Recent findings using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have upended our understanding of galaxy formation, revealing that spiral galaxies were more prevalent in the early universe than previously thought. This challenges earlier timelines of galaxy development and suggests that the process occurred faster than previously believed. Researchers at the University of Missouri are delving […]
The JWST is Re-Writing Astronomy Textbooks Read More »
The unification of the general theory of relativity (GR) and quantum mechanics (QM) is possibly the largest open question in physics. Some believe there is no resolution and the two theories should co-exist together. Other physicists believe it is possible to unify the theories through various techniques, such as the quantisation of gravity (the graviton).
I am working on a new paper about black holes, here is a teaser of what is coming soon. Black Holes are perhaps the perfect example of extreme environments in the universe, with massive gravity in the form of profound spacetime curvature and seemingly impossible physics at their singularity. In modern astrophysics and cosmology, it
The Eternal Formation of Black Holes Read More »
This is a contemporary review of the involvement of Mileva Marić, Albert Einstein’s first wife, in his theoretical work between the period of 1900 to 1905. Separate biographies are outlined for both Mileva and Albert, prior to their attendance at Zürich Polytechnic in 1896. Then a combined journal is described, detailing significant events. In additional
The Collaboration of Mileva Marić and Albert Einstein Read More »
There has been a debate about the distance to the Pleiades cluster that has been going for decades. Although it appears to have been resolved, well this is the claim of a team of radio astronomers in the US, who concluded that the cluster is approximately as far away as originally estimated. This contradicts analyses
New distance estimate to the Pleiades Read More »
Analysis of galaxies shows local supercluster to be 100 times larger than previously thought. The supercluster of galaxies that includes the Milky Way has been found to be 100 times bigger in volume and mass than previously thought. The enormous region near the Milky Way has been mapped with newer precion and found that
The Milky Way’s new home: Laniakea Read More »
Astronomers in the US have used X-rays to pin down the mass of a black hole in the nearby galaxy M82, has been thought to be an intermediate-mass black hole (100 to 10,000 solar masses). This means it is of the rarest, mid-sized black-hole type. Image of the starburst galaxy, Messier 82 (M82). (Courtesy:
Intermediate-mass black hole found in Messier 82 (M82). Read More »
HZDR’s Michael Anders at the LUNA accelerator in Gran Sasso, Italy. (Courtesy: HZDR/M Anders). The only three elements created in the early universe, long before stars and galaxies began to form, were hydrogen, helium and lithium. According to Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) theory, protons and neutrons combined to form these three elements just a
Big Bang nucleosynthesis not the origin of lithium-6 Read More »
The most significant news of late is the BICEP2 results – if you are unfamiliar with the result, let me first summarize the results and then offer feedback and alternative viewpoints. BICEP2 was the second generation BICEP (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) instrument for astronomy located at Earth’s south pole. Possessing a greatly improved
BICEP2 and the detection of Gravitational Waves Read More »
Christof Wetterich, a theoretical physicist at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, posted a paper on the arXiv preprint server, that offers a different cosmology in which the Universe is not expanding but the mass of everything has been increasing over time. Although the paper has yet to be peer-reviewed, none of the experts contacted
Cosmologist claims Universe may not be expanding Read More »