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Recent astronomical discoveries suggest that our solar system could be much larger than previously thought, with the potential existence of a second Kuiper Belt beyond the one we know. Using the powerful Subaru telescope, astronomers have spotted 11 new objects orbiting far beyond the known Kuiper Belt, indicating the presence of a second belt, tentatively named “Kuiper Belt 2.”

What is the Kuiper Belt?

The Kuiper Belt is a distant region of our solar system located beyond Neptune, stretching from about 33 to 55 astronomical units (AU). It contains icy bodies and comets that orbit the sun, and it was the primary target for NASA’s New Horizons mission, which famously explored Pluto in 2015.

Beyond the known Kuiper Belt lies a vast, unexplored region of space, where scientists now believe more mysterious objects may exist.

New Discoveries Beyond the Kuiper Belt

Using Subaru’s Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC), scientists found 239 Kuiper Belt objects since 2020. However, the most significant discovery was 11 objects located between 70 and 90 AU from the sun, suggesting the existence of a second, more distant belt. This new belt could extend as far as 13.5 billion kilometers (8.4 billion miles) from the sun.

Notably, there is a gap between 55 and 70 AU where no objects have been found, further supporting the idea of a distinct second belt.

Implications for Our Understanding of the Solar System

This discovery could reshape our understanding of how the solar system formed. For years, scientists believed that the Kuiper Belt was unusually small compared to similar belts found in other planetary systems. However, the identification of Kuiper Belt 2 suggests that our solar system may be more typical and that its primordial nebula was larger than initially thought.

The discovery of Kuiper Belt 2 is still under investigation, but it hints at the possibility of more dwarf planets and even the long-theorized Planet Nine. As astronomers continue to observe these distant objects, we may uncover even more surprises in the outer reaches of our solar system as a preprint.

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NASA Hubble Space Telescope Finds Unexpectedly High Number of Black Holes

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September 22, 2024

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NASA Hubble Space Telescope Finds Unexpectedly High Number of Black Holes

An international team of researchers, led by scientists from Stockholm University’s Department of Astronomy, has discovered a higher number of black holes in the early universe than was previously recorded. Using the NASA Hubble Space Telescope, this team found black holes among faint galaxies formed shortly after the Big Bang event. These findings may help scientists understand how supermassive black holes were formed and the role they play in the evolution of galaxies. Hubble’s data was gathered from years of observations of the Ultra Deep Field region.

Supermassive Black Holes Found in Distant Galaxies

One of the key discoveries was the presence of supermassive black holes at the centre of several galaxies formed less than a billion years after the big bang. These black holes have masses equivalent to billions of suns, far larger than what scientists initially predicted.

Alice Young, a PhD student from Stockholm University and a co-author of the study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, noted that these black holes either formed as extremely massive objects or grew rapidly in the early universe.

Observing Black Holes through Variations in Brightness

The research team re-photographed the same region over several years using Hubble, allowing them to measure changes in galaxy brightness. These changes are signals of black holes flickering as they swallow material in bursts. Matthew Hayes, lead author and professor at Stockholm University, explained that these findings help improve models of how both black holes and galaxies grow and interact over time.

Implications for Understanding Galaxy Formation

The research suggests black holes likely formed from the collapse of massive stars in the universe’s first billion years. These findings provide a clearer picture of black hole and galaxy evolution, which can now be better understood through more accurate scientific models.

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NASA Europa Clipper Gearing Up to Explore Jupiter’s Icy Moon

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September 22, 2024

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NASA Europa Clipper Gearing Up to Explore Jupiter’s Icy Moon

NASA‘s Europa Clipper mission is on track for its scheduled October 10 launch, aiming to explore Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. Scientists believe Europa could be one of the most promising places to find the conditions for life beyond Earth. The spacecraft will travel 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometres) to study whether the moon’s icy surface hides a vast ocean beneath, which could harbour the right conditions for life. The mission, however, faces challenges due to intense radiation around Jupiter.

Mission preparations and potential challenges

NASA’s Europa Clipper will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Despite concerns over some defective transistors on the spacecraft, the mission remains on schedule. The spacecraft will arrive at Jupiter in April 2030 and conduct 49 flybys of Europa, gathering scientific data about the moon’s environment.

Jordan Evans, Project Manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), told Space.com that intense radiation around Jupiter is a significant challenge. The spacecraft will be exposed to radiation levels equivalent to millions of chest X-rays during each flyby. The team has developed a trajectory to minimise exposure, allowing the spacecraft to complete its mission and return valuable data to Earth.

Investigating Europa’s icy shell and subsurface ocean

Europa Clipper will use its suite of scientific instruments to estimate the thickness of Europa’s icy crust and study its surface for signs of geological activity. Ann Allen, Deputy Project Scientist at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), explained that the spacecraft will search for organic compounds, though it will not directly search for life. Instead, it will focus on finding the ingredients that could make life possible beneath the ice.

The mission is designed to last four years and could reveal important information about Europa’s subsurface ocean, setting the stage for future exploration.

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Mysterious Noises Coming From Mariana Trench Finally Explained

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September 22, 2024

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Mysterious Noises Coming From Mariana Trench Finally Explained

Strange underwater noises, known as “biotwang” sounds, have puzzled scientists since they were first heard near the Mariana Trench in 2014. These odd noises, described as a combination of low grumbling and high-pitched metallic ringing, are reminiscent of eerie sounds from sci-fi movies. For years, the source of these noises was unknown, though they were suspected to be connected to marine life. A recent study has now confirmed that Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni) are responsible for making these unique sounds. Researchers believe the whales may use these noises as a way to communicate across the vast ocean.

Biotwang discovery and analysis

The biotwang noises were initially recorded by underwater gliders during an acoustic survey of the Mariana Trench as per a study published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. Scientists struggled to identify the origin of these unusual sounds. In 2016, researchers proposed that the sounds likely came from large baleen whales like blue whales or humpback whales, though they could not be certain at the time.

It wasn’t until 2023 that the source was definitively traced back to Bryde’s whales, thanks to new advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). The AI tools sifted through over 200,000 hours of recordings to help researchers identify the biotwang calls.

Tracking Bryde’s whales

Ann Allen, an oceanographer at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, led the study. Her team discovered that the biotwang noises aligned with the migration patterns of Bryde’s whales, confirming their involvement.

The researchers observed Bryde’s whales in the region and recorded several making the sounds, further solidifying the connection. Interestingly, the biotwang noises were only detected in the northwest Pacific, suggesting that these calls might be unique to a specific population of whales.

While the exact purpose of the biotwang calls remains unclear, scientists believe they may be a form of long-distance communication.

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