Extreme Weight Loss: Shocking Supernova Discovery Challenges the Standard Theory of Stellar Evolution
Evidence of extreme pre-explosion mass loss in a recently discovered supernova indicates there may be more going on in the last year of a star’s…
The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, also known as the CfA, is a joint research institute operated by Harvard University and the Smithsonian Institution. The CfA is one of the world’s leading centers for astrophysics research, with a focus on the study of the origin and evolution of the universe, the formation and structure of galaxies, and the search for habitable planets beyond our solar system. On this page, you will find a collection of articles related to the research and discoveries made at the CfA, including updates on current projects, new findings, and insights into the cutting-edge research being conducted by the center’s scientists. Stay informed about the latest developments in astrophysics research by exploring the articles on this page.
Evidence of extreme pre-explosion mass loss in a recently discovered supernova indicates there may be more going on in the last year of a star’s…
Astronomers at the Institute for Advanced Study and the Flatiron Institute, along with their collaborators, have utilized artificial intelligence to improve the method of calculating…
The ASTRID cosmological simulation, a massive simulation run on TACC’s Frontera supercomputer, is aiding in the investigation of ultra-massive black holes. Ultra-massive black holes are…
Astronomers Discover Closest Black Hole to Earth Astronomers have discovered the closest black hole to Earth, which the researchers have dubbed Gaia BH1. The dormant…
Cosmic Superbubble’s Magnetic Field Charted in 3D for the First Time A first-of-its-kind map that could help answer decades-old questions about the origins of stars…
A recent study has unveiled the true shape of the diffuse cloud of stars surrounding the disk of our galaxy, known as the stellar halo….
A behemoth black hole, as massive as the one at the center of the Milky Way, is hosted by a dwarf galaxy less than 1…
The condemned planet could help answer questions about the fate of other worlds as their solar systems evolve. An incredible discovery has been made by…
New Webb Space Telescope observations of WASP-39 b reveal a never-before-seen molecule in the atmosphere of a planet — sulfur dioxide — among other details….
An analysis of more than two decades’ worth of supernova explosions convincingly boosts modern cosmological theories and reinvigorates efforts to answer fundamental questions. A powerful…
A small star was ripped to shreds in October 2018 when it wandered too close to a black hole in a galaxy located 665 million…
A new technique has been developed by astronomers to identify small planets hidden in protoplanetary disks. According to astronomers and astrophysicists, planets are born in…
Astronomers frequently observe carbon monoxide (CO) in planetary nurseries. Because the compound is ultra-bright and extremely common in protoplanetary disks — regions of dust and…
Over 5,000 exoplanets have been detected to date, with more than 90% of them found by using the transit or radial velocity techniques. Of the…
Shining only ~300 million years after the Big Bang, it may be home to the oldest stars in the universe, or a supermassive black hole….
The Solar System has eight planets. In 2006, astronomers reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet, the same class as contains Eris, Sedna, Quaoar, Ceres, and…
The U.S. Extremely Large Telescope Program, which includes the Giant Magellan Telescope, was ranked mission critical by the 2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics….
Star formation in the Milky Way primarily occurs in long, dense filaments of gas and dust that stretch along the spiral arms. Dubbed “bones” because…