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Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are some of the most powerful objects in the universe. They can be millions or even billions of times more massive than the Sun and are found at the centers of large galaxies. But an important question has puzzled scientists for years: Where does the gas that feeds these giant black holes come from? A new study by Kwak and colleagues provides an interesting answer. Using 30 detailed computer simulations of massive galaxies, the researchers followed the journeys of individual gas particles through cosmic history. Their goal was to understand where black-hole-feeding gas comes from and how its chemical composition changes before it reaches the black hole. The results show that much of this gas may actually come from stars inside the galaxy itself . Black Holes and Galaxies Grow Together Supermassive black holes do not evolve separately from their galaxies. Scientists have found strong links between the mass of a central black hole and the properties of it...

Scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in nuclear physics by directly detecting antineutrinos released from spent nuclear fuel after a nuclear reactor has been shut down. The groundbreaking measurement was made by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) in Heidelberg, Germany. Using the Double Chooz detector at the Chooz nuclear power plant in northern France, the team detected around 100 antineutrino events during a 17.2-day period when both reactor units were completely offline. The result is important because it demonstrates that antineutrino detectors can continue to gather useful information even after a reactor stops producing electricity. The technique could eventually provide a new way to independently monitor nuclear reactors and spent fuel. Catching an Almost Invisible Signal Antineutrinos are extremely difficult particles to detect. They are produced during certain radioactive decay processes and interact with ordinary matter only very rare...

Smartwatches, smartphones, drones and other compact electronic devices all depend on lightweight rechargeable energy systems. But when these devices reach the end of their useful lives, their batteries and other electronic parts often become difficult-to-recycle waste. Researchers have now developed a new type of recyclable supercapacitor that could offer a more sustainable solution. The compact energy-storage device can be quickly taken apart, allowing important components to be recovered and reused. In laboratory tests, one of these components was successfully used in two new supercapacitors without losing significant performance. The research, published in ACS Energy Letters , demonstrates that high performance and sustainability can be designed into the same energy-storage technology. A More Sustainable Alternative Many rechargeable electronic devices currently rely on lithium-ion batteries. Although lithium-ion technology offers high energy density, these batteries can contain fl...

The human hand is one of nature’s most remarkable machines. It can pinch a tiny object, twist a bottle cap, hold tools, grasp objects of different sizes and perform delicate movements with impressive precision. For decades, scientists and engineers have tried to reproduce these abilities in robots by copying the complex structure of the human hand. But copying nature does not always mean copying its anatomy. A new robotic system called BioflexBot takes a different approach. Instead of recreating the bones, joints, muscles and tendons of a human hand, researchers designed a simpler machine that focuses on reproducing the hand’s most important functions. The result is a flexible robot that can perform several human-like movements while also offering greater reach and a much simpler design. The research, published in Advanced Science , could point toward a new generation of low-cost, highly capable robotic systems. A Robot Designed for Function, Not Appearance Traditional robotic hands o...

Researchers in Singapore have developed a tiny rotor that can keep spinning for more than 10 hours after its driving force is switched off. The millimeter-scale device, created by scientists at the A STAR Quantum Innovation Center (A STAR Q.InC), has achieved the lowest energy loss ever reported for a mechanical rotor of its size. The breakthrough could lead to highly sensitive gyroscopes and other precision sensors for situations where GPS is unavailable. Potential applications include underwater vehicles, underground navigation systems and autonomous machines operating in challenging environments. The study, published in Nature Communications , addresses a major problem that has limited the performance of levitated mechanical systems: energy loss caused by magnetic effects. A Tiny Rotor With Remarkable Stability Mechanical rotors normally lose energy because of friction, air resistance and other forces. Even when a rotor is levitated so that it does not physically touch a surface, it...

For decades, astronomers have known that the Milky Way is far more complex than a simple, flat disk of stars. Gas clouds, dust, young stars, and star clusters form large structures that stretch across enormous distances. Now, a new study has revealed another fascinating structure in our galactic neighborhood: a chain of young open star clusters that appears to follow a wave-like pattern through space. Researchers Bobylev and Bajkova studied the distribution of open star clusters (OSCs) younger than 30 million years in the Local System, the region of the Milky Way around the Sun. Their analysis has revealed, for the first time, that a significant number of these young star clusters are associated with a recently discovered structure called the Vela Ridge supercloud . The most interesting finding is that these young clusters do not simply lie randomly above and below the Milky Way's disk. Instead, their positions show a repeating, wave-like pattern. The researchers found that the ve...

Astronomers have discovered strong evidence of a black hole that is not sitting at the center of a galaxy but is instead wandering through its surroundings and feeding on gas along the way. The black hole UGCA320 is estimated to have a mass about 35,000 times greater than the Sun . The discovery is important because it provides evidence for a process scientists have predicted for years. A black hole moving through gas can use its powerful gravity to pull nearby material toward itself. This creates a dense trail, or “wake,” behind the black hole. Some of this gas can then fall into the black hole and help it grow. The finding could change our understanding of how wandering black holes survive and gain mass away from the centers of galaxies. What Is an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole? Black holes are generally divided into different groups based on their mass. Stellar-mass black holes are formed when very massive stars die and collapse under their own gravity. At the other extreme ...