Past Future Second…

The figure illustrates three events in Minkowski spacetime. Event 𝐵 is neither in the past nor in the future of 𝐴, 𝐴 ∼ 𝐵, and event 𝐶 is neither in the past nor in the future of 𝐵, 𝐵 ∼ 𝐶. Despite this, 𝐶 ≁ 𝐴. Indeed, 𝐶 is in the future of 𝐴: 𝐶Continue reading “Past Future Second…”

Matrix…

(a) Schematics of the word INFORMATION is written on a material in binary code using magnetic recording. Red denotes magnetization pointing out of the plane and blue is magnetization pointing into the plane. (b)–(d) Time evolution of the digital magnetic recording information states simulated using micromagnetic Monte Carlo. (b) Initial random state. (c) INFORMATION isContinue reading “Matrix…”

Imaging Infinity…

A new image from the Event Horizon Telescope has revealed powerful magnetic fields spiraling from the edge of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A*. Topics: Astrophysics, Black Holes, Cosmology, Einstein, General Relativity Physicists have been confident since the 1980s that there is a supermassive black hole at theContinue reading “Imaging Infinity…”

Rate of Expansion…

A University of Minnesota Twin Cities-led team used a first-of-its-kind technique to measure the expansion rate of the Universe, providing insight that could help more accurately determine the Universe’s age and help physicists and astronomers better understand the cosmos. Credit: NASA, ESA, and S. Rodney (JHU) and the FrontierSN team; T. Treu (UCLA), P. KellyContinue reading “Rate of Expansion…”

Einstein Rings…

Multiple images of a background image created by gravitational lensing can be seen in the system HS 0810+2554. Credit: Hubble Space Telescope / NASA / ESA Topics: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Dark Matter, Einstein, General Relativity Physicists believe most of the matter in the universe is made up of an invisible substance that we only know aboutContinue reading “Einstein Rings…”

Ripples, Waves, and Genesis…

Numerical simulation of the neutron stars merging to form a black hole, with their accretion disks interacting to produce electromagnetic waves. Credit: L. Rezolla (AEI) & M. Koppitz (AEI & Zuse-Institut Berlin) Topics: Black Holes, Cosmology, General Relativity, Gravity, Research Scientists have advanced in discovering how to use ripples in space-time known as gravitational wavesContinue reading “Ripples, Waves, and Genesis…”

Heart of Darkness…

Topics: Astrophysics, Black Holes, Cosmology, Einstein, General Relativity In a triumph of observation and data processing, astronomers at the Event Horizon Telescope have captured the first-ever picture of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. The black hole is named Sagittarius A* (pronounced “A-star”), and the reveal of its image received anContinue reading “Heart of Darkness…”

Shadow of Infinity…

Topics: Black Holes, Cosmology, Einstein, General Relativity When galaxies collide, the central supermassive black holes that they contain begin to orbit each other. This supermassive black hole binary attracts gas, which flows through the system to form two disk-shaped structures, one around each of the supermassive black holes. The gas in these “minidisks” heats asContinue reading “Shadow of Infinity…”

Rogue Singularity…

Topics: Astrophysics, Black Holes, Cosmology, Einstein, General Relativity Each second, a brand new baby black hole is born somewhere in the cosmos as a massive star collapses under its own weight. But black holes themselves are invisible. Historically, astronomers have only been able to detect these stellar-mass black holes when they are acting on aContinue reading “Rogue Singularity…”

Aharonov-Bohm Effect…

Topics: General Relativity, Gravity, Modern Physics, Quantum Mechanics The idea that particles can feel the influence of potentials even without being exposed to a force field may seem counterintuitive, but it has long been accepted in physics thanks to experimental demonstrations involving electromagnetic interactions. Now physicists in the US have shown that this so-called Aharonov-BohmContinue reading “Aharonov-Bohm Effect…”