Black holes are invisible to us unless they interact with something else. Some continuously eat gas and dust, and appear to glow brightly over time as matter falls in. But other black holes secretly lie in wait for years until a star comes close enough to snack on. A new study using space and ground-based … Read more
This Oct. 4, 2017, illustration shows a hypothetical uneven ring of dust orbiting KIC 8462852, also known as Boyajian’s Star or Tabby’s Star. The star has experienced unusual dips in brightness over a matter of days, as well as much subtler but longer-term dimming trends. Scientists proposed several explanations for this unexpected behavior, ranging from … Read more
Through a nonlinear path to success, research astrophysicist Tyler Parsotan discovers transformational science using Swift’s observations. Name: Tyler ParsotanFormal Job Classification: Research astrophysicistOrganization: Astroparticle Physics Laboratory (Code 661), Astrophysics Science Division, Sciences and Exploration Directorate What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? I help operate the Burst Alert … Read more
A “strange explosive episode” is unfolding in the galaxy, NASA scientists have proposed. The scientists have theorised that a colossal black hole performed a 180° magnetic flip after observing a mysterious cosmic outburst in a galaxy located 236 million light years away. Details of the theory have been published in a new study in the Astrophysical … Read more