| Astronomers find evidence for most powerful pulsar in distant galaxy Posted: 15 Jun 2022 06:13 PM PDT Astronomers using data from the VLA Sky Survey have discovered one of the youngest known neutron stars -- possibly as young as only 14 years. The dense remnant of a supernova explosion was revealed when bright radio emission powered by the pulsar's powerful magnetic field emerged from behind a thick shell of debris from the explosion. |
| Scientists on the hunt for planetary formation fossils reveal unexpected eccentricities in nearby debris disk Posted: 15 Jun 2022 06:13 PM PDT Astronomers have imaged the debris disk of the nearby star HD 53143 at millimeter wavelengths for the first time, and it looks nothing like they expected. Based on early coronagraphic data, scientists expected ALMA to confirm the debris disk as a face-on ring peppered with clumps of dust. Instead, the observations took a surprise turn, revealing the most complicated and eccentric debris disk observed to date. |
| A weird star produced the fastest nova on record Posted: 15 Jun 2022 06:13 PM PDT A research team has observed the fastest nova ever. They hope to find answers to not only the nova's many baffling traits, but to larger questions about our solar system and the universe. |
| Astronomers discover a multiplanet system nearby Posted: 15 Jun 2022 06:12 PM PDT Astronomers discovered a multiplanet system just 33 light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest known multiplanet systems. The system likely hosts at least two terrestrial, Earth-sized planets. |
| New maps of asteroid Psyche reveal an ancient world of metal and rock Posted: 15 Jun 2022 12:47 PM PDT Astronomers have mapped the surface properties of the asteroid Psyche, revealing a landscape of metal and rock. |
| To find a planet, look for the signatures of planet formation Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:46 AM PDT Finding forming planets is a tough but important job for astronomers: Only three planets have ever been discovered caught in the process of forming, and the most recent of these was found just weeks ago. |
| Researchers discover crocodile species that likely preyed on human ancestors Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT Researchers have discovered two new species of crocodiles that roamed parts of Africa between 18 million and 15 million years ago and preyed on human ancestors. The giant dwarf crocodile species, called Kinyang, mysteriously disappeared, possibly due to changes in the climate. |
| Previously hidden protoclusters could reveal new details of galaxy evolution Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT The ancestors of some of the largest galaxy clusters have been hiding in plain sight. New work demonstrates a new technique for identifying the precursors of the most extreme galactic environments. |
| What quantum information and snowflakes have in common, and what we can do about it Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT Qubits, the basic building blocks of quantum computers, are as fragile as snowflakes. Now, researchers have come up with a new way of reading out the information from certain kinds of qubits without destroying them in the process, potentially paving the way for a quantum internet. |
| Moth wing-inspired sound absorbing wallpaper in sight after breakthrough Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT Experts at the University of Bristol have discovered that the scales on moth wings act as excellent sound absorbers even when placed on an artificial surface. |
| Near-sun comet roasted to death Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT Astronomers using a fleet of world leading telescopes on the ground and in space have captured images of a periodic rocky near-Sun comet breaking apart. This is the first time such a comet has been caught in the act of disintegrating and could help explain the scarcity of such periodic near-Sun comets. |
| Genetic discovery could spell mosquitoes' death knell Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:28 AM PDT A genetic discovery could turn disease-carrying mosquitoes into insect Peter Pans, preventing them from ever maturing or multiplying. |
| A large predator from the Pyrenees Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:28 AM PDT A fossilized lower jaw has led an international team of palaeontologists to discover a new species of predator that once lived in Europe. These large predators belong to a group of carnivores colloquially known as 'bear dogs'. They could weigh around 320 kilograms, appeared 36 million years ago before becoming extinct around 7.5 million years ago. |
| The potential of probabilistic computers Posted: 13 Jun 2022 04:34 PM PDT The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has created a crisis in computing and a significant need for more hardware that is both energy-efficient and scalable. A key step in both AI and ML is making decisions based on incomplete data, the best approach for which is to output a probability for each possible answer. Current classical computers are not able to do that in an energy-efficient way, a limitation that has led to a search for novel approaches to computing. Quantum computers, which operate on qubits, may help meet these challenges, but they are extremely sensitive to their surroundings, must be kept at extremely low temperatures and are still in the early stages of development. |
