Corey S Powell
Corey S Powell  ·  yesterday

Content Warning

These amazing ALMA findings come from an international partnership with significant support from the National Science Foundation.

If you live in the U.S., please call your representatives to voice support for science funding across the board, from vital health to eye-opening exploration.

https://www.nsf.gov/news/decade-unveiling-hidden-universe-alma-10#Science #funding #future#USA

Corey S Powell
Corey S Powell  ·  yesterday

Content Warning

In a related study, the ALMA observatory finds hints of planets being born around stars in our galaxy's "central molecular zone." This region is dense and turbulent, with a supermassive black hole at the center -- yet planets seem to be forming there anyway.

https://www.uni-koeln.de/en/university/news/news/news-detail/a-multitude-of-protoplanetary-discs-detected-in-the-galactic-centre #science #nature #discovery#astrodon

Corey S Powell
Corey S Powell  ·  yesterday

Content Warning

By tuning in to different microwave frequencies, ALMA can create snapshots of different components of the disks that surround newborn stars.

For the first time, we can see the swirls and waves that turn clouds of gas and dust into worlds like our own.

https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/exoalma-survey-reveals-incredible-images-of-structures-in-protoplanetary-disks/ #science #nature #astronomy

grobi
grobi  ·  3 weeks ago

Content Warning

General_relativity

General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity, and as Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics. General relativity generalizes special relativity and refines Newton's law of universal gravitation, providing a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space and time, or four-dimensional spacetime. In particular, the curvature of spacetime is directly related to the energy and momentum of whatever is present, including matter and radiation. The relation is specified by the Einstein field equations, a system of second-order partial differential equations.

Newton's law of universal gravitation, which describes classical gravity, can be seen as a prediction of general relativity for the almost flat spacetime geometry around stationary mass distributions. Some predictions of general relativity, however, are beyond Newton's law of universal gravitation in classical physics. These predictions concern the passage of time, the geometry of space, the motion of bodies in free fall, and the propagation of light, and include gravitational time dilation, gravitational lensing, the gravitational redshift of light, the Shapiro time delay and singularities/black holes. So far, all tests of general relativity have been shown to be in agreement with the theory. The time-dependent solutions of general relativity enable us to talk about the history of the universe and have provided the modern framework for cosmology, thus leading to the discovery of the Big Bang and cosmic microwave background radiation. ..
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativity

* relatively related:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerr_metric
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrose_process
https://physicsopenlab.org/2017/09/07/spectral-lines-broadening/

* Credits: Wikimedia Commons

#space #blackhole #astronomy #science #nature#NASA#ESA

Slow motion computer simulation of the black hole binary system GW150914 as seen by a nearby observer, during 0.33 s of its final inspiral, merge, and ringdown. The star field behind the black holes is being heavily distorted and appears to rotate and move, due to extreme gravitational lensing, as spacetime itself is distorted and dragged around by the rotating black holes.
grobi
grobi  ·  3 weeks ago

Content Warning

The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes
* Scientific Visualization Credit: NASA, GSFC, Jeremy Schnittman & Brian P. Powell; Text: Francis J. Reddy
https://sedvme.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/francis.j.reddy
https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/jeremy.d.schnittman
https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/brian.p.powell
https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
https://www.nasa.gov/

Explanation:
If one black hole looks strange, what about two? Light rays from accretion disks around a pair of orbiting supermassive black holes make their way through the warped space-time produced by extreme gravity in this detailed computer visualization. The simulated accretion disks have been given different false color schemes, red for the disk surrounding a 200-million-solar-mass black hole, and blue for the disk surrounding a 100-million-solar-mass black hole. For these masses, though, both accretion disks would actually emit most of their light in the ultraviolet. The video allows us to see both sides of each black hole at the same time. Red and blue light originating from both black holes can be seen in the innermost ring of light, called the photon sphere, near their event horizons. In the past decade, gravitational waves from black hole collisions have actually been detected, although the coalescence of supermassive black holes remains undiscovered.
https://www.nasa.gov/universe/new-nasa-visualization-probes-the-light-bending-dance-of-binary-black-holes/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200825.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accretion_disk
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190411.html
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14132/
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993AmJPh..61..619N/abstract
https://apod.nasa.gov/htmltest/rjn_bht.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photon_sphere
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201104.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250506.html

#space #blackhole #astrophotography #photography #astronomy #science #nature#NASA#ESA

2025 May 6 The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes * Scientific Visualization Credit: NASA, GSFC, Jeremy Schnittman & Brian P. Powell; Text: Francis J. Reddy Explanation: If one black hole looks strange, what about two? Light rays from accretion disks around a pair of orbiting supermassive black holes make their way through the warped space-time produced by extreme gravity in this detailed computer visualization. The simulated accretion disks have been given different false color schemes, red for the disk surrounding a 200-million-solar-mass black hole, and blue for the disk surrounding a 100-million-solar-mass black hole. For these masses, though, both accretion disks would actually emit most of their light in the ultraviolet. The video allows us to see both sides of each black hole at the same time. Red and blue light originating from both black holes can be seen in the innermost ring of light, called the photon sphere, near their event horizons. In the past decade, gravitational waves from black hole collisions have actually been detected, although the coalescence of supermassive black holes remains undiscovered Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation.
grobi
grobi  ·  2 weeks ago
IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet
Illustration Credit: NASA, Pablo Garcia
https://www.nasa.gov/

Explanation:
How do black holes create X-rays? Answering this long-standing question was significantly advanced recently with data taken by NASA’s IXPE satellite. X-rays cannot exit a black hole, but they can be created in the energetic environment nearby, in particular by a jet of particles moving outward. By observing X-ray light arriving from near the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy BL Lac, called a blazar, it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant polarization, which is expected when created more by energetic electrons than protons. In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful jet is depicted emanating from an orange-colored accretion disk circling the black hole. Understanding highly energetic processes across the universe helps humanity to understand similar processes that occur on or near our Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/ixpe/nasas-ixpe-reveals-x-ray-generating-particles-in-black-hole-jets/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap031128.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240507.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250504.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarization_(waves)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_Lacertae

https://home.cern/science/physics
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025arXiv250501832A/abstract
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/11_xrays/
https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/whelect.html
https://home.cern/news/news/physics/proton-century
https://chandra.si.edu/art/xray/

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250509.html

#space #blackhole #astroart #astronomy #physics #photography #science #nature#NASA

grobi
grobi  ·  2 weeks ago

Content Warning

Animation: Spiral Disk around a Black Hole
Illustrated Animation Credit: ESA, NASA, Hubble, M. Kornmesser
https://esahubble.org/projects/anniversary/production_team/
https://www.spacetelescope.org/
https://www.esa.int/
https://www.nasa.gov/

Explanation:
What would it look like to orbit a black hole? Many black holes are surrounded by swirling pools of gas known as accretion disks. These disks can be extremely hot, and much of the orbiting gas will eventually fall through the black hole's event horizon -- where it will never be seen again. The featured animation is an artist's rendering of the curious disk spiraling around the supermassive black hole at the center of spiral galaxy NGC 3147. Gas at the inner edge of this disk is so close to the black hole that it moves unusually fast -- at 10 percent of the speed of light. Gas this fast shows relativistic beaming, making the side of the disk heading toward us appear significantly brighter than the side moving away. The animation is based on images of NGC 3147 made recently with the Hubble Space Telescope.

!>> https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190820.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190820.html

#space #blackhole #astronomy #astrophysics #science#NASA

2019 August 20 Animation: Spiral Disk around a Black Hole Illustrated Animation Credit: ESA, NASA, Hubble, M. Kornmesser Explanation: What would it look like to orbit a black hole? Many black holes are surrounded by swirling pools of gas known as accretion disks. These disks can be extremely hot, and much of the orbiting gas will eventually fall through the black hole's event horizon -- where it will never be seen again. The featured animation is an artist's rendering of the curious disk spiraling around the supermassive black hole at the center of spiral galaxy NGC 3147. Gas at the inner edge of this disk is so close to the black hole that it moves unusually fast -- at 10 percent of the speed of light. Gas this fast shows relativistic beaming, making the side of the disk heading toward us appear significantly brighter than the side moving away. The animation is based on images of NGC 3147 made recently with the Hubble Space Telescope. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.
grobi
grobi  ·  3 weeks ago
The black hole’s extreme gravitational field redirects and distorts light coming from different parts of the disk, but exactly what we see depends on our viewing angle. The greatest distortion occurs when viewing the system nearly edgewise.

As our viewpoint rotates around the black hole, we see different parts of the fast-moving gas in the accretion disk moving directly toward us. Due to a phenomenon called "relativistic Doppler beaming," gas in the disk that's moving toward us makes that side of the disk appear brighter, the opposite side darker. This effect disappears when we're directly above or below the disk because, from that angle, none of the gas is moving directly toward us.

When our viewpoint passes beneath the disk, it looks like the gas is moving in the opposite direction. This is no different that viewing a clock from behind, which would make it look like the hands are moving counter-clockwise.

CORRECTION: In earlier versions of the 360-degree movies on this page, these important effects were not apparent. This was due to a minor mistake in orienting the camera relative to the disk. The fact that it was not initially discovered by the NASA scientist who made the movie reflects just how bizarre and counter-intuitive black holes can be!

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Jeremy Schnittman (NASA/GSFC)
Scott Wiessinger (USRA)
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)

>>https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13326#section_credits

#space #blackhole #astrophysics #astrophotography #photography #astronomy #science #nature#NASA#ESA

grobi
grobi  ·  2 weeks ago

Content Warning

IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet
Illustration Credit: NASA, Pablo Garcia
https://www.nasa.gov/

Explanation:
How do black holes create X-rays? Answering this long-standing question was significantly advanced recently with data taken by NASA’s IXPE satellite. X-rays cannot exit a black hole, but they can be created in the energetic environment nearby, in particular by a jet of particles moving outward. By observing X-ray light arriving from near the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy BL Lac, called a blazar, it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant polarization, which is expected when created more by energetic electrons than protons. In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful jet is depicted emanating from an orange-colored accretion disk circling the black hole. Understanding highly energetic processes across the universe helps humanity to understand similar processes that occur on or near our Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/ixpe/nasas-ixpe-reveals-x-ray-generating-particles-in-black-hole-jets/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap031128.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240507.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250504.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blazar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarization_(waves)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_Lacertae

https://home.cern/science/physics
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025arXiv250501832A/abstract
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/11_xrays/
https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/whelect.html
https://home.cern/news/news/physics/proton-century
https://chandra.si.edu/art/xray/

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250509.html

#space #blackhole #astroart #astronomy #physics #photography #science #nature#NASA

2025 May 9 An artist's illustration of what the surroundings of the supermassive black hole at the center of BL Lac is shown. A white jet protrudes horizontally toward the bottom of the image, emanating from a orange accretion disk surrounding a black hole. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet Illustration Credit: NASA, Pablo Garcia Explanation: How do black holes create X-rays? Answering this long-standing question was significantly advanced recently with data taken by NASA’s IXPE satellite. X-rays cannot exit a black hole, but they can be created in the energetic environment nearby, in particular by a jet of particles moving outward. By observing X-ray light arriving from near the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy BL Lac, called a blazar, it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant polarization, which is expected when created more by energetic electrons than protons. In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful jet is depicted emanating from an orange-colored accretion disk circling the black hole. Understanding highly energetic processes across the universe helps humanity to understand similar processes that occur on or near our Earth. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.
2025 May 9 An artist's illustration of what the surroundings of the supermassive black hole at the center of BL Lac is shown. A white jet protrudes horizontally toward the bottom of the image, emanating from a orange accretion disk surrounding a black hole. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet Illustration Credit: NASA, Pablo Garcia Explanation: How do black holes create X-rays? Answering this long-standing question was significantly advanced recently with data taken by NASA’s IXPE satellite. X-rays cannot exit a black hole, but they can be created in the energetic environment nearby, in particular by a jet of particles moving outward. By observing X-ray light arriving from near the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy BL Lac, called a blazar, it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant polarization, which is expected when created more by energetic electrons than protons. In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful jet is depicted emanating from an orange-colored accretion disk circling the black hole. Understanding highly energetic processes across the universe helps humanity to understand similar processes that occur on or near our Earth. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.
2025 May 9 An artist's illustration of what the surroundings of the supermassive black hole at the center of BL Lac is shown. A white jet protrudes horizontally toward the bottom of the image, emanating from a orange accretion disk surrounding a black hole. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet Illustration Credit: NASA, Pablo Garcia Explanation: How do black holes create X-rays? Answering this long-standing question was significantly advanced recently with data taken by NASA’s IXPE satellite. X-rays cannot exit a black hole, but they can be created in the energetic environment nearby, in particular by a jet of particles moving outward. By observing X-ray light arriving from near the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy BL Lac, called a blazar, it was discovered that these X-rays lacked significant polarization, which is expected when created more by energetic electrons than protons. In the featured artistic illustration, a powerful jet is depicted emanating from an orange-colored accretion disk circling the black hole. Understanding highly energetic processes across the universe helps humanity to understand similar processes that occur on or near our Earth. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.
grobi
grobi  ·  3 weeks ago

Content Warning

Black Hole Accretion Disk Visualization

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Jeremy Schnittman (NASA/GSFC)
Scott Wiessinger (USRA)
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)

This new visualization of a black hole illustrates how its gravity distorts our view, warping its surroundings as if seen in a carnival mirror. The visualization simulates the appearance of a black hole where infalling matter has collected into a thin, hot structure called an accretion disk. The black hole’s extreme gravity skews light emitted by different regions of the disk, producing the misshapen appearance.

Bright knots constantly form and dissipate in the disk as magnetic fields wind and twist through the churning gas. Nearest the black hole, the gas orbits at close to the speed of light, while the outer portions spin a bit more slowly. This difference stretches and shears the bright knots, producing light and dark lanes in the disk.

Viewed from the side, the disk looks brighter on the left than it does on the right. Glowing gas on the left side of the disk moves toward us so fast that the effects of Einstein’s relativity give it a boost in brightness; the opposite happens on the right side, where gas moving away us becomes slightly dimmer. This asymmetry disappears when we see the disk exactly face on because, from that perspective, none of the material is moving along our line of sight.

Closest to the black hole, the gravitational light-bending becomes so excessive that we can see the underside of the disk as a bright ring of light seemingly outlining the black hole. This so-called “photon ring” is composed of multiple rings, which grow progressively fainter and thinner, from light that has circled the black hole two, three, or even more times before escaping to reach our eyes. ...

>> https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13326

#space #blackhole #astrophotography #astrophysics #photography #astronomy #science #nature#NASA

* converted and compressed video version This movie shows the black hole visualization using a partial rotation, plus a long sequence where the black hole is viewed nearly edge on. The thumbnail of this video highlights and explains various aspects of the black hole visualization. This visualization is “mass invariant,” which means it can represent a black hole of any mass. The size of the black hole's shadow is proportional to its mass, but so is the size of the accreetion disk, so its properties scale accordingly. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Jeremy Schnittman
grobi
grobi  ·  3 weeks ago

Content Warning

The black hole’s extreme gravitational field redirects and distorts light coming from different parts of the disk, but exactly what we see depends on our viewing angle. The greatest distortion occurs when viewing the system nearly edgewise.

As our viewpoint rotates around the black hole, we see different parts of the fast-moving gas in the accretion disk moving directly toward us. Due to a phenomenon called "relativistic Doppler beaming," gas in the disk that's moving toward us makes that side of the disk appear brighter, the opposite side darker. This effect disappears when we're directly above or below the disk because, from that angle, none of the gas is moving directly toward us.

When our viewpoint passes beneath the disk, it looks like the gas is moving in the opposite direction. This is no different that viewing a clock from behind, which would make it look like the hands are moving counter-clockwise.

CORRECTION: In earlier versions of the 360-degree movies on this page, these important effects were not apparent. This was due to a minor mistake in orienting the camera relative to the disk. The fact that it was not initially discovered by the NASA scientist who made the movie reflects just how bizarre and counter-intuitive black holes can be!

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Jeremy Schnittman (NASA/GSFC)
Scott Wiessinger (USRA)
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)

>>https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13326#section_credits

#space #blackhole #astrophysics #astrophotography #photography #astronomy #science #nature#NASA#ESA

Zoomed into the central region, highlighting the photon ring, with 360-degree rotation and a pause at almost edge on. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Jeremy Schnittman
360-degree rotation and a pause when the view is almost edge on; uses a square frame to show the complete accretion disk. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Jeremy Schnittman
Spaceflight 🚀
Spaceflight 🚀  ·  4 weeks ago

Content Warning

We've arranged a #society based on #science and #technology, in which nobody understands anything about science and technology. And this combustible mixture of #ignorance 🙈 and #power 💪, sooner or later, is going to blow up in our faces. Who is running the science and technology in a #democracy ✅ if the people don't know anything about it ? https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan#Quotes

#CarlSagan #feasability #taxpayer#RocketScience#LaunchCost

Paul Hammond
Paul Hammond  ·  last month

Content Warning

'Tis But A Scratch!

Curiosity Rover Wheel Check - Curiosity acquired this image using its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), located on the turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm, on April 22, 2025, Sol 4518 of the Mars Science Laboratory Mission

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

#CuriosityRover#MSL#MarsRover#NASA#Science#Space#Exploration#Solarocks#Mars #MAHLI#WheelOfTime

CosmicRami
CosmicRami  ·  last month

Content Warning

You may have seen headlines today - such as in The New York Times - suggesting the possible detection of a biosignature on an exoplanet. It’s an exciting prospect, no doubt. But it’s also an extraordinary claim, and as the saying goes, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" (Carl Sagan).

While the molecule in question is associated with biological processes, it’s important to note that non-biological (abiotic) pathways for its formation exist as well (see: Reed et al. 2024 ApJL; Sanz-Novo et al. 2025 ApJL). These results are interesting, but far from conclusive.

Scientists work within a robust framework to test such claims. This includes:

- Peer review and replication
- Community feedback and critique
- Cross-validation through multiple instruments and techniques
- Avoiding sensationalism in science communication
- Building consensus through sustained investigation

I am looking forward to hearing more from the exoplanet and astrobiology communities on these findings before drawing conclusions.

In the meantime, the ripple effect of bold headlines - like "Possible Signs of Extraterrestrial Life" - has already begun. A friend at the dentist this morning spotted a very misleading headline about this on Channel 9 News!

This is where science communication becomes critical: managing public interest and excitement without compromising scientific accuracy.

We should use moments like these to show the process - how scientific ideas are proposed, tested, debated, and refined - to broader audiences. Whether we’re talking about space, climate change, or pandemics, this transparency is essential to building trust in science.

Aliens make for a great headline, but the real story is in how we do the science.

#JWST#Astronomy#Astrobiology #Astrodon#Science#ScienceCommunication

The search for life beyond Earth has led scientists to explore many suggestive mysteries, from plumes of methane on Mars to clouds of phosphine gas on Venus. But as far as we can tell, Earth’s inhabitants remain alone in the cosmos. Now a team of researchers is offering what it contends is the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life, not in our solar system but on a massive planet, known as K2-18b, that orbits a star 120 light-years from Earth. A repeated analysis of the exoplanet’s atmosphere suggests an abundance of a molecule that on Earth has only one known source: living organisms such as marine algae. “It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and an author of the new study, at a news conference on Tuesday. Still, he said, the best explanation for his group’s observations is that K2-18b is covered with a warm ocean, brimming with life. “This is a revolutionary moment,” Dr. Madhusudhan said. “It’s the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.”
The search for life beyond Earth has led scientists to explore many suggestive mysteries, from plumes of methane on Mars to clouds of phosphine gas on Venus. But as far as we can tell, Earth’s inhabitants remain alone in the cosmos. Now a team of researchers is offering what it contends is the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life, not in our solar system but on a massive planet, known as K2-18b, that orbits a star 120 light-years from Earth. A repeated analysis of the exoplanet’s atmosphere suggests an abundance of a molecule that on Earth has only one known source: living organisms such as marine algae. “It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and an author of the new study, at a news conference on Tuesday. Still, he said, the best explanation for his group’s observations is that K2-18b is covered with a warm ocean, brimming with life. “This is a revolutionary moment,” Dr. Madhusudhan said. “It’s the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.”
The search for life beyond Earth has led scientists to explore many suggestive mysteries, from plumes of methane on Mars to clouds of phosphine gas on Venus. But as far as we can tell, Earth’s inhabitants remain alone in the cosmos. Now a team of researchers is offering what it contends is the strongest indication yet of extraterrestrial life, not in our solar system but on a massive planet, known as K2-18b, that orbits a star 120 light-years from Earth. A repeated analysis of the exoplanet’s atmosphere suggests an abundance of a molecule that on Earth has only one known source: living organisms such as marine algae. “It is in no one’s interest to claim prematurely that we have detected life,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge and an author of the new study, at a news conference on Tuesday. Still, he said, the best explanation for his group’s observations is that K2-18b is covered with a warm ocean, brimming with life. “This is a revolutionary moment,” Dr. Madhusudhan said. “It’s the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet.”
Corey S Powell
Corey S Powell  ·  last month

Content Warning

Possibly the weirdest planet yet discovered?

Newfound world 2M1510 (AB) b appears to orbit not one but two stars...and they are actually failed stars, known as brown dwarfs...and the planet orbits sideways, in a unique up-and-down polar orbit.

https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2508/ #space #science #astronomy #nature

Left: This image, taken in visible light, shows 2M1510 AB, a pair of brown dwarfs orbiting each other. The two brown dwarfs, A and B, are seen as a single source in this image, but we know there are two of them because they periodically eclipse each other. When monitoring their orbits, astronomers found perturbations that can only be explained by the gravitational tug of an exoplanet circling both brown dwarfs in a perpendicular orbit. This system contains a third brown dwarf, 2M1510 C, which is located too far away to be responsible for these perturbations. Right: This is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet 2M1510 (AB) b’s unusual orbit around its host stars, a pair of brown dwarfs. The newly discovered planet has a polar orbit, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the two stars are traveling.
Left: This image, taken in visible light, shows 2M1510 AB, a pair of brown dwarfs orbiting each other. The two brown dwarfs, A and B, are seen as a single source in this image, but we know there are two of them because they periodically eclipse each other. When monitoring their orbits, astronomers found perturbations that can only be explained by the gravitational tug of an exoplanet circling both brown dwarfs in a perpendicular orbit. This system contains a third brown dwarf, 2M1510 C, which is located too far away to be responsible for these perturbations. Right: This is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet 2M1510 (AB) b’s unusual orbit around its host stars, a pair of brown dwarfs. The newly discovered planet has a polar orbit, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the two stars are traveling.
Left: This image, taken in visible light, shows 2M1510 AB, a pair of brown dwarfs orbiting each other. The two brown dwarfs, A and B, are seen as a single source in this image, but we know there are two of them because they periodically eclipse each other. When monitoring their orbits, astronomers found perturbations that can only be explained by the gravitational tug of an exoplanet circling both brown dwarfs in a perpendicular orbit. This system contains a third brown dwarf, 2M1510 C, which is located too far away to be responsible for these perturbations. Right: This is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet 2M1510 (AB) b’s unusual orbit around its host stars, a pair of brown dwarfs. The newly discovered planet has a polar orbit, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the two stars are traveling.
Corey S Powell
Corey S Powell  ·  2 months ago

Content Warning

Why do "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"?

In my new Invisible Universe column, I decode how the phrase that Carl Sagan made famous is routinely misunderstood & abused -- and how to use it as the BS detector it's meant to be.

https://invisibleuniverse.substack.com/p/why-do-extraordinary-claims-require #science #history #logic #philosophy

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    • ["Sorry, a condition didn't have any `case` matching the data it was expecting", "nil"]