Einstein’s theory of relativity predicts that fast-spinning objects stretch space and time around them, and we’ve watched that effect make a pair of stars wobble Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2231746-two-stars-with-an-odd-wobble-are-stretching-space-and-time-around-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Tag: relativity
Astronomers witness the dragging of space-time in stellar cosmic dance
An international team of astrophysicists led by Australian Professor Matthew Bailes, from the ARC Centre of Excellence of Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav), has shown exciting new evidence for ‘frame-dragging’—how the spinning of a celestial body twists space and time—after tracking the orbit of an exotic stellar pair for almost two decades. The data, which is further evidence for Einstein’s theory of…
What is astrophysics?
Observational astronomy and astrophysics work together to further our understanding of the cosmos. Astrophysicists apply the laws of physics and physical theories to interpret the light gathered by observational astronomers. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/definition-what-is-astrophysics…
Black holes shouldn’t echo, but this one might. Score 1 for Stephen Hawking?
When two neutron stars slammed together far off in space, they created a powerful shaking in the universe — and their echoes could violate Einstein’s theory of relativity. Source: https://www.livescience.com/black-hole-echoes-unsettle-einstein-relativity.html
Scientists map a pulsar for the 1st time
Using a revolutionary X-ray telescope aboard the International Space Station, scientists have finally created the 1st pulsar surface “map.” It shows odd hot spots and suggests that pulsar magnetic fields are more complicated than anyone had assumed. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/pulsar-surface-map-hot-spots-size-mass-j0030-nicer…
A second black hole at our galaxy’s center?
There’s a supermassive black hole – 4 million times our sun’s mass – in the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Astronomers who’ve measured star movements near this central black hole are now saying there might be a 2nd companion black hole near it. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/supermassive-black-hole-milky-way-galaxys-center-may-have-friend…
Epic cosmic explosion detected via faster-than-light particles
Space-based observatories detected a violent explosion in a galaxy billions of light-years away. It became the brightest source of high-energy cosmic gamma rays seen so far. Specialized Earth-based telescopes detected it via faster-than-light particles cascading through Earth’s atmosphere. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/jan-14-2019-gamma-ray-burst-brightest-so-far…
Shape of the universe: study could force us to rethink everything we know about the cosmos
No matter how elegant your theory is, experimental data will have the last word. Observations of the retrograde motion of the planets were fundamental to the Copernican revolution, in which the sun replaced Earth at the centre of the solar system. And the unusual orbit of Mercury provided a spectacular confirmation of the theory of general relativity. In fact, our entire…
Hubble captures a dozen galaxy doppelgangers
The distant galaxy in this image is nicknamed the Sunburst Arc. It’s been lensed into multiple images by a massive, intervening galaxy cluster. A recent study revealed that the 4 bright arcs in this Hubble image contain 12 images – cosmic doppelgangers – of the galaxy, which is 11 billion light-years away. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/hubble-image-dozen-sunburst-arc-doppelgangers…
Einstein killed the aether. Now the idea is back to save relativity
The luminiferous aether has become a byword for failed ideas. Now it is being revived to explain dark matter and dark energy, and potentially unify physics Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24432543-300-einstein-killed-the-aether-now-the-idea-is-back-to-save-relativity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…