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A breakthrough has been reported in particle physics, focusing on hypernuclei—rare atomic systems that form through the inclusion of hyperons, particles containing at least one “strange” quark. Unlike the ordinary nuclei of atoms made of protons and neutrons, hypernuclei exhibit unique properties that may offer insights into subatomic forces and the extreme conditions present in neutron stars. Scientists aim to deepen the understanding of these fleeting structures and their implications for astrophysics and nuclear physics.

Insights from Advanced Research

According to a study published in The European Physical Journal A, researchers led by Ulf-G. Meißner from the Institute for Advanced Simulation in Jülich and the University of Bonn applied nuclear lattice effective field theory to investigate hypernuclei. This approach simplifies the study of nuclear interactions by focusing on protons, neutrons, and hyperons rather than quarks and gluons, providing a computationally feasible way to study these particles.

This study specifically examined Λ-hyperons, one of the lightest hyperons, and their interactions within hypernuclei. A lattice-based model was utilised, where particles are simulated within a discrete grid, reducing the complexity of the calculations. Forces governing the structure of hypernuclei were calculated, achieving agreement with experimental data within a 5 percent margin of accuracy. The method also allowed the study of hypernuclei with up to 16 constituents, expanding the scope of earlier models.

Implications for Neutron Stars

Hypernuclei are theorised to form in neutron stars due to the immense pressure and density in their cores. The measurable properties of neutron stars, such as mass and radius, could be influenced by the presence of hyperons. By using advanced X-ray telescopes and gravitational wave detectors, scientists hope to detect deviations from existing models, potentially confirming hyperons’ role in these environments.

Further research is required to refine models and explore pion exchanges, which may alter the forces within hypernuclei. Enhanced experimental data and precision in accelerator experiments are expected to contribute to this field in the future.

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Astronomers Discover Most Powerful Cosmic Explosions Since the Big Bang

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Astronomers Discover Most Powerful Cosmic Explosions Since the Big Bang

Astronomers have seen the most energetic cosmic explosions yet, a new class of eruptions termed “extreme nuclear transients” (ENTs). These rare events occur when stars at least three times more massive than our Sun are shredded by supermassive black holes. While such cataclysmic events have been known for years, recent flares detected in galactic centres revealed a brightness nearly ten times greater than typical tidal disruption events. The discovery offers new insight into black hole behaviour and energy release in the universe’s most extreme environments.

Extreme Flares Detected by Gaia and ZTF Reveal Most Energetic Black Hole Events Yet

As per a June 4 Science Advances report, lead researcher Jason Hinkle of the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy noticed two mysterious flares from galactic cores in 2016 and 2018, recorded by the European Space Agency‘s Gaia spacecraft. The scientists recognised them as ENTs because a third one, observed in 2020 by the Zwicky Transient Facility, has similar characteristics. These outbursts gave out more energy than supernovae did, and they lasted much longer than short bursts typically seen during tidal disruption events.

Tidal disruption events such as Gaia18cdj are associated with flares that are explosive and long-duration. These explosions are greater than 100 times as intense as supernovas and have been occurring for millions to billions of years. They make ENTs an uncommon, energetic, and long-lived event that cosmic explorers might use.

The ENTs’ brightness lets astronomers focus on distant galactic centres, as well as the feeding habits of black holes in the universe’s early days. “These flares are shining a light on the growth of supermassive black holes in the universe,” mentioned co-author Benjamin Shappee, a Hubble fellow at IfA. Their visibility on large scales provides a statistical tool for cosmological studies in the future.

Such findings are expanding what astrophysicists know about ENTs-but researchers stress that they’re not done wrapping their heads around these mysterious objects just yet. The results might also advance new models of how black holes and stars work together and how energy moves across galaxies. Given upcoming missions with better instruments, the discovery of more ENTs will help astronomers learn even more about these violent events in the cosmos.

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NASA’s IMAP Mission to Chart Solar System Boundary, Launching in 2025

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NASA’s IMAP Mission to Chart Solar System Boundary, Launching in 2025

NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) has started to get ready for the launch. It was removed from its shipping container on Thursday, May 29, after being transferred from the airlock into the high bay at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Its objective is to study the boundary of the solar system and how solar wind interacts with interstellar space. The mission is targeting launch no earlier than September 2025 from Launch Complex 39A.

About the new Mission

According to NASA’s blog, the IMAP mission will orbit the Sun at a location called Lagrange Point 1 (L1), which is about one million miles from Earth towards the Sun. From this location, IMAP can measure the local solar wind and scan the distant heliosphere without background from planets and their magnetic fields. The spacecraft will use 10 scientific instruments to study and map the heliosphere, a vast magnetic bubble surrounding the Sun that protects our solar system. As a modern-day space cartographer, IMAP will enhance our understanding of heliophysics and contribute valuable insights into space weather prediction.

At NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, IMAP went through thermal vacuum testing at the X-ray and Cryogenic facility that simulates harsh conditions and dramatic temperature changes to simulate the environment during launch, on the journey toward the Sun.

Pre-Launch Preparations

NASA technicians will now begin to load the IMAP spacecraft with propellant. It will be integrated with two additional satellites: the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On L1. All three spacecraft will be encapsulated together inside the protective payload fairing. Technicians then will transport the encapsulated spacecraft to a hangar at NASA Kennedy, where the team will integrate the spacecraft with its SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

IMAP is the fifth mission in NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Probes program portfolio. It is led by Princeton University professor David J. McComas with an international team of 25 partner institutions. The spacecraft was built and operated from The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

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Rocket Lab Launches Private Earth-Observing Satellite Toward Orbit for BlackSky

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Rocket Lab Launches Private Earth-Observing Satellite Toward Orbit for BlackSky

Rocket Lab successfully launched a Gen-3 Earth-observing satellite for Virginia-based BlackSky on June 2, marking another step in private-sector space imaging. The mission, named Full Stream Ahead, lifted off aboard an Electron rocket from the company’s New Zealand launch complex at 7:57 p.m. EDT (11:57 a.m. NZST on June 3). The satellite is headed for a circular orbit 292 miles (470 kilometres) above Earth. Once in position, the satellite will bolster BlackSky’s constellation, which provides high-resolution images and AI-powered analytics for real-time Earth intelligence operations.

Rocket Lab Expands Role in Commercial Space With 65th Electron Launch and Growing Fleet

According to Rocket Lab, this was the second of four scheduled Electron launches for BlackSky in 2025 and the 10th overall Electron flight for the company, making it the most frequently used launcher in BlackSky’s deployment campaign. The Electron rocket’s successful liftoff also marks the seventh mission for Rocket Lab this year and the 65th total flight. The mission contributes to the increasing importance of tiny launchers in low Earth orbit servicing of commercial satellite clients.

Designed particularly for specialist small satellite launches, the 59-foot (18-metre) Electron spacecraft has become a pillar in the commercial space sector. The Gen-3 satellite it carries will improve BlackSky’s capacity to provide fast geospatial insights, which are in demand in the humanitarian, commercial, and military spheres.

The launch also highlights Rocket Lab’s broader ambitions. The company is testing a suborbital Electron variant known as HASTE, designed for hypersonic vehicle testing, and is concurrently developing a much larger rocket, Neutron. Anticipated to launch later this year, Neutron targets medium-lift missions, including possible human-rated flights in the future, and seeks to be partly reusable.

With back-to-back missions and expanding vehicle capability, Rocket Lab continues to position itself as a key player in the evolving private spaceflight industry.

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