Study determines burst properties of the most recurring transient magnetar

Using NASA’s Fermi and Swift spacecraft, astronomers have investigated SGR J1935+2154, the most recurring transient magnetar known to date. The new research sheds more light on the burst properties of this object. The study is detailed in a paper published March 23 on the arXiv pre-print repository. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-03-properties-recurring-transient-magnetar.html…

Quasar tsunamis rip across galaxies

Astronomers using the Hubble Telescope found that the region around a quasar’s black hole pushes out material at a few percent the speed of light. These quasar tsunamis wreak havoc on the galaxies in which the quasars live. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/quasar-tsunamis-rip-across-galaxies…

We’ve figured out why bubbles make a ‘pop’ sound when they burst

A number of difference forces are involved in producing sound when a bubble pops, and the exact noise depends on the chemical properties of the soap film Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2238125-weve-figured-out-why-bubbles-make-a-pop-sound-when-they-burst/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

SpaceX Starship SN-1 Fails Pressure Test and Explodes

SpaceX envisions Starship as a 387-foot-tall (118 meters) spacecraft/booster that can carry up to 100 people to Mars. Pig Hogger (Slashdot reader #10,379) tipped us off to this progress report from Space.com:
SpaceX’s new Starship prototype appeared to burst during a pressure test late Friday (Feb. 28), rupturing under the glare of flood lights and mist at the company’s south Texas facility….

Valentine Venus

Talk about an awesome Valentine’s Day activity! Go outside and show your sweetie Venus, the planet of love. Astronomer Guy Ottewell provides a chart and more. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/valentines-day-activity-2020-how-to-see-venus…

Mysterious fast radio burst repeats in 16-day rhythm

For the first time, a fast radio burst has been found to be repeating, in a regular 16-day cycle. The baffling detection from the CHIME radio telescope deepens the mystery of these bizarre intergalactic objects. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/mysterious-fast-radio-burst-repeats-in-16-day-rhythm…

Chip Industry Had Worst Sales Year Since Dot-Com Bubble Burst

The semiconductor industry last year suffered its worst annual slump in almost two decades, hurt by a trade war between the largest chip producer, the U.S., and the largest consumer, China. Bloomberg reports: Revenue fell 12% to $412 billion in 2019, the Semiconductor Industry Association said Monday in a statement. That’s the biggest drop since 2001, when industry sales slumped 32%…