into how black holes are formed. The experts have said that there have been several possible candidates in recent years that have been rejected. The discovery could also give an insight into how black holes are formed. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Needle in a haystack': Dormant stellar-mass black hole found outside the Milky Way

<p>According to reports, the Chinese &nbsp;Academy of Sciences (CAS) has launched a project called “Earth 2.0 ET” which seeks to find a planet similar to Earth orbiting a Sun-like star. The Chinese white paper says the mission is designed to measure the occurrence rate and the orbital distributions of Earth-sized planets with 30cm telescopes.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-isros-poem-will-remain-stable-in-space-and-facilitate-science-experiments-492950">Also Read:&nbsp;In a first, ISRO's 'POEM' will remain stable in space and facilitate science experiments</a></p>

<p>The statement adds that six transit telescopes would be equipped with a "field of view of 500 square degrees". It is expected the mission will monitor&nbsp;tens of thousands of transiting planets, "including the elusive Earth twins orbiting solar-type stars", it said.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;UK to launch space factory prototype</strong></p>

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<p>The seventh telescope will reportedly monitor an area "4 square degrees toward the galactic bulge". The powerful telescopes will measure "hundreds of long-period and free-floating planets".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission statement claimed that the "transit and the microlensing telescopes will revolutionise our understandings of terrestrial planets across a large swath of orbital distances and free space."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nature had earlier expanded on China's plan reporting that 5,000 exoplanets have been discovered in the Milky Way by NASA's Kepler telescope. However, China would be using much more powerful telescopes. The mission is set to be launched in 2026.</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>

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According to reports, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has launched a project called “Earth 2.0 ET” which seeks to find a planet similar to Earth orbiting a Sun-like star.

According to reports, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has launched a project called “Earth 2.0 ET” which seeks to find a planet similar to Earth orbiting a Sun-like star. The Chinese white paper says the mission is designed to measure the occurrence rate and the orbital distributions of Earth-sized planets with 30cm telescopes. Also Read: In a first, ISRO's 'POEM' will remain stable in space and facilitate science experiments The statement adds that six transit telescopes would be equipped with a "field of view of 500 square degrees". It is expected the mission will monitor tens of thousands of transiting planets, "including the elusive Earth twins orbiting solar-type stars", it said. Watch: UK to launch space factory prototype The seventh telescope will reportedly monitor an area "4 square degrees toward the galactic bulge". The powerful telescopes will measure "hundreds of long-period and free-floating planets". The mission statement claimed that the "transit and the microlensing telescopes will revolutionise our understandings of terrestrial planets across a large swath of orbital distances and free space." Nature had earlier expanded on China's plan reporting that 5,000 exoplanets have been discovered in the Milky Way by NASA's Kepler telescope. However, China would be using much more powerful telescopes. The mission is set to be launched in 2026. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China's new plan to find 'Earth 2.0 ET'

Scientists claim that they have discovered the fastest-growing black hole of the past nine billion years. The supermassive black hole has mass of three billion suns and is 7,000 times more luminous than all the light from Milky Way.

Fastest-growing black hole, with mass of 3 billion suns, discovered by astronomers

<p>Are we alone in the universe? This is a question that has bothered scientists for time immemorial. A number of researchers over the years have attempted to find any trace of alien life in the farthest corners of the universe but till now, no concrete proof has emerged from the studies. However, according to a professor at the University of California Los Angeles, there can be intelligent alien life on Dyson spheres around white dwarf stars in the Milky Way. Ben Zuckerman, who teaches physics and astronomy, has authored a new study which focuses on alien presence in the Dyson spheres.</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/al-qaeda-threatens-terrors-attacks-in-indian-states-over-insult-to-prophet-486113" hreflang="en">Al-Qaeda threatens terror attacks in Indian states over ‘insult to Prophet'</a></p>

<p>Dyson spheres are hypothetical constructions which exist around a star and the spheres, named after well-known physicist Freeman Dyson, take in a huge amount of the star’s power output.</p>

<p>According to the study, Freedom suggested that if alien life exists on a planet, they would prefer to create a Dyson sphere around their star than moving around in the universe. As a result, a study of the spheres can point towards the viability of alien life on a white dwarf (a small, dense star).</p>

<p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/is-it-a-warning-microplastics-breach-another-frontier-now-found-in-freshly-fallen-snow-in-antarctica-486183" hreflang="en">Microplastics breach another frontier, now found in freshly fallen snow in Antarctica</a></p>

<p>The study proposes that Dyson spheres can also allow the scientists to understand the exact number of alien civilisations that exist in the universe. The absence of any Dyson spheres can hint at an unstable environment and that rules out the presence of alien species up to a certain extent.</p>

<p>While the suggestions are new because of the lack of data about white dwarves, this can be an incomplete solution as the Dyson spheres does not have a straight correlation with life till now.</p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Are we alone in the universe? This is a question that has bothered scientists for time immemorial. A number of researchers over the years have attempted to find any trace of alien life in the farthest corners of the universe but till now, no concrete proof has emerged from the studies.

Are we alone in the universe? This is a question that has bothered scientists for time immemorial. A number of researchers over the years have attempted to find any trace of alien life in the farthest corners of the universe but till now, no concrete proof has emerged from the studies. However, according to a professor at the University of California Los Angeles, there can be intelligent alien life on Dyson spheres around white dwarf stars in the Milky Way. Ben Zuckerman, who teaches physics and astronomy, has authored a new study which focuses on alien presence in the Dyson spheres. Also read | Al-Qaeda threatens terror attacks in Indian states over ‘insult to Prophet' Dyson spheres are hypothetical constructions which exist around a star and the spheres, named after well-known physicist Freeman Dyson, take in a huge amount of the star’s power output. According to the study, Freedom suggested that if alien life exists on a planet, they would prefer to create a Dyson sphere around their star than moving around in the universe. As a result, a study of the spheres can point towards the viability of alien life on a white dwarf (a small, dense star). Also read | Microplastics breach another frontier, now found in freshly fallen snow in Antarctica The study proposes that Dyson spheres can also allow the scientists to understand the exact number of alien civilisations that exist in the universe. The absence of any Dyson spheres can hint at an unstable environment and that rules out the presence of alien species up to a certain extent. While the suggestions are new because of the lack of data about white dwarves, this can be an incomplete solution as the Dyson spheres does not have a straight correlation with life till now. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Can there be alien life in Milky Way? New study provides a fascinating answer

Space enthusiasts around the world are fascinated after astronomers recently captured first ever image of a black hole at the centre of universe. It is the first image over compiled of Sagittarius A*

Black hole at centre of Milky Way: Key details about Sagittarius A

<p>Katie Bouman, the scientist who played a key role in the discovery of the black hole at the Milky Way's centre, has said that it is ''only the beginning.''</p>

<p>The 33-year-old, who is an assistant professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), is already a veteran of two major scientific discoveries.</p>

<p>Bouman is an expert in computational imaging which requires developing algorithms to observe distant phenomena.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/black-holes-monster-in-the-heart-of-milky-way-galaxy-478485/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>She is an American engineer and computer scientist, who is famous for her CHIRP algorithm, which helped in the creation of the programme that led to the release of the first image of a black hole in a distant galaxy in 2019.</p>

<p>The global science superstar has now played a key role in the creation of a groundbreaking image of the supermassive black hole at the heart of our own Milky Way galaxy.</p>

<p>Speaking about the breakthrough announcement in an interview with AFP, she said, "The first one was just so exciting because it was the first one, and just being able to see a black hole for the first time was spectacular. But I think the holy grail of the Event Horizon Telescope has always been to image Sagittarius A*. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/theres-a-blackhole-4-million-times-the-size-of-sun-at-the-centre-of-milky-way-check-it-out-478429" hreflang="en">There's a blackhole 4 million times the size of sun at the centre of Milky Way. Check it out!</a></strong></p>

<p>"I think this is really only the beginning. And now that we know that we have these extreme laboratories of gravity, we can go back and we can improve our instruments and improve our algorithms in order to see more and to extract more science,'' she added.</p>

<p>According to Bouman, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) acted as a gamechanger as it is powerful enough to spot a golf ball on the moon.</p>

<p>She believes that the telescope, which is a network of radio dishes designed to detect the light cast when matter disappears into the maw of a black hole, is one of a number of remarkable astronomical ventures that in recent years have helped to expand our views of the universe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

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Katie Bouman, the scientist who played a key role in the discovery of the black hole at the Milky Way's centre, has said that it is ''only the beginning.'' The 33-year-old, who is an assistant professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), is already a veteran of two major scientific discoveries.

Katie Bouman, the scientist who played a key role in the discovery of the black hole at the Milky Way's centre, has said that it is ''only the beginning.'' The 33-year-old, who is an assistant professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), is already a veteran of two major scientific discoveries. Bouman is an expert in computational imaging which requires developing algorithms to observe distant phenomena. She is an American engineer and computer scientist, who is famous for her CHIRP algorithm, which helped in the creation of the programme that led to the release of the first image of a black hole in a distant galaxy in 2019. The global science superstar has now played a key role in the creation of a groundbreaking image of the supermassive black hole at the heart of our own Milky Way galaxy. Speaking about the breakthrough announcement in an interview with AFP, she said, "The first one was just so exciting because it was the first one, and just being able to see a black hole for the first time was spectacular. But I think the holy grail of the Event Horizon Telescope has always been to image Sagittarius A*. Also read | There's a blackhole 4 million times the size of sun at the centre of Milky Way. Check it out! "I think this is really only the beginning. And now that we know that we have these extreme laboratories of gravity, we can go back and we can improve our instruments and improve our algorithms in order to see more and to extract more science,'' she added. According to Bouman, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) acted as a gamechanger as it is powerful enough to spot a golf ball on the moon. She believes that the telescope, which is a network of radio dishes designed to detect the light cast when matter disappears into the maw of a black hole, is one of a number of remarkable astronomical ventures that in recent years have helped to expand our views of the universe. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

US researcher says seeing Milky Way's new black hole is 'only the beginning'

Black holes, the monsters of the cosmos that move around devouring planets and even stars. Till recently their presence was only established theoretically but now for the first time we can have a glimpse of an actual hole in our cosmic neighborhood

Black Holes: Monster in the heart of Milky Way Galaxy

<p>The Milky Way has a black hole!</p>

<p>In what can very well be called the astronomical discovery of the century, astronomers have uncovered the existence of a supermassive black hole right in the middle of our galaxy.</p>

<p>This black hole's image was released in six simultaneous news conferences around the globe. At first glance, the image doesn't seem like much, a lumpy doughnut-like object that seems out of focus. However, it has finally provided visual evidence of a black hole, four million times more massive than the sun.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Universe: After 13.8 billion years, it's time to slow down</strong></p>

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<p>In the image, we can't see the massive object itself, because of the pitch-black dark. However,&nbsp;we can see glowing gas around it, revealing a telltale signature; a dark central region known as a shadow, surrounded by a bright ring-like structure.</p>

<p>Previously, scientists had witnessed stars orbiting around something invisible and massive right at the centre of the Milky Way but this is the first proof they have got.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-super-long-blood-moon-is-gonna-grace-the-skies-soon-heres-how-you-can-see-it-478343" hreflang="en">A super-long blood moon is gonna grace the skies soon. Here's how you can see it</a></strong></p>

<p>The object is situated around 27,000 light-years away from our Earth.</p>

<p>Image for this black hole named Sagittarius A* or Sgr A* (pronounced "sadge-ay-star") was produced by the Event Horizon Telescope or EHT, Collaboration, using observations from a worldwide network of radio telescopes.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-few-hours-a-1600-ft-wide-asteroid-will-come-close-to-earth-say-scientists-478358" hreflang="en">In a few hours, 1,600-ft wide asteroid will come close to Earth, say scientists</a></strong></p>

<p>“We were stunned by how well the size of the ring agreed with predictions from Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity," says Geoffrey Bower of the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, an EHT Project Scientist.</p>

<p>"These unprecedented observations have greatly improved our understanding of what happens at the very center of our galaxy and offer new insights on how these giant black holes interact with their surroundings.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


The Milky Way has a black hole! In what can very well be called the astronomical discovery of the century, astronomers have uncovered the existence of a supermassive black hole right in the middle of our galaxy.

The Milky Way has a black hole! In what can very well be called the astronomical discovery of the century, astronomers have uncovered the existence of a supermassive black hole right in the middle of our galaxy. This black hole's image was released in six simultaneous news conferences around the globe. At first glance, the image doesn't seem like much, a lumpy doughnut-like object that seems out of focus. However, it has finally provided visual evidence of a black hole, four million times more massive than the sun. Watch | Universe: After 13.8 billion years, it's time to slow down In the image, we can't see the massive object itself, because of the pitch-black dark. However, we can see glowing gas around it, revealing a telltale signature; a dark central region known as a shadow, surrounded by a bright ring-like structure. Previously, scientists had witnessed stars orbiting around something invisible and massive right at the centre of the Milky Way but this is the first proof they have got. Also read | A super-long blood moon is gonna grace the skies soon. Here's how you can see it The object is situated around 27,000 light-years away from our Earth. Image for this black hole named Sagittarius A* or Sgr A* (pronounced "sadge-ay-star") was produced by the Event Horizon Telescope or EHT, Collaboration, using observations from a worldwide network of radio telescopes. Also read | In a few hours, 1,600-ft wide asteroid will come close to Earth, say scientists “We were stunned by how well the size of the ring agreed with predictions from Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity," says Geoffrey Bower of the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, an EHT Project Scientist. "These unprecedented observations have greatly improved our understanding of what happens at the very center of our galaxy and offer new insights on how these giant black holes interact with their surroundings.” Watch WION LIVE HERE:

There's a blackhole 4 million times the size of sun at the centre of Milky Way. Check it out!

In Pics: NASA shares amazing pictures of 22 black holes in Milky way

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