Cosmology is the scientific study of the large-scale properties of the universe as a whole. It aims to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and eventual fate of the universe. By examining cosmic phenomena such as the Big Bang, cosmic microwave background radiation, dark matter, and dark energy, cosmologists develop theories and models that explain how … Read more
Precisely measuring the energy states of individual atoms has been a historical challenge for physicists due to atomic recoil. When an atom interacts with a photon, the atom “recoils” in the opposite direction, making it difficult to measure the position and momentum of the atom precisely. This recoil can have big implications for quantum sensing, … Read more
Telescopes have been indispensable tools in the field of astronomy, revolutionizing our understanding of the cosmos and shaping the course of scientific inquiry for centuries. From Galileo’s first observations of the Moon and planets to the modern-day marvels of space telescopes, these optical instruments have allowed astronomers to explore distant galaxies, study celestial phenomena, and … Read more
The origin and evolution of the universe have fascinated humanity for millennia. Modern scientific theories, such as the Big Bang theory, provide a framework for understanding these cosmic processes. The universe began as an unimaginably dense and hot singularity around 13.8 billion years ago, expanding rapidly and cooling over time. Through cosmic inflation, galaxies, stars, … Read more
Pulsars are cosmic lighthouses, beacons of intense radiation and magnetic fields that emit beams of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation as they rotate rapidly. These exotic objects, often referred to as neutron stars, are the remnants of massive stars that have undergone supernova explosions. Pulsars were first discovered in 1967 by astrophysicist Jocelyn … Read more
Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects, such as merging black holes or neutron stars. Predicted by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity in 1915, these waves were detected for the first time in 2015, marking a revolutionary breakthrough in astrophysics and opening a new window … Read more
Stars are born and die in a continuous cycle, playing a fundamental role in the structure, dynamics, and evolution of the universe. The processes of star formation and stellar death are intricate and fascinating, involving a complex interplay of physical phenomena that span millions to billions of years. Understanding the birth and death of stars … Read more
Black holes are among the most intriguing and enigmatic objects in the universe, representing the mysterious endpoints of gravity’s relentless pull. These cosmic entities, born from the collapse of massive stars or through other astrophysical processes, possess such intense gravitational fields that not even light can escape their grasp. The concept of a black hole … Read more
A team of physicists has developed a method to detect gravity waves with such low frequencies that they could unlock the secrets behind the early phases of mergers between supermassive black holes, the heaviest objects in the universe. The method can detect gravitational waves that oscillate just once every thousand years, 100 times slower than … Read more
Neutron star mergers are a treasure trove for new physics signals, with implications for determining the true nature of dark matter, according to research from Washington University in St. Louis. On Aug. 17, 2017, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in the United States and Virgo, a detector in Italy, detected gravitational waves from the … Read more
Nearly every massive galaxy hosts a supermassive black hole at its center. When two galaxies merge, their black holes can form a binary pair, meaning they are in a bound orbit with one another. It’s hypothesized that these binaries are fated to eventually merge, but this has never been observed. The question of whether such … Read more
In a groundbreaking scientific endeavor spearheaded by physicists at Monash University, a pioneering exploration into the fundamental physics of the universe has unfolded. Chronicled in a seminal international review published in Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics, this research marks a significant leap forward after nearly a decade of dedicated work by scientists at the … Read more
A multinational collaboration of astronomers and astrophysicists recently unveiled groundbreaking evidence surrounding the luminous gamma-ray burst GRB 230307A, which graced the cosmos with its brilliance last year. Contrary to earlier assumptions attributing such bursts to the demise of massive stars, the team’s findings, published in the esteemed journal Nature, indicate that this particular spectacle emanated … Read more
Nuclear power is considered one of the ways to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but how to deal with nuclear waste products is among the issues surrounding it. Radioactive waste products can be turned into more stable elements, but this process is not yet viable at scale. New research led by physicists from the University … Read more
Redshift, a fundamental concept in astronomy and cosmology, serves as a cornerstone for understanding the universe’s vastness, expansion, and evolution. It represents a phenomenon where the light emitted by celestial objects, such as galaxies, stars, and quasars, is shifted towards longer wavelengths as they move away from an observer. This phenomenon, discovered over a century … Read more
Cosmic inflation is a theoretical framework in cosmology that describes a rapid and exponential expansion of the early universe during the first few moments (10^-36 to 10^-32 seconds) after the Big Bang. Proposed in the late 1970s by physicist Alan Guth and independently by Andrei Linde, cosmic inflation provides a solution to several long-standing problems … Read more
Black holes are fascinating celestial objects that defy our conventional understanding of space and time. These enigmatic entities are formed through the gravitational collapse of massive stars, a process that results in an extraordinarily dense region in space where gravity is so intense that nothing, not even light, can escape. Understanding how black holes form … Read more
A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. These beams of radiation are observed as periodic pulses when they intersect the Earth, giving rise to the term “pulsar.” Neutron stars are the remnants of massive stars that have undergone supernova explosions, leaving behind … Read more
Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects, such as merging black holes or neutron stars. First predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916 as part of his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves remained elusive for decades. It wasn’t until the 21st century that scientists successfully detected … Read more
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is a relic radiation that permeates the universe, providing a crucial window into the early moments of cosmic history. This faint glow, discovered in 1965, is a cornerstone of modern cosmology, offering valuable insights into the origins, composition, and evolution of the cosmos. To understand the cosmic microwave background, one … Read more