Using an array of ALMA radio telescopes, astronomers tracked the movement of matter in a thick ring-shaped cloud of gas and dust enveloping a supermassive black hole in the center of the galaxy NGC 1068. As a result, they made an unexpected discovery that could finally explain the rapid growth of these gravitational monsters in early universe. “Thanks to the impressive resolution of ALMA, we were able to evaluate the movement of gas near a black hole. Surprisingly, we found two disks rotating in opposite directions, ”says Violetta Impellizer, the lead author of the study at the National Radio ..read more

A team of American astronomers announced the discovery of 20 previously unknown satellites of Saturn, which allowed him to increase their current number to 82 and, thereby, overtake Jupiter, which lost leadership and now takes second place with its 79 moons. Using the largest telescopes in the world, we are now completing an inventory of small satellites from giant planets that play a decisive role in our understanding of how the Solar System was formed and developed. -Scott Shepard of the Carnegie Institute (USA), who led the observations The size of each of the open satellites is about fiv ..read more

Using the Green Bank Telescope, astronomers have discovered the most massive neutron star (J0740 + 6620) known to science. It is located at a distance of about 4.6 thousand light years from Earth and, with a diameter of about 30 kilometers, has a mass of 2.17 solar mass. Neutron stars fascinate no less than perplex. These city-sized objects are inherently giant atomic nuclei. They are so massive that matter in their bowels acquires strange properties. Here on Earth, just one teaspoon of neutron star matter would weigh about 100 million tons, or about the same as the entire population of our p ..read more

Analyzing the data of the automatic ASAS-SN sky survey in search of analogues of the mysterious Tabby Star, the American astronomer identified 21 candidates who are characterized by the same strange behavior – irregular luminosity dips that have no usual explanations. A list of stars and their characteristics are published in the study. The most “famous” star in our Galaxy KIC 8462852, also known as the “Tabby Star”, became famous in 2015 due to sporadic dips in brightness, which ranged from 0.5 to 22 percent. At the moment, scientists have put forward a huge variety of potential explanations ..read more

For about 30 years, scientists have been aware of areas of continental size in the interior of the Earth, located at a depth of almost 3 thousand kilometers. These sites have been the subject of extensive research, and many ideas have been put forward explaining what they are. Finally, geologists have proven that these features of the bowels can consist of ancient fragments of the earth’s crust that have descended thousands of kilometers, almost to the very core of our planet. Most of the earth’s crust consists of a rock called basalt. At the junctions of lithospheric plates, high pressure cau ..read more

As part of the S5 project, aimed at observing luminaries in stellar streams, astronomers have discovered the fastest star called S5-HVS1 of the main sequence of all known, which rushes through our galaxy with a staggering speed of 1.7 thousand kilometers per second and eventually will leave Milky Way. Besides the fact that this star is the fastest among her kind, it is also the first one about whom we can confidently say that it started her escape from the center of our Galaxy. This means that the star was probably involved in the interaction with the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* in ..read more

Having determined the distance from the Sun to more than two thousand pulsating stars scattered along the Milky Way, astronomers compiled the largest 3D map of our Galaxy today, which indicates its curved S-shape and provides a new look at the place of the Solar system in the stellar metropolis. Our map shows that the disk of the Milky Way is not flat, but distorted and curved. For the first time, we were able to see this using separate objects. Most of the modern understanding of the spiral shape and structure of the Milky Way is based on indirect measurements of celestial landmarks and concl ..read more

Fifty years ago, Neil Armstrong became the first man to ever set foot on the moon. Previously thought to be impossible, the Apollo 11 spaceflight defied the odds and fanned a spark of hope into a flame of progress. Years later, we can admire old photos and blurry videos, using only our imagination to sharpen the blurred images. But now, thanks to artificial intelligence (and director David Sky Brody), we can relive that momentous occasion. In celebration of the Apollo 11 voyage and it’s 50th anniversary, Brody and his team used artificial intelligence software to revive the original photos and ..read more

Using a 2.1-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory (USA), astronomers discovered a double star consisting of a pair of white dwarfs that make one turn around a common center of mass in just 6.91 minutes. The whole system, according to scientists, would fit inside Saturn, and it is expected that soon it will become one of the strongest sources of gravitational waves, which will be recorded by the future space observatory of the European Space Agency “Laser Interferometer Space Antenna” (LISA). It is a record holder with the shortest circulation period among all known eclipsing double ..read more

Autonomous silicon dioxide airgel designs will create local habitable zones on Mars with habitual positive temperatures, enough light for photosynthesis and environment safe from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Such a regional approach to the terraforming of Mars is much more achievable than the global change of its atmosphere. Unlike previous ideas to make the Red Planet fit for life, our approach can be systematically improved and tested using materials and technologies that are available to us today. -Robin Wordsworth, lead author of a study from Harvard University (USA) For many decades, ma ..read more