Physics and Astronomy News Archive: June 2016

Winds at 0.25c spotted leaving mysterious binary systems

Source: Cambridge Posted: 6/30/16

Astronomers have observed two black holes in nearby galaxies devouring their companion stars at an extremely high rate, and spitting out matter at a quarter the speed of light.

Researchers Trace Mercury’s Origins To Rare Meteorite

Source: MIT Posted: 6/30/16

Experiments show planet cooled dramatically in half a billion years.

Opal Discovered In Antarctic Meteorite

Source: NAM Posted: 6/28/16

Planetary scientists have discovered pieces of opal in a meteorite found in Antarctica, a result that demonstrates that meteorites delivered water ice to asteroids early in the history of the solar system.

Glowing Jupiter Awaits Juno’s Arrival

Source: NAM Posted: 6/27/16

Stunning new images of Jupiter at thermal infrared wavelengths give a glowing view of Juno’s target, a week ahead of the NASA mission’s arrival at the giant planet.

Pluto’s ‘heart’ renews itself

Source: WISTL Posted: 6/14/16

Like a cosmic lava lamp, a large section of Pluto’s icy surface is renewed by a process called convection that replace older ices with fresher material.

Supermassive Black Hole Feeding On Cold Gas Observed

Source: MIT Posted: 6/12/16

For the first time, astronomers have detected billowy clouds of cold, clumpy gas streaming toward a black hole, at the center of a massive galaxy cluster.