Scientists develop quantum sensor for detecting dark matter

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have unveiled a novel quantum sensor designed to detect dark matter particles. The breakthrough, announced on October 2, 2025, could provide new insights into the universe's unseen mass. The technology was detailed in a study published in the journal Nature.

Hubble telescope images spiral galaxy NGC 6000

October 09, 2025 Ti AI ṣe iroyin

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of NGC 6000, a spiral galaxy 102 million light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. The picture highlights stars of varying ages, from blue young clusters to a golden older core, while revealing faint remnants of past supernovae. An asteroid photobombed the shot, adding streaks to the cosmic scene.

Galaxies eject matter more violently than expected

A new analysis reveals that supermassive black holes in galaxies fling out baryonic matter far more aggressively than previously thought, explaining the long-missing cosmic gas. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley combined observations of the cosmic microwave background to map how this ordinary matter diverges from dark matter. The findings highlight the powerful role of black holes in shaping the universe's mass distribution.

NASA Partners with Startup to Extend Space Telescope's Life

Facing the imminent decommissioning of an aging space observatory, NASA has enlisted a private startup to perform a daring orbital maneuver, pushing the telescope farther into space to prolong its scientific mission. The initiative, announced on September 24, 2025, involves innovative propulsion technology and highlights the growing role of commercial entities in space exploration. This move could extend the telescope's operations by several years, allowing continued astronomical observations.

New Einstein's Cross discovery reveals giant dark matter halo

October 04, 2025 Ti AI ṣe iroyin

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a new Einstein's Cross, a gravitational lensing phenomenon that exposes a massive dark matter halo surrounding a distant galaxy. This rare quadruple image of a quasar offers fresh evidence on dark matter's extent. The research, led by scientists from Spain's Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, appears in Nature Astronomy.

Scientists uncover hidden energy mechanism in M87 black hole

Astrophysicists at Goethe University Frankfurt have simulated how the supermassive black hole M87* powers its massive particle jet using a new numerical code. Their findings reveal that magnetic reconnection, alongside the traditional Blandford-Znajek mechanism, extracts rotational energy from the black hole. This discovery explains the immense jets that influence galaxy evolution.

Astronomers find most distant odd radio circle

Astronomers have discovered the most distant and powerful odd radio circle, a massive double-ringed radio structure nearly 10 billion years old. Using citizen science and the LOFAR telescope, researchers propose these cosmic rings form from galactic superwinds rather than black hole mergers. The finding challenges existing theories and highlights the role of human pattern recognition in astronomy.

Rogue planet accretes mass at record 6 billion tonnes per second

Astronomers have observed a free-floating planet gaining mass at an unprecedented rate as it plows through the interstellar medium. The rogue world, similar in size to Jupiter, is adding 6 billion tonnes every second in what researchers call a record growth spurt. This discovery highlights how such planets can evolve independently of stars.

General relativity may preserve habitable planets around white dwarfs

A new study suggests that Einstein's general relativity could prevent tidal heating from destabilizing rocky planets in the tight habitable zones of white dwarfs. Researchers found that orbital precession caused by the theory's effects might decouple inner planets from larger companions, allowing life to persist for trillions of years. This challenges prior models that predicted runaway greenhouse effects on such worlds.