Latest news with #VirgoCluster
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Science news this week: A unique new blood type and 'spiderwebs' on Mars
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. This week's science news kicked off with a staggering first look at images taken by the newly operational Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. Boasting the world's largest digital camera, Rubin's first photo of the night sky included 10 million galaxies in and around the Virgo cluster, many of which have never been seen before. The observatory, which will become fully operational by the end of 2025, promises to gather more data than all other existing optical observatories combined in its first year alone, representatives said in a statement. It's hoped that this data will enable scientists to discover the locations of previously unseen asteroids and gain new insights into the properties of dark matter and dark energy, among other things. After years of analysis and observation, scientists have identified a new blood group, called Gwada negative, that has so far only been identified in only one person on the planet. The 68-year-old from the French overseas region of Guadeloupe became a subject of medical interest in 2011 after routine blood tests were unable to identify her blood type or any compatible matches. Roughly a decade later, and after two years of detailed genome sequencing, it was confirmed that the woman carried a previously unknown blood type thanks to a unique genetic mutation. It is unclear how many other people carry this mutation, if any, but as it stands the patient is the only person in the world with a blood type compatible with her own. Discover more health news —Some early-onset cancers are on the rise. Why? —Fungus that may have caused 'King Tut's curse' shows promise in treating cancer —New 'breathalyzer' could detect signs of disease in human breath, scientists say From birds of prey to tiny insects, animals have evolved an impressive spectrum of visual adaptations to help them see in their environment — whether escaping predators or hunting for prey. But pinpointing exactly which animal has the best eyesight is easier said than done. —If you enjoyed this, sign up for our Life's Little Mysteries newsletter Queen Hatshepsut ruled as pharaoh between 1473 and 1458 B.C. and, until recently, it was thought that after her death her nephew and successor smashed all of her statues to erase her from public memory. However, new research suggests this might not have been the case. Researchers now say that, while Hatshepsut's statues were indeed intentionally broken, it was not to blot out her existence. Rather, her statues are thought to have been broken to "deactivate" their supposed supernatural powers. Discover more archaeology news —'Thriving and densely-built': Archaeologists unearth 'tower' houses and ceremonial building in ancient Egyptian city of Imet —'God-king' born from incest in ancient Ireland wasn't a god or a king, new study finds —40,000-year-old mammoth tusk boomerang is oldest in Europe — and possibly the world —Threaten an AI chatbot and it will lie, cheat and 'let you die' in an effort to stop you, study warns —'Pulsing, like a heartbeat': Rhythmic mantle plume rising beneath Ethiopia is creating a new ocean —'Ring of fire' thunderstorms loom around 'heat dome' as season's first tropical storm, Andrea, named in the Atlantic —Intrepid baby-faced robot dons a jetpack for its next adventure — becoming the first humanoid robot to fly Back in November, orcas off the coast of Washington brought back a bizarre trend that hadn't been reported since the 1980s: balancing dead salmon on their heads. Now, the same orca pod has been filmed giving each other "massages" with seaweed, a behavior that has never been reported before. The footage shows the orcas breaking off sections of bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), pressing the stems against the body of another orca and rolling the kelp between their bodies, in what seems to be a newly described grooming ritual. The researchers believe it is the first example of tool manufacture by marine mammals, the first known tool used in wild animals that benefits two individuals at once, and the first time non-human animals have been observed manipulating a tool with the core of their bodies, rather than an appendage. If you're looking for something a little longer to read over the weekend, here are some of the best long reads, book excerpts and interviews published this week. —AI hallucinates more frequently as it gets more advanced — is there any way to stop it from happening, and should we even try? (Analysis) —The San Andreas Fault: Facts about the crack in California's crust that could unleash the 'Big One' (Fact file) —How to photograph your microscope specimens (Feature) And something for the skywatchers —You can see a giant 'hole' shoot across Saturn this summer — and it won't happen again until 2040 Mysterious patterns on Mars, spanning up to 12 miles (20 kilometers), have been photographed up close for the first time. The spiderweb-like structures, known as "boxwork," are made up of criss-crossing ridges of mineral-rich rock that scientists believe may have been left behind by ancient groundwater on the Red Planet. The web-like structures were photographed by NASA's Curiosity rover, and scientists hope that studying them up close could reveal more about Mars' watery past and provide clues about whether the planet once harbored life. Want more science news? Follow our Live Science WhatsApp Channel for the latest discoveries as they happen. It's the best way to get our expert reporting on the go, but if you don't use WhatsApp, we're also on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Flipboard, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky and LinkedIn.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Cosmic wonders from Chile, record heat wave and July Fourth food: The week in review
A 'cosmic treasure chest' has been opened with the debut of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in northern Chile as astronomers released startling first images, including one of a southern region of the Virgo Cluster capturing a stunning 10 million galaxies. That was just 0.05% of the 20 billion galaxies the telescope is expected to capture with its car-sized digital camera in the coming decade. Its principal mission: the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, an ultrawide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of the universe, according to the facility's website − 'the largest astronomical movie of all time.' 13.5 billion years back in time: James Webb space telescope creates a vast cosmic map A dangerous heat wave smothered a large chunk of the central and eastern United States for days before easing, sending temperature records into oblivion as a huge atmospheric 'heat dome' trapped the scorching air over more than 150 million people. Baltimore's Inner Harbor soared to 104 degrees, just short of the 106 degrees in Death Valley, California. The town of North Hartland, Vermont, hit 101 degrees − hotter than Yuma, Arizona. In Paterson, New Jersey, graduation ceremonies were rescheduled for five high schools. And in the nation's capital, the Washington Monument was closed for most of the week as temperatures topped 100. Classic Fourth of July barbecues will cost a little more this year: $130 for food and drinks for a gathering of 10 people, a 2.2% increase from last year. That's according to a Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute analysis of data from NielsenIQ, which tracks food scanned at U.S. retailers. The menu used in the analysis: barbecued chicken breasts, beef sliders, hot dogs, fruit, vegetable platter, potato salad, cornbread, cake, apple pie, ice cream, beer, wine and sodas. But lots of people will pay nothing, according to another survey by Coupon Follow − the 1 out of 3 people who don't plan to celebrate Independence Day at Morissette's early days in the music industry were no strawberry festival. When faced with the 'lovely patriarchy' of the '90s, she told The Guardian in an interview, 'there was no one to hide behind,' adding that if men in the industry could not sleep with her, 'they didn't know what to do with me.' She was more of an introvert and had trouble breaking through, she said: "So, tequila – anything that allowed me to be the life of the party. ... Anything that would help me pretend I'm not me." But now, said the singer, 51, who has been open about her addiction struggles, 'there's zero desire to present as something I'm not." Her life in pictures: Alanis Morissette through the years Oklahoma City closed out its season with a rumble heard across the NBA. The Thunder dominated the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, pulling ahead in the third and fourth quarters after Indiana lost star guard Tyrese Haliburton to a torn Achilles tendon late in the first quarter. The championship is Oklahoma City's first since relocating from Seattle in 2008; for the Pacers, close wasn't good enough for their second straight season with a strong playoff run before falling to the eventual NBA champs. Indiana has never won an NBA title. − Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol, USA TODAY copy chief This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heat wave bakes US, Chile telescope reaches for stars: Week in review
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Can you spot these hidden cosmic jewels in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's groundbreaking first image?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The long-awaited Vera C. Rubin Observatory released its first batch of images Monday (June 23), captivating the world with one of the most detailed snapshots of space ever taken. Using the world's largest digital camera, the Rubin Observatory will spend the next 10 years taking a time-lapse movie of the entire night sky. And for the telescope's glorious debut, the team revealed a stunning image that captures more than 10 million galaxies in and around the Virgo Cluster — a glittering galaxy cluster located about 55 million light-years from Earth, in the constellation Virgo. The complete 3,200-megapixel image is so vast and detailed, it's beyond the comprehension of human eyes, project scientists said at a news conference Monday. Luckily, the Rubin Observatory team has made a zoomable, searchable version of the image available on their website — and it's teeming with jaw-dropping close-ups of cosmic objects, each one a work of art in its own right. To dip your toes into the overwhelming image, try taking the observatory's free online tour of "Rubin's cosmic treasure chest." We did — and highlighted some of the most stunning sights below, with their coordinates included for easy viewing. See if you can spot these cosmic jewels sprinkled throughout Rubin's groundbreaking debut image. Coordinates: 185.5, 4.5 Like an enormous celestial mirror, the "grand design" spiral galaxy Messier 61 (M61) gives astronomers a hint of what our own Milky Way looks like from the outside. Arranged face-on — meaning we can see the broad "face" of the galaxy, rather than just its flat edges — M61 flexes strong, well-defined spiral arms and boasts a bright galactic core housing a supermassive black hole. Though it's located an estimated 55 million light-years from Earth, astronomers have studied the shimmering galaxy for hundreds of years; it was first detected in 1779, according to NASA, and is visible today through a good backyard telescope. You can spot it in the bottom center of Rubin's image of the Virgo Cluster, just below a smaller, bluer spiral galaxy. Coordinates: 186.67, 9.0 Three spiral galaxies have gotten a little too close for comfort in the upper-right corner of Rubin's new image. While some individual spiral arms are still visible, the trio of galaxies are becoming visibly stretched in a gravitational tug-of-war that's slowly pulling them together into one great, gassy gumbo. Bridges of matter stretch between the contorted galaxies as they slowly merge. Such pileups are common; scientists theorize that our own Milky Way has merged at least a dozen times over the past 12 billion years. Coordinates: 187.83, 7.58 Most objects in the Virgo Cluster are located far beyond the borders of our galaxy, but the Rubin Observatory also captured a smattering of nearby stars in its crosshairs. Identifiable by their propeller-like diffraction spikes and reddish glow, these stars are located within our own Milky Way, millions of times closer than the Virgo Cluster. The sharp diffraction spikes and halo-like glow are effects of light scattering inside the telescope's optics and can help separate nearby stars from faraway galaxies. Coordinates: 186.92, 8.83 Galaxy clusters are the largest objects in the universe bound together by gravity; the Virgo Cluster (the subject of Rubin's debut image) contains an estimated 2,000 galaxies orbiting in relatively close proximity to each other, according to NASA. But by squinting far, far beyond the foreground objects in the new image, Rubin shows us what a galaxy cluster looks like from the outside. Each fuzzy, orange splotch of light in this part of the image is a galaxy containing billions of stars, located billions of light-years from Earth. Faint lanes of gas and dust bridge the gaps between the distant galaxies. While it's impossible to tell with the naked eye, our home galaxy is part of a similar cluster called the Virgo Supercluster, which contains both the Local Group (the group of galaxies that includes the Milky Way) and the Virgo Cluster. Coordinates: 186.67, 8.83 Two spiral galaxies, alike in dignity, appear to have a healthy respect for each other's personal boundaries; unlike the galactic train wrecks seen elsewhere in the Virgo Cluster, there is no apparent merger happening here. The reason involves a slight optical illusion. While the galaxies appear side by side, one is located much deeper in space than the other. According to the Rubin Observatory team, the galaxy on the right (NGC 4411) is about 50 million light-years away from Earth, while its partner on the left (NGC 4411b) is more than 70 million light-years distant. With plenty of space between them — and both oriented face-on toward Earth — we get to enjoy the sight of both in undisturbed glory. RELATED STORIES —James Webb telescope unveils largest-ever map of the universe, spanning over 13 billion years —32 stunning photos of auroras seen from space —42 jaw-dropping James Webb Space Telescope images Coordinates: 185.93, 6.93 Scattered throughout the image, long beams of bright light glow inside spherical halos. If you zoom in far enough, you'll see that many are spiral galaxies — but they're tilted edge on, with their faces pointed away from Earth. Unlike with face-on galaxies, we see these objects as flattened, pancake-like disks cloaked in glowing dust. Even if you look closely at this galaxy (NGC 4343), you still won't be able to make out its spiral arms. But you can see an active galactic nucleus at its center — a feeding supermassive black hole glowing bright as it pulls matter toward it at near light speed. What else have you spotted in Rubin's incredible 3,200-megapixel image of the Virgo Cluster? Leave a comment below with coordinates to share your discoveries.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Vera Rubin Observatory zooms into deep space
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astronomers use powerful telescopes, often housed at observatories, to peer into the farthest depths of our universe. To do this successfully, observatories often have to be placed at high elevations, away from light pollution, which is why the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Cerro Pachón in Chile sits at 5,200 feet (1,600 meters) above sea level. From their high perches, these observatories take clearer photos of our universe, providing more details about other galaxies, asteroids, and other structures. Recently, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory revealed its first images of our universe, using the LSST camera (LSSTCam), the world's largest digital camera ever constructed. At roughly the size of a compact car, the LSST camera works with the 8.4-meter Simonyi Survey Telescope to photograph hard-to-see images. These images could help reveal the presence of dark matter, which makes up 85% of our universe but is essentially invisible. The LSST camera covers a space around the size of 45 full moons in our sky in just one image. In the image release, one of the photographs shared with the public was this picture of the Virgo cluster, revealing two bright spiral galaxies and three merging galaxies, along with many stars. The Virgo cluster is around 53.8 million light-years from Earth. In just this one image, there are estimated to be around 10 million galaxies! Incredibly, this is only 0.05% of the number of around 20 billion galaxies that Rubin will have imaged by the end of its 10-year mission, called the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), which will investigate dark energy and dark matter in the universe. Presenting these images to the world, the researchers mentioned that this image of the Virgo cluster was created by projecting data onto the image to help give it a three-dimensional look. It is one of many pictures that will continue to be shared as the Rubin Observatory scans the skies at speeds 10 to 100 times faster than similar sized telescopes. With this innovation, images like the Virgo cluster are revealing more intricate structures in our universe, and they're only the beginning of what's to come. You can read more about the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and galaxy clusters as astronomers continue to study our universe.
The Province
5 days ago
- Science
- The Province
The largest digital camera ever built releases its first shots of the universe
The observatory hopes to image 20 billion galaxies and discover new asteroids and other celestial objects Published Jun 23, 2025 • 1 minute read This image provided by the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory shows a small section of the observatory's total view of the Virgo cluster. Photo by Vera C. Rubin Observatory / AP NEW YORK — The largest digital camera ever built released its first shots of the universe Monday — including colourful nebulas, stars and galaxies. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located on a mountaintop in Chile, was built to take a deeper look at the night sky, covering hidden corners. Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy, it will survey the southern sky for the next 10 years. The observatory's first look features the vibrant Trifid and Lagoon nebulas, located thousands of light-years from Earth. A light-year is nearly 10 trillion kilometres. A gaggle of galaxies known as the Virgo Cluster were also captured, including two bright blue spirals. The observatory hopes to image 20 billion galaxies and discover new asteroids and other celestial objects. The effort is named after astronomer Vera Rubin, who offered the first tantalizing evidence that a mysterious force called dark matter might be lurking in the universe. Researchers hope the observatory's discerning camera may yield clues about this elusive entity along with another called dark energy. Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks World News Local News
