astrophysics
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Scientists Have Detected Gravitational Waves Again
For the second time this year, physicists at the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Waves Observatory (LIGO) are giddy with excitement. They have just confirmed the second detection of gravitational waves, ripples in the fabric of spacetime proposed by Albert Einstein a century ago. It seems we’ve officially entered the age of gravitational wave astronomy.
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The Universe Is Expanding Faster Than We Thought
Add this to the list of existential fears that keep you up at night: The universe appears to be expanding faster than we thought. A lot faster.
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A Dozen Black Holes Are Mysteriously Spewing Energy In The Same Direction
Something strange is going on in a distant corner of our universe. About a dozen supermassive black holes are all shooting enormous jets of energy in roughly the same direction. It could be a cosmic coincidence — but some astronomers suspect there are larger forces at play.
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A Cosmic Explosion Left Radioactive Fallout At The Bottom Of The Ocean
Several million years ago, a series of nearby supernovae explosions lit up the sky, rained radioactive particles down on our planet and might have kickstarted a major climactic shift. That’s according to a pair of studies published today in Nature, which link radioactive debris spread across the seafloor to cosmic fireworks hundreds of light years…