Monday 12 December 2016

A new light on stellar death

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An international group of astronomers illuminates the role rapidly spinning black holes play in tidal disruption events in a new report.
via Science Daily
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Spinning black hole swallowing star explains superluminous event

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An extraordinarily brilliant point of light seen in a distant galaxy, and dubbed ASASSN-15lh, was thought to be the brightest supernova ever seen. But new observations from several observatories, including ESO, have now cast doubt on this classification. Instead, a group of astronomers propose that the source was an even more extreme and very rare event -- a rapidly spinning black hole ripping apart a passing star that came too close.
via Science Daily
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Antarctic site promises to open a new window on the cosmos

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Antarctica might be one of the most inhospitable regions on the planet, but it is a mecca for astronomers. Its cold, dry air enables observations that can't be done elsewhere on Earth. The South Pole has hosted telescopes for decades. Now, researchers are eyeing a new location -- Dome A, which offers a unique opportunity to study the universe at little-explored terahertz radio frequencies.
via Science Daily
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ALMA finds compelling evidence for pair of infant planets around young star

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New ALMA observations contain compelling evidence that two newborn planets, each about the size of Saturn, are in orbit around a young star known as HD 163296. These planets, which are not yet fully formed, revealed themselves by the dual imprint they left in both the dust and the gas portions of the star's protoplanetary disk.
via Science Daily
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The origin of linear magnetoresistance: Exotic or classical?

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New materials sometimes exhibit spectacular resistance phenomena, though the explanation does not always prove to be exotic. Physicists have demonstrated that a simple physical model is sufficient to explain the phenomenon of linear magnetoresistance, outlines a new report.
via Science Daily

Over Saturn's Turbulent North Pole

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Zazzle Space Gifts for young and old

Solar snowstorm

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Space Science Image of the Week: This snowstorm-like scene is the result of a powerful solar flare swamping the Sun-watching SOHO satellite
via ESA Space Science
http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2016/12/Impact_of_a_solar_storm_28_October_2003

Graphene with silly putty make state-of-the-art sensors

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Scientists have used graphene to make the novelty children's material Silly Putty® (polysilicone) conduct electricity. Using this conductive polymer they found that they were able to create extremely sensitive sensors.
via Science Daily