A surprising discovery at the heart of the Milky Way galaxy

A surprising discovery at the heart of the Milky Way galaxy

An international research team has unveiled a surprising discovery at the heart of the Milky Way galaxy. Under the leadership of Northwestern University’s Farhad Yusef-Zadeh, the scientists discovered a new type of filament near Sagittarius A*, our galaxy’s central supermassive black hole. This marks a significant departure from the vertical filaments previously known to science.

Unconventional birth of Geminid meteor shower unearthed by Parker Solar Probe

Unconventional birth of Geminid meteor shower unearthed by Parker Solar Probe

The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most spectacular yearly celestial events, was likely created by a sudden and violent occurrence, according to new findings by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission. These findings, published recently in The Planetary Science Journal, provide fresh insights into the origins of this meteor stream which, unlike most, emanates from an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon.

Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano eruption triggered unprecedented ionospheric disturbances

Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano eruption triggered unprecedented ionospheric disturbances

An international team of scientists revealed that the massive eruption of the underwater Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano in Tonga on January 15, 2022, disrupted satellite signals across the globe. The team used satellite- and ground-based ionospheric observations to demonstrate that an air pressure wave triggered by the volcanic eruption could produce an equatorial plasma bubble in the ionosphere, severely affecting satellite-based communications.

Borealis Mud Volcano – Unique new volcano discovered in the Barents Sea

Borealis Mud Volcano – Unique new volcano discovered in the Barents Sea

Scientists from UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, in collaboration with REV Ocean, discovered a unique new volcano in the Barents Sea. The Borealis Mud Volcano, located at a depth of 400 m (1 312 feet) and approximately 130 km (80 miles) south of Bear Island, continuously emits mud, fluids and gas, providing valuable insights into Earth science.

Study sheds light on the origin of lunar surface water

Study sheds light on the origin of lunar surface water

A new study in Nature Geoscience identified impact glass beads in lunar soils as a significant water reservoir. The researchers estimate that the total amount of water contained within impact glass beads found in lunar soils could be as much as 2.7 x 1014 kg — equivalent to 270 trillion kg.

How ultralow frictional healing could help predict large earthquakes

How ultralow frictional healing could help predict large earthquakes

A new study published in the journal Science could be a game-changer in the field of seismology, as researchers have discovered a potential missing piece in the puzzle of predicting earthquakes. The study suggests that ultralow frictional healing, a common physical phenomenon, could be crucial in understanding when and how violently faults move. While it won’t enable scientists to forecast the next big earthquake, it could be a valuable new way to investigate the causes and potential for large, damaging earthquakes.

Aurorae discovered on all four major moons of Jupiter

Aurorae discovered on all four major moons of Jupiter

A team of astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii has discovered that aurorae at visible lengths appear on all four of Jupiter’s major moons, namely Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The discovery was made using the High-Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) at the Keck Observatory, as well as other high-resolution spectrographs at the Large Binocular Telescope and Apache Point Observatory.

The most powerful gamma-ray burst on record

The most powerful gamma-ray burst on record

A record-breaking gamma-ray burst known as GRB 221009A was detected in October 2022, and now, a trio of papers has been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters, revealing new insights about this rare and unique event. With up to 18 teraelectronvolts of energy packed in its emissions of light, GRB 221009A is considered the most powerful gamma-ray burst on record, and its afterglow has been challenging our current theoretical models of gamma-ray bursts.

Researchers identify small signals in the corona to improve solar flare predictions

Researchers identify small signals in the corona to improve solar flare predictions

A team of scientists from NorthWest Research Associates (NWRA) have made a breakthrough discovery in the study of solar flares, using data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The researchers found small signals in the upper layers of the solar atmosphere, known as the corona, that can indicate which regions on the Sun are more likely to produce solar flares.