Copernical Team
NASA's Hubble, Chandra find supermassive black hole duo
Like two Sumo wrestlers squaring off, the closest confirmed pair of supermassive black holes have been observed in tight proximity. These are located approximately 300 light-years apart and were detected using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. These black holes, buried deep within a pair of colliding galaxies, are fueled by infalling gas and dust, causing them to s
Massive merger could explain origin of Milky Way's supermassive black hole
The mystery of how supermassive black holes, which can be millions of times more massive than the sun and sit at the heart of most galaxies, came to exist is one of the great questions in astrophysics. Researchers from the Nevada Center for Astrophysics at UNLV (NCfA) have uncovered new evidence that the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, called Sagittarius A' (Sgr A')
Formation of super-Earths proven limited near metal-poor stars
In a new study, astronomers report novel evidence regarding the limits of planet formation, finding that after a certain point, planets larger than Earth have difficulty forming near low-metallicity stars. Using the sun as a baseline, astronomers can measure when a star formed by determining its metallicity, or the level of heavy elements present within it. Metal-rich stars or nebulas form
AI-Assisted Discovery Reveals How Microbial Proteins Adapt to Extreme Pressures
Using a Google AI tool, scientists have revealed how proteins in a heat-loving microbe respond to intense pressure, similar to conditions found in the planet's deepest ocean trenches. This research offers key insights into how life's building blocks may have evolved under early Earth conditions and opens new doors for future studies. The research, now published in 'PRX Life', highlights th
Mystery of Trans-Neptunian Orbits Solved by Stellar Flyby
Many imagine the solar system's edge is marked by Neptune, the furthest known planet. However, astrophysicist Susanne Pfalzner from Forschungszentrum Julich notes, "Several thousand celestial bodies are known to move beyond the orbit of Neptune." It is estimated that tens of thousands of objects larger than 100 kilometers exist in this region. "Surprisingly, many of these so-called trans-Neptuni
Rover trials demonstrate autonomous sampling capabilities in UK quarry
European Space Agency (ESA) engineers are advancing the capabilities of autonomous Mars rovers, as demonstrated in recent trials conducted in a UK quarry. The ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover, nicknamed "Codi," showcased its ability to locate and retrieve sample tubes using its robotic arm and sophisticated computer vision system. Codi drove to the sample locations with a remarkable accurac
Find Me on the Moon: NASA Seeks Navigation Solutions for Lunar Exploration
As part of the Artemis lunar exploration campaign, NASA aims to deepen its understanding of the moon's surface and prepare for future Mars missions. The Artemis missions will target the lunar south pole, a region that holds scientific interest due to its permanently shadowed areas, which may contain water ice reserves vital for sustaining human exploration. This will be NASA's first crewed moon
ChemCam Laser Hits 1 Million Zaps on Mars, Continues Data Collection
The ChemCam instrument, developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, has fired its laser for the 1 millionth time on Mars. Positioned atop NASA's Curiosity rover, ChemCam has been key to scientific discoveries since its deployment in 2012. "Not only is this a remarkable technical accomplishment for our instrument, but it also represents a staggering amount of chemistry data from the surfac
First Metal Part 3D Printed in Space Aboard ISS
ESA's Metal 3D Printer has successfully produced the first-ever metal part in space. This technological milestone, achieved through a partnership with Airbus, marks a significant advancement in additive manufacturing in microgravity. The Metal 3D Printer was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this year. ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen was responsible for installing th
Keeping the cosmos clean
Asked to describe his work for a lay audience, Allan Shtofenmakher responds with an unexpected question: "Have you ever seen the movie 'Wall-E?'" Recalling that the 2008 Disney-Pixar movie's view of Earth from space was "brown and dusty and just surrounded by tons and tons of space junk," he cautions, "If we're not good stewards of our local space environment, we could actually end up in a situa