U of U researchers discover more than 2,500 black holes
The marks the largest sample of such galaxies ever compiled and will expand scientists' understanding of the number of black holes that exist in the universe while also setting the stage for more research on the formation of the universe's first black holes.
According to Ragadeepika Pucha, who led the research, the discovery was made possible by a massive, four-meter-tall telescope at in Tuscon, Arizona.
This effort to curb climate change could do more harm than good, U of U research shows
'Detecting black holes in dwarf galaxies is very hard because dwarf galaxies are very faint,' Pucha told ABC4.com.
The team's early data included an unprecedented 410,000 galaxies captured in one image series, 115,000 of which were small galaxies known as dwarf galaxies.
According to Pucha, when a black hole begins feeding, it releases a large amount of energy, which scientists can detect. 'This dramatic activity serves as a beacon, allowing us to identify hidden black holes in these small galaxies,' she said.
'People are going to freak out': U of U researchers make massive black hole discovery
'In the dwarf galaxies, we found about 2,500 of these active black holes, which is the largest sample to date…and triples the amount of galaxies that have been found before,' Pucha told ABC4.com, adding that the team's findings indicate that many black holes have gone undetected in past research.
from the team's findings were collected through an instrument known as a Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which measures dark energy in the cosmos by taking optical spectra, or images, of millions of galaxies and quasars, before constructing a 3D map spanning up to 11 billion light-years away.
The telescope is the most powerful of its kind in the world Pucha said. 'This is just one science that can be done…there is much more that is being done and will be done using this data. We just have to wait for the results [from] the amazing telescope that it is,' she said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
UC Davis develops brain computer, helps man with ASL speak in real time
( — Possible new hope has flourished for those who have lost the ability to speak after researchers at the University of California, Davis developed an investigational brain-computer interface that helps restore the ability to hold real-time conversations. Video Above: Illness took away her voice. AI created a replica she carries in her phone (May 2024) The new technology is able to translate the brain activity of the person attempting to speak into a voice, according to researchers in a new study published in the scientific journal Nature. The study participant, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, was able to speak to his family, change his intonation and even 'sing' simple melodies. UC Davis Health said that the system's digital vocal tract has no detectable delays. 'Translating neural activity into text, which is how our previous speech brain-computer interface works, is akin to text messaging. It's a big improvement compared to standard assistive technologies, but it still leads to delayed conversation. By comparison, this new real-time voice synthesis is more like a voice call,' said Sergey Stavisky, senior author of the paper and an assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Neurological Surgery. Stavisky went on to say that with the use of instantaneous voice synthesis, neuroprosthesis users will be able to be more interactive and included in conversations. The clinical trial at UC Davis, BrainGate2, used an investigational brain-computer interface that consists of surgically implanting four microelectrode arrays into the area of the brain that produces speech. The firing pattern of hundreds of neurons was measured through electrodes, followed by the alignment of the patterns with the attempted speech sound the participant was producing. The activity of neurons in the brain is recorded and then sent to a computer that interprets the signals to reconstruct voice, researchers said. 'The main barrier to synthesizing voice in real-time was not knowing exactly when and how the person with speech loss is trying to speak,' said Maitreyee Wairagkar, first author of the study and project scientist in the Neuroprosthetics Lab at UC Davis. 'Our algorithms map neural activity to intended sounds at each moment of time. This makes it possible to synthesize nuances in speech and give the participant control over the cadence of his BCI-voice.' The neural signals of the participant were translated into audible speech in one-fortieth of a second, according to the study. 'This short delay is similar to the delay a person experiences when they speak and hear the sound of their own voice,' said officials. The participant was also able to say words unknown to the system, along with making interjections. He was able to modulate the intonation of his generated computer voice to ask a question or emphasize specific words in a sentence. 60% of the BCI-synthesized words were understandable to listeners, while only 4% were understandable when not using BCI, the study said. Events, discounted tattoos, piercings this Friday the 13th 'Our voice is part of what makes us who we are. Losing the ability to speak is devastating for people living with neurological conditions,' said David Brandman, co-director of the UC Davis Neuroprosthetics Lab and the neurosurgeon who performed the participant's implant. 'The results of this research provide hope for people who want to talk but can't. We showed how a paralyzed man was empowered to speak with a synthesized version of his voice. This kind of technology could be transformative for people living with paralysis.' Researchers said that brain-to-voice neuroprostheses are still in the early phase, despite promising findings. They said that a limitation is that the research was done on only one participant with ALS. The goal would be to replicate the results with more participants who have speech loss from other causes. More information on the BrainGate2 trial can be found on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Pink water at Bear Lake? Here's how this study aims to curb invasive plant species
BEAR LAKE STATE PARK, Utah (ABC4) — Bear Lake was looking a little pink recently, but don't worry, it wasn't the infamous Bear Lake Monster. Rather, it's part of a study to learn more about eliminating an invasive plant species. Jessie Danninger, DNR Bear Lake program manager, said it's part of a team-up with Mirella Ortiz, an associate professor in weed science at USU. The purpose of the study is to better understand the effectiveness of DNR's aquatic herbicide treatments for Eurasian watermilfoil, an aquatic noxious weed. In the study, pink dye is poured into a few spots throughout the lake. A fluorometer is then used to measure how much dye remains in that location as it dissipates over time. Ortiz said the dye that is used is known as Rhodamine Water Tracer dye, which is non-toxic and considered to be the safest option for this type of study. Danninger explained that the study will help the team better understand how the herbicide disperses in the water to see if it's effectively reaching the target weeds, which will better inform decisions for the management plan going forward. 'Not much is known about the currents at Bear Lake, so we are hoping to learn a bit more about how the water is moving. We want to make sure our herbicide treatments are as effective as they can be, and understanding what happens to the chemical once it's sprayed in the water column is key,' Danninger said. Danninger said the public should remember to clean, drain, and dry all watercraft and gear to prevent the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil. 'Eurasian watermilfoil is an extremely invasive aquatic weed found all around Bear Lake, and it can spread from just one tiny fragment. Thoroughly cleaning watercraft (motorized and non-motorized) and gear can help prevent the spread. It's also important not to navigate watercraft through dense vegetation as the weeds can entangle props, impellers and paddles, creating a safety hazard, as well as providing the weeds with the perfect opportunity to spread,' she said. At this time, the pink dye has already dissipated, so visitors shouldn't expect to see it. A second round is expected to begin soon. According to DNR, Eurasian watermilfoil was first found in Bear Lake in 2019 and was listed as a noxious weed in 2024. It has small, feathery needles, which reproduce and spread rapidly. This can form thick mats that choke out fish and other native plant life, blocking out the sun, as well as lake access for boats, jet skis, and other recreationists. The species spreads through fragmentation. DNR works to monitor and treat this species annually. Pregnant moose struck and killed on Summit County highway, nonprofit says Best and worst cities for staycations in the U.S. — how does SLC measure up? Hardline House conservatives swing for fences in asks to Senate GOP on megabill Pink water at Bear Lake? Here's how this study aims to curb invasive plant species Mantua poppies are blooming, rooted in pioneer history Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources reports increased populations in formerly endangered June sucker fish
SALT LAKE CITY () — A formerly endangered Utah native fish, the June sucker has been downlisted to threatened status, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). The June sucker is a fish species native to Utah, inhabiting Utah Lake and using tributaries in the Provo River and Hobble creek among others to spawn. It is an omnivore that can live for 40 years and grows several feet in size. In an interview with Native Aquatics Project Leader at DWR Keith Lawrence said, 'A few decades ago, it was believed that the population [of June suckers] was down to only a few hundred individuals, maybe as many as a thousand.' Now, however, through conservation efforts, the June Sucker population has recovered, to numbers 'estimated today to be in the tens of thousands, probably somewhere between 30 and 50,000 fish,' according to Lawrence. 'It's important to understand that Utah Lake has undergone many changes over the decades since Western settlers arrived. And many of them have not necessarily been good for the June sucker, at least, and other native fishes that lived there previously. The June sucker is one of the few that remain.' Keith Lawrence, Native Aquatics Project Leader at DWS Lawrence explained that the June sucker is not a predator, but as an omnivore it feeds on invertebrates and zooplankton, so it plays a role in the ecosystem as a mid-level omnivore. Cat who survived 400-foot Bryce Canyon fall adopted by rescuing pilot The recovery program for the June sucker has been a large undertaking that began shortly after the species was listed as endangered, Lawrence said. Alongside partners, DWR has taken a myriad of measures to protect the species, including non-native management, water conservation especially in the Provo River, public information and outreach, habitat improvement, and a 'very aggressive' stocking program. As part of the stocking program, conservationists took some of the remaining individuals and propagated them, mostly at the Logan Hatchery in northern Utah, Lawrence said. They are raised in these hatcheries and then they are stocked into the lake. Lawrence told that there have been 'hundreds of thousands' of June suckers stocked into the lake over the years. Lawrence stated that while the recovery has been very successful, there are still threats to the June sucker population, including 'all the non-native potential predators and competitors that we have in the system.' Additionally, water flow continues to be a major threat. The Supreme Court reinstates federal approval in Uinta Basin Railway project 'At one time, the Provo River ran completely dry, you know, during the summer,' Lawrence said. 'Memory of the summers that that did happen, and so obviously that's not good for the fish, and so the program has spent tens of millions of dollars to try to purchase money and provide those flows when the fish need them.' Lawrence stated that they are monitoring the spawning run into the Provo Delta and Oville Creek, using PIT tag antennas, which passively detect tags put into some of the fish. June suckers are most vulnerable after spawning. 'They're very vulnerable, as you might imagine, when they're small,' Lawrence said, and he described getting them from the larval stage to 'age one' fish as a 'bottleneck.' The research to figure out how to get over that bottleneck is key, he said. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources reports increased populations in formerly endangered June sucker fish Car crosses median, causing multiple vehicle crash in Kaysville/Farmington One of two water wells in Hildale City back online after repairs Pride flag raising ceremony kicks of 2025 Utah Pride festivities Intermountain Health first in nation to expand stem cell collection for CAR-T Cell Therapy bringing innovative cancer procedure to Southern Utah Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
