Physics and Astronomy News Archive: August 2006

Image: Honey, I Shrunk the Solar System

Honey, I Shrunk the Solar System

Source: JPL/NASA   Posted: 8/24/06

Pluto is no longer considered to be a planet (but a dwarf planet) and our solar system now has only eight (8) proper planets, astronomers of the IAU decided.
Image: NASA Finds Direct Proof of Dark Matter

NASA Finds Direct Proof of Dark Matter

Source: Chandra/NASA   Posted: 8/24/06

Dark matter and normal matter have been wrenched apart by the tremendous collision of two large clusters of galaxies. The discovery, using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes, gives direct evidence for the existence of dark matter.
Image: One-Two Particle Punch Poses Greater Risk for Astronauts

One-Two Particle Punch Poses Greater Risk for Astronauts

Source: BNL   Posted: 8/24/06

Scientists at the BNL discover why astronauts are at greater risk when they were exposed to two types of high-energy particles in a short period of time.
Image: Unraveling the Secrets of an Atomic Switch

Unraveling the Secrets of an Atomic Switch

Source: NIST   Posted: 8/24/06

Scientists at NIST have used a beam of electrons to move a single atom in a small molecule back and forth between two positions on a crystal surface.
Image: Chandra Independently Determines Hubble Constant

Chandra Independently Determines Hubble Constant

Source: Chandra   Posted: 8/8/06

A combination of X-ray and radio observations allowed astronomers to determine the Hubble constant using the so-called Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect.
Image: Red and Blue Lights in the Milky Way Galaxy

Red and Blue Lights in the Milky Way Galaxy

Source: NASA   Posted: 8/8/06

Scientists find possible origin of mysterious red and blue lights in the Milky Way galaxy.
Image: Hypernuclei at Jefferson Lab

Hypernuclei at Jefferson Lab

Source: Jlab   Posted: 8/8/06

Nuclear physicists are using Jefferson Lab's CEBAF accelerator to add an impurity — a special type of particle called a hyperon — to the nucleus.
Image: New Technique for Manipulation of Light Beams Demonstrated

New Technique for Manipulation of Light Beams Demonstrated

Source: Caltech   Posted: 8/8/06

A team of physicists, mathematicians, and electrical engineers has figured out a trick to keep light pulses from diverging or focusing.