<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from the European Space Agency features the star-forming region NGC 604. The nebula is located 2.73 million light-years away from Earth in the Triangulum Galaxy (M33). </p>



<p>By studying regions like NGC 604, astronomers can gain insights into the complex interactions between stars and the interstellar medium, as well as the conditions that lead to the birth of stars. This, in turn, helps in understanding the evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> and the universe as a whole.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-massive-stars-of-ngc-604">Massive stars of NGC 604</h2>



<p>"Sheltered among NGC 604’s dusty envelopes of gas are more than 200 of the hottest, most massive kinds of stars, all in the early stages of their lives," said <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.</p>



<p>"These types of stars are known as B-types and O-types, the latter of which can be more than 100 times the mass of our own Sun. It’s quite rare to find this concentration of them in the nearby universe. In fact, there’s no similar region within our own Milky Way galaxy."</p>



<p>According to ESA, this concentration of massive stars, combined with its relatively close distance, means that NGC 604 gives astronomers an opportunity to study these objects at a fascinating time early in their life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gigantic-region-of-ionized-hydrogen">Gigantic region of ionized hydrogen</h2>



<p>NGC 604 is one of the largest known regions of ionized hydrogen, also known as an H II region. This nebula is significantly larger than the Orion Nebula, which is one of the most well-known H II regions in our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-amount-of-dark-matter-may-be-missing-from-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way galaxy</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>NGC 604 spans about 1,500 light-years across, making it one of the largest H II regions in the Local Group of galaxies. This group includes the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and about 54 other smaller galaxies.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ngc-604-starburst-phenomenon">NGC 604 starburst phenomenon </h2>



<p>Within NGC 604, there are hundreds of young, hot, massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-at-the-edge-of-our-milky-way-galaxy-travel-more-slowly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a>. These stars have ionized the surrounding gas, causing it to glow and creating the nebula. The region is a prime example of a starburst phenomenon, where stars form at a much higher rate than in typical galactic conditions.</p>



<p>“The bright orange streaks in this image signify the presence of carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs," explained ESA.</p>



<p>"As you travel further from the immediate cavities of dust where the star is forming, the deeper red signifies molecular hydrogen. This cooler gas is a prime environment for star formation. Ionized hydrogen from ultraviolet radiation appears as a white and blue ghostly glow."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-star-formation">More about star formation </h2>



<p>Star formation is crucial for the evolution of galaxies and the synthesis of heavy elements. In the cores of stars, elements heavier than helium are created.</p>



<p>The elements are spread throughout the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-stars-shakti-shiva-shaped-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> when stars reach the end of their lives and expel their material - either gently through winds or violently via supernova explosions. </p>



<p>This enriching process allows for the formation of new stars and planets, and ultimately, the potential for life.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cloud collapse</h3>



<p>The process begins when part of a molecular cloud becomes unstable and starts to collapse under its own gravity. This can be triggered by events like shock waves from nearby <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernovae</a>, galactic collisions, or the influence of other massive stars.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Formation of a protostar</h3>



<p>As the cloud collapses, it fragments into smaller clumps. Each clump will eventually form one or more stars. </p>



<p>The material within these clumps continues to fall inward, heating up as it does so, eventually forming a warm core called a protostar. At this stage, the protostar is not yet hot enough for nuclear fusion (the process that powers stars) to occur.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Accretion disk</h3>



<p>Around the protostar, material from the surrounding cloud continues to fall inward, forming a rotating disk. This material slowly accretes onto the protostar, increasing its mass.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Nuclear fusion begins</h3>



<p>Once the core of the protostar reaches a high enough temperature and pressure, hydrogen atoms begin to fuse into helium, releasing energy in the process. This marks the transition from a protostar to a main sequence star, like our sun.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Main sequence and beyond</h3>



<p>The star will spend the majority of its life in the main sequence stage, where it balances the gravitational forces trying to collapse it and the outward pressure from nuclear fusion. </p>



<p>Eventually, the star will exhaust its hydrogen fuel. Its subsequent evolution will depend on its initial mass, leading to various end stages such as red giants, supernovae, neutron stars, or black holes.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope</p>



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Young, massive stars in the Triangulum Galaxy

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from the European Space Agency features NGC 1792, a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Columba about 43 million light-years away from Earth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This galaxy, discovered by British astronomer James Dunlop in 1826, is part of the larger NGC 1808 group of galaxies.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intimate-view-of-ngc-1792">Intimate view of NGC 1792</h2>



<p>“An orange glow radiates from the center of NGC 1792, the heart of this stellar forge. Captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, this intimate view of NGC 1792 gives us some insight into this galactic powerhouse,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.</p>



<p>“The vast swathes of tell-tale blue seen throughout the galaxy indicate areas that are full of young, hot stars, and it is in the shades of orange, seen nearer the center, that the older, cooler stars reside.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vigorous-star-formation-nbsp">Vigorous star formation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>NGC 1792 is notable for its vigorous star formation, classifying it as a starburst galaxy. The high rate of star birth is thought to be triggered by gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies, though the exact cause is still under study.</p>



<p>“Nestled in the constellation of Columba (The Dove), NGC 1792 is both a spiral galaxy, and a starburst galaxy,” said ESA. </p>



<p>“Within starburst galaxies, stars are forming at comparatively exorbitant rates. The rate of star formation can be more than 10 times faster in a starburst galaxy than in the Milky Way.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fierce-bursts-of-star-formation">Fierce bursts of star formation</h2>



<p>ESA noted that when galaxies have a large reservoir of gas, like NGC 1792, these short-lived starburst phases can be sparked by galactic events such as mergers and tidal interactions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“One might think that these starburst galaxies would easily consume all of their gas in a large forming event. However, supernova explosions and intense stellar winds produced in these powerful starbursts can inject energy into the gas and disperse it.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This halts the star formation before it can completely deplete the galaxy of all its fuel. Scientists are actively working to understand this complex interplay between the dynamics that drive and quench these fierce bursts of star formation.”</p>



<p>Due to its distance and brightness, NGC 1792 can be observed with medium-sized telescopes under favorable conditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-evolution-of-galaxies">The evolution of galaxies </h2>



<p>Galaxy evolution refers to the process by which galaxies form and change over time. It begins in the early universe, shortly after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-observations-disprove-big-bang-theory-universe-began-tired-light-theory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Bang</a>, when small density fluctuations in the primordial gas led to the collapse of matter into the first galaxies.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-mergers">Galaxy mergers</h3>



<p>Early galaxies were small and irregular, and were composed mostly of gas and dark matter. Over billions of years, galaxies grew larger by merging with one another and by accreting gas from the surrounding space.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These interactions often triggered bursts of star formation, and collisions between galaxies sometimes led to the creation of new, more massive galaxies.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structural-changes">Structural changes</h3>



<p>As galaxies evolve, their morphology - shape and structure - can change. Early galaxies were often irregular or disk-shaped, but over time, many galaxies formed into the elliptical or spiral shapes we see today.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation">Star formation</h3>



<p>Star formation is a key driver of galaxy evolution, but it gradually slows down as galaxies age. </p>



<p>The gas that fuels <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a> can be used up, or it can be heated and pushed out of galaxies by supernovae or black holes, reducing the galaxy's ability to form new stars.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-environment-nbsp">Galaxy environment&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The environment in which a galaxy resides also plays a role in its evolution. Galaxies in dense clusters are more likely to interact with their neighbors, which can alter their shape or trigger bursts of star formation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In contrast, galaxies in more isolated regions of space evolve more slowly and without as many dramatic interactions.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-matter">Dark matter</h3>



<p>Dark matter also plays a crucial role in galaxy evolution. It provides the gravitational framework that holds galaxies together and influences their interactions with one another.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=Galaxies%20merge&amp;start=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black holes</a>, found at the centers of most large galaxies, can also affect their evolution by releasing energy that impacts star formation and the movement of gas within the galaxy.</p>



<p>Overall, galaxy evolution is a complex and ongoing process driven by interactions between stars, gas, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-dark-matter-does-not-exist-and-the-universe-is-27-billion-years-old/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a>, and black holes, and shaped by both internal processes and external influences.</p>



<p>Image Credit<strong>:</strong> ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA, J. Lee</p>



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Starburst galaxy in the constellation Columba

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from the European Space Agency features a brilliant stellar nursery located about 163,000 light-years away.</p>



<p>According to ESA, the image is one of the most photogenic examples of the many stellar nurseries observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope during its 30-year lifetime. </p>



<p>“The portrait features the giant nebula NGC 2014 and its neighbor NGC 2020 which together form part of a vast star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-stellar-nursery">What is a stellar nursery?</h2>



<p>Stellar nurseries are regions in space where new stars are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-stars-release-sneezes-of-gas-and-dust-as-they-develop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">born</a> - often within vast clouds of gas and dust called molecular clouds.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These areas are fascinating because they are cradles of stellar evolution, where gravity causes clumps of gas to collapse, eventually forming protostars.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Over time, the protostars will heat up and start the nuclear fusion process that powers a star.</p>



<p>One of the most well-known stellar nurseries is the Orion Nebula, which is visible to the naked eye and located about 1,350 light-years from Earth.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-nature-of-a-stellar-nursery-nbsp">Dynamic nature of a stellar nursery&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Within these nurseries, the balance between gravity and pressure determines the types of stars that form, from massive, luminous stars to smaller, cooler ones like our Sun.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The environment is incredibly dynamic, with powerful winds from young stars shaping the clouds and triggering the birth of even more stars.</p>



<p>These regions are often illuminated by the light from massive newborn stars - creating stunning, colorful displays. The light reveals the intricate structure of the dust and gas, sculpted by the energy of young stars.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-stellar-nurseries-nbsp">Significance of stellar nurseries&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Stellar nurseries are essential for understanding the early stages of planetary formation, as protoplanetary disks (the material from which <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planets form</a>) are often found around young stars in these regions.</p>



<p>Stellar nurseries play a crucial role in the ongoing evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a>. They are responsible for the continuous birth of new stars that enrich the interstellar medium with heavier elements. This constant recycling of material is key to the development of future generations of stars and planets.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Furthermore, the study of these regions helps astronomers understand the fundamental processes that govern the life cycles of stars and the overall dynamics of the universe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-local-group">The Local Group</h2>



<p>The Local Group is a collection of over 80 galaxies that includes the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Triangulum Galaxy, along with numerous smaller dwarf galaxies. These galaxies are bound together by gravity and span a region roughly 10 million light-years across.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-ways-thin-disk-is-billions-of-years-older-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a> and Andromeda are the dominant members, with their respective satellite galaxies orbiting them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Local Group is part of a larger structure known as the Virgo Supercluster, and its galaxies are moving toward the gravitational center of the Local Group, contributing to its dynamic nature.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-magellanic-cloud">Large Magellanic Cloud</h2>



<p>The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is the fourth largest galaxy in the Local Group and can be seen with the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This irregular dwarf galaxy is home to the Tarantula Nebula, one of the most active star-forming regions in our cosmic neighborhood.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Large Magellanic Cloud played a key role in astronomical history, particularly when the supernova SN 1987A was observed, providing valuable insights into stellar evolution.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The LMC's interaction with the Milky Way, along with its own companion, the Small Magellanic Cloud, is believed to influence its shape and star formation activity. Its proximity and unique properties make it a crucial object of study for understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-galactic-explosion-provides-clues-about-galaxy-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy evolution</a>, star formation, and the dynamics of interacting galaxies.</p>



<p>Image Credit<strong>: </strong>NASA, ESA, and STScI</p>



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Hubble captures a stunning stellar nursery

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from the European Space Agency features the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1559, located around 35 million light-years away in the southern constellation Reticulum. The image was captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The data featured in this portrait make use of two of Webb’s instruments: the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) and Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam)," noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.</p>



<p>"Here MIRI captures the glow of interstellar dust grains, which trace out the interstellar medium, the fuel for future star formation. NIRCam shows the light from stars, even young stars hidden behind prodigious amounts of dust. NIRCam also captures emission from ionized nebulae around young stars."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-reveals-galaxies-in-new-light">Webb reveals galaxies in new light</h2>



<p>According to ESA, the data was collected by the <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/phangs/home">PHANGS team</a> as part of a program in which Webb will observe 55 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/james-webb-captures-galaxies-that-are-too-old-to-exist/">galaxies</a> that have also been mapped by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, and more.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"By combining Webb’s unprecedented view of the dust and stars with data from these other facilities, the team aims to obtain a new, highly detailed view of how stars are born, live, and die in galaxies across the Universe."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ngc-1559-a-loner-in-space">NGC 1559: A loner in space</h2>



<p>Although NGC 1559 appears to sit close to one of our nearest neighbors in the sky - the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) - this is just a trick of perspective, noted ESA.</p>



<p>While it is part of the Reticulum constellation, NGC 1559 is not part of the Local Group of galaxies but instead resides in a more distant region of space.</p>



<p>"In reality, NGC 1559 is physically nowhere near the LMC in space; in fact it truly is a loner, lacking the company of any nearby galaxies or membership of any galaxy cluster," said ESA.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-ngc-1559">Star formation in NGC 1559</h2>



<p>NGC 1559 is notable for its active star formation and strong magnetic fields. It has also been the site of several <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernovae</a>, making it of particular interest to astronomers who study stellar evolution and the life cycle of stars.</p>



<p>The structure of NGC 1559 includes well-defined spiral arms that contain young, hot stars and regions of ionized gas, indicative of ongoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-extragalactic-wonder">An extragalactic wonder</h2>



<p>Despite being relatively small compared to larger galaxies like the Milky Way, NGC 1559 is an important object for understanding how barred spiral galaxies evolve and the processes that trigger supernovae.</p>



<p>The galaxy’s remote location and active nature make it a fascinating subject of study in the field of extragalactic astronomy. </p>



<p>The isolation of NGC 1559 allows for a clearer view of its structure without much interference from neighboring galaxies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-barred-spiral-galaxies">Barred spiral galaxies</h2>



<p>Barred spiral galaxies are a type of spiral galaxy characterized by a central bar-shaped structure composed of stars. This bar extends out from the core and connects to the galaxy's spiral arms, which swirl outward in a graceful pattern.</p>



<p>Scientists believe that the bar plays a crucial role in the evolution of the galaxy, funneling gas towards the core and potentially triggering star formation or feeding a central black hole. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-stars-milky-way-are-old-as-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>, our own galaxy, is an example of a barred spiral. These galaxies are quite common in the universe, making up about two-thirds of all observed spiral galaxies.</p>



<p>The bar itself is thought to be a temporary feature, developing as the galaxy matures and possibly disappearing over time as the dynamics of the stars change. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-reticulum-constellation">The Reticulum constellation</h2>



<p>Reticulum is a small, faint constellation in the southern sky. Its name means "the reticle" in Latin, which refers to the crosshairs in an eyepiece of a telescope.</p>



<p>The constellation was named in the 18th century by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille to honor the reticle he used in his scientific instruments. It is one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union.</p>



<p>Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA, A. Leroy, J. Lee and the PHANGS Team</p>



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Spiral galaxy glows with young stars and interstellar dust

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from the European Space Agency features NGC 6744 - a large, barred spiral galaxy located approximately 30 million light-years away in the constellation Pavo.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The galaxy is often considered a close analog to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uma3-u1-faintest-star-system-found-orbiting-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a> due to its similar structure and size, spanning about 175,000 light-years across.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-euclid-space-mission-nbsp">Euclid space mission&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The image was captured by the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Euclid</a> space telescope. NGC 6744 stands out as a prime example of the galaxies currently forming the majority of stars in the nearby universe, making it an ideal subject for study with the Euclid mission.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Euclid’s extensive field-of-view allows it to capture the entire galaxy, showcasing not only its large-scale spiral structure but also revealing intricate details on smaller scales across various wavelengths. These details include feather-like dust lanes, known as “spurs,” emerging from the spiral arms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-ngc-6744">Star formation in NGC 6744</h2>



<p>Euclid's observations enable scientists to count individual stars within NGC 6744, trace the distribution of stars and dust throughout the galaxy, and map the dust associated with the gas that fuels the development of new stars.&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-stars-release-sneezes-of-gas-and-dust-as-they-develop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Star formation</a> is a key process in the growth of galaxies, making these studies crucial for understanding galaxy evolution.</p>



<p>Researchers are utilizing Euclid’s data to explore the relationship between dust, gas, and star formation. The data can also be used to map the distribution of different stellar populations and identify regions of active star formation.</p>



<p>Spiral arms play a significant role in star formation by compressing gas, yet the precise mechanisms behind this process are still unclear. </p>



<p>The presence of “spurs” along NGC 6744’s spiral arms offers valuable insights into the dynamics of star formation within these structures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovering-new-dwarf-galaxies-nbsp">Discovering new dwarf galaxies&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Additionally, Euclid's dataset will help scientists identify clusters of old stars (globular clusters) and discover new dwarf galaxies around NGC 6744. </p>



<p>Remarkably, Euclid has already identified a new dwarf satellite galaxy of NGC 6744 - a surprising discovery given that the galaxy has been studied extensively.</p>



<p>With Euclid’s detailed observations, scientists are gaining a deeper understanding of the processes shaping galaxies, providing essential clues to the evolution and appearance of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/universes-expansion-rate-hubble-tension-puzzles-astronomers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-ngc-6744">More about NGC 6744</h2>



<p>NGC 6744's disk is rich in star-forming regions and contains numerous young, bright blue stars. The galaxy's nucleus is slightly elongated and has a bar structure, which influences the motion of the stars and gas within it.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The spiral arms of NGC 6744 are well-defined and extend outward, wrapping around the central bar. </p>



<p>Additionally, NGC 6744 has a smaller companion galaxy, NGC 6744A, which is interacting with it, adding to the complexity and interest of this distant system.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-types-of-spiral-galaxies">Types of spiral galaxies</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-mesmerizing-beauty-of-spiral-galaxies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spiral galaxies</a> are one of the most common types of galaxies in the universe, characterized by their distinct, spiral-shaped structure.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The galaxies typically consist of a flat, rotating disk containing stars, gas, and dust, along with a central concentration of stars known as the bulge. This bulge is often surrounded by a halo of older stars.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The spiral arms, which extend from the central bulge, are regions of active star formation and are rich in young, hot stars, giving them a bright, bluish appearance.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These arms are also sites where interstellar gas and dust are concentrated, leading to the formation of new stars.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Spiral galaxies are classified into different types based on the tightness of their spirals and the size of their central bulge, with classifications ranging from tightly wound arms in Sa galaxies to more loosely wound arms in Sc galaxies. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-amount-of-dark-matter-may-be-missing-from-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>, our home galaxy, is a prime example of a spiral galaxy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-pavo">The constellation Pavo</h2>



<p>Pavo, which means "peacock" in Latin, is a constellation in the southern sky. It was named by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius in the late 16th century, based on observations made during the Dutch explorations of the southern hemisphere. </p>



<p>Pavo is one of the 12 constellations created by Plancius from the records of explorers Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman. </p>



<p>The constellation is known for its distinctive shape, resembling a peacock with a long, curved tail. It is not visible from most of the northern hemisphere, but it can be seen from the southern hemisphere, particularly during the winter months.</p>



<p>Pavo contains several interesting celestial objects, including the star Peacock, also known as Alpha Pavonis, which is the brightest star in the constellation. This star is a blue-white subgiant located about 179 light-years from Earth.</p>



<p>Image Credit: <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA&nbsp;</p>



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Young stars illuminate a spiral galaxy in the constellation Pavo

<p>Most people go through life feeling glued to their skin. Hands move, feet follow, and the world stays in front of their eyes. Yet a surprising slice of the population has reported slipping loose, hovering a few feet up, and seeing their own body from the outside. </p>



<p>The phenomenon is called an out-of-body experience (OBE), and its meaning has long puzzled science.</p>



<p>Researchers estimate that anywhere from 5 to 20 percent of global adults have touched this odd territory at least once.</p>



<p>Such accounts crop up in emergency rooms, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psilocybin-deeply-enhances-meditation-insights/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meditation retreats</a>, and even on living-room couches during an afternoon nap. </p>



<p>Pilots under high G-forces have logged them, and neurologists have induced similar sensations in lab volunteers by tickling a small patch of brain behind the right ear. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-obes-the-strangest-trip-of-all">OBEs: The strangest trip of all</h2>



<p>OBEs share a common script: sight and touch split. People feel <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-human-brain-adapts-to-weightlessness-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weightless</a>, hear the room dimly, and watch themselves from above. </p>



<p>Laboratory work links the effect to the temporoparietal junction, the brain’s traffic circle for balance, vision, and the sense of owning a body. </p>



<p>When signals there clash - because of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-eats-away-our-brains-cognitive-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress</a>, epilepsy, lack of oxygen, or a virtual-reality headset - the mind may decide to leave its usual seat.</p>



<p>Historical texts show that monks, shamans, and soldiers have all written about brief departures. Modern imaging backs them up: the body stays put. </p>



<p>Yet cardiology monitors sometimes register sudden drops in heart rate during an OBE, hinting at a reflex that calms the nervous system when things feel too intense.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surveying-the-floaters">Surveying the floaters</h2>



<p>After years of scattered anecdotes, a fresh survey from the <a href="https://med.virginia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Virginia</a> School of Medicine takes stock. The team surveyed more than 500 adults who were certain they had floated. </p>



<p>Four out of five said it happened between one and four times; the rest reported at least five departures. Most first left their body in childhood.</p>



<p>Nearly three-quarters called the event spontaneous. Nine percent linked it to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-arabians-burned-harmal-plants-to-heal-and-protect/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychoactive compounds</a>, while 8.2 percent said meditation, visualization, or similar practices did the trick. Only 0.7 percent pointed to hypnosis.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-obes-and-the-stress-connection">OBEs and the stress connection</h2>



<p>The new data reveal a heavy shadow of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/child-maltreatment-triples-the-risk-of-substance-use/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early hardship</a>. Many participants recalled medical trauma or abusive homes. </p>



<p>They also carried more mental-health diagnoses than peers who had never floated, and the likelihood of a diagnosis increased the longer it had been since that first OBE. </p>



<p>Many people who’ve had out-of-body experiences (OBEs) worry there’s something wrong with them and keep quiet out of fear of being judged. </p>



<p>“Unfortunately, many mental-health professionals still view these experiences in the same way,” said Weiler, a neuroscientist with UVA’s <a href="https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Division of Perceptual Studies</a>.</p>



<p>Weiler’s team found that individuals who’ve had OBEs often report poorer mental health than those who haven’t. </p>



<p>However, the researchers believe OBEs may act as “a coping mechanism in response to past trauma,” rather than a sign of illness. </p>



<p>They urge clinicians to reconsider how they view these experiences and to meet them with “greater openness and sensitivity.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gains-from-leaving-the-body">Gains from leaving the body</h2>



<p>The survey also tracked unexpected upsides. Fifty-five percent of participants said the experience changed their life; seventy-one percent felt a lasting benefit; and forty percent called it the greatest thing that had ever happened to them. </p>



<p>Many described a lighter view of death, deeper calm, and a sharper sense of connection to other people. These reports match earlier studies in hospital patients, where OBEs sometimes eased anxiety after major surgery.</p>



<p>While stress can tip the brain into an OBE, curiosity clearly plays a role. Some volunteers used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wim-hof-method-helps-fight-stress-inflammation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breathing exercises</a> or sleep-onset tricks to nudge the event on purpose, chasing the mental clarity they felt hovering in the air. </p>



<p>Scientists studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meditation-slows-biological-aging-at-the-molecular-level/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meditation</a> note similar patterns of detachment during deep practice, though the body stays motionless on the cushion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinical-implications">Clinical implications</h2>



<p>“This view,” the researchers write, “shifts the focus from causation to the possibility that OBEs may also emerge as a consequence - a coping strategy for navigating difficult or traumatic experiences.” </p>



<p>Their argument moves attention away from the spectacle of floating and toward the stress that often hides underneath. </p>



<p>“If OBEs are understood not as symptoms of pathology but as coping mechanisms - especially in response to trauma - this reframing can lead to several important shifts in clinical practice, research, and public understanding,” Weiler explained.</p>



<p>“Ultimately, we hope to reduce the stigma around this topic, encourage help-seeking, and build community and resilience among experiencers.”</p>



<p>Therapists who meet an OBE client might soon ask different questions: not “Why did you split from your body?” but “What weight were you carrying when you launched?” </p>



<p>Workshops for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/witnessing-trauma-may-cause-ptsd-in-a-different-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PTSD</a> already teach grounding techniques, yet some clinicians now explore whether guided imagery that safely mimics an OBE can loosen painful memories without triggering panic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-obes-go-from-here">Where do OBEs go from here?</h2>



<p>Portable brain scanners and motion-tracking beds promise sharper views of the moment liftoff begins. Researchers aim to map the split-second traffic between inner ear, skin sensors, and sight that lets the self drift. </p>



<p>Others wonder whether the heart’s slowdown during OBEs could teach new ways to manage panic attacks or chronic pain.</p>



<p>For now, the lesson is plain: when the mind steps outside, it may be staging a clever retreat, buying time until life feels safe again. </p>



<p>Listening to the story behind that retreat might help bring both mind and body back into easy conversation.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0191886925002545" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Personality and Individual Differences</a></em>.</p>



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When the mind leaves the body - Scientists investigate the incredible phenomenon of OBEs

Most people go through life feeling glued to their skin....

<p>In science fiction movies like <em>Frankenstein</em> and <em>Re-Animator</em>, human bodies are revived, existing in a strange state between life and death. While this may seem like pure fantasy, a recent study suggests that a “third state” of existence might actually be present in modern biology.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to the researchers, this third state occurs when the cells of a dead organism continue to function after its death, sometimes gaining new capabilities they never had while the organism was alive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-third-state-beyond-traditional-boundaries-nbsp">"Third state" beyond traditional boundaries&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Amazingly, if further experiments on cells from dead animals -- including humans -- prove this ability, it could even challenge the definition of legal death.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study, published in the journal <a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/physiol.00004.2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Physiology</em></a>, was led by Professor Peter Noble from the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington in Seattle</a> and Alex Pozhitkov from the <a href="https://www.cityofhope.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">City of Hope National Medical Center</a> in Duarte, California.</p>



<p>“Life and death are traditionally viewed as opposites,” the researchers wrote in an article for <em>The Conversation</em>. </p>



<p>“But the emergence of new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/past-snowball-earth-conditions-drove-evolution-complex-multicellular-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multicellular life-forms</a> from the cells of a dead organism introduces a 'third state' that lies beyond the traditional boundaries of life and death.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-come-alive-after-death">Cells come alive after death</h2>



<p>In this third state, certain cells -- when given nutrients, oxygen, bioelectricity, or biochemical signals -- have the capacity to transform into new multicellular organisms, exhibiting new functions even after <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millions-of-near-death-experiences-validated-by-new-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">death</a>.</p>



<p>The researchers reviewed recent studies showing the incredible capability of cells to reorganize and take on new forms after the death of the organism.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-skin-cells-become-xenobots-nbsp">Skin cells become xenobots&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In 2021, U.S. scientists found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-bioprinted-fully-functional-human-skin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">skin cells</a> from dead frogs could adapt to a lab environment and spontaneously form multicellular organisms -- actual living machines called “xenobots.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>While most machines are constructed from materials like steel and plastic, which can degrade or break over time and have harmful side effects, living systems made from self-renewing and biocompatible materials would avoid those negative consequences.</p>



<p>These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-can-design-and-build-walking-robots-in-seconds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">xenobots</a> displayed behaviors far beyond their original biological purpose, using hair-like structures called cilia to move through their surroundings.</p>



<p>They also proved adept at material collection, information recording, self-healing, and limited replication.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lung-cells-become-anthrobots-nbsp">Lung cells become anthrobots&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Similarly, other researchers discovered that human lung cells could self-organize into tiny multicellular organisms known as “anthrobots.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Anthrobots range in size from the width of a human hair to the tip of a sharpened pencil. Remarkably, these multicellular robots are designed to self-assemble and have demonstrated a pronounced healing effect on other cells.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/anthrobots-scientists-create-tiny-biological-robots-from-human-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">These anthrobots</a> could not only move independently but also repair themselves and heal damaged nerve cells nearby.</p>



<p>They have shown capabilities surpassing those of the xenobots, addressing critical questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-proteins-can-record-cellular-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cellular assembly</a>&nbsp;and cooperation in the body, and the potential for cells to be reassembled into different structures for varied functions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-functioning-in-the-third-state">Cells functioning in the third state</h2>



<p>The experts point to these examples as evidence of new cellular functions that don’t exist during life, illustrating cellular changes in unexpected ways.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, how exactly these cells function in the third state after an organism dies remains a mystery. </p>



<p>One possible explanation, reminiscent of Frankenstein-style ideas, involves a hidden system of “electrical circuits” that reanimate the cells.</p>



<p>These channels and pumps may generate electrical signals that allow cells to communicate and perform specific functions like growth and movement, shaping the structure of the new organism they form.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-that-influence-the-third-state-nbsp">Factors that influence the third state&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Whether cells can enter this third state depends on several factors, including environmental conditions such as temperature and energy availability. </p>



<p>Access to fuel and the ability to metabolize that energy also play a crucial role in whether cells can survive and continue functioning postmortem.</p>



<p>Other variables, like the organism’s age, health, sex, and species type, also influence whether cells can enter the third state. </p>



<p>The research team suggests that these factors “shape the postmortem landscape” -- determining whether or not cells can persist in this unique state.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexplored-frontiers-in-biology">Unexplored frontiers in biology</h2>



<p>The research opens up “unexplored frontiers” in biology that could one day bring animal cells, and potentially human cells, into this third state.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, whether this future will resemble something out of <em>Re-Animator</em>, where reanimated tissue leads to catastrophic consequences, remains to be seen. </p>



<p>In the 1980s cult film, a medical student discovers how to bring human tissue back to life, with dire and violent results.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possibilities-for-innovative-treatments-nbsp">Possibilities for innovative treatments&nbsp;</h2>



<p>This third state not only sheds light on the remarkable adaptability of cells, but also opens up possibilities for innovative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gene-regulation-controlling-cells-to-improve-medical-treatments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">treatments</a>.</p>



<p>For instance, anthrobots could be created from a person’s own living tissue to deliver medication without triggering an immune response.</p>



<p>Each Anthrobot starts as a single cell from an adult donor’s trachea, equipped with cilia that facilitate movement. </p>



<p>Researchers at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.njit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NIJT</a>) developed conditions to maximize this motility, observing various shapes and movement types, marking a significant feature of this biorobotics platform.</p>



<p>These engineered anthrobots, when introduced into the body, could dissolve arterial plaque in patients with atherosclerosis or help clear excess mucus in those with cystic fibrosis.</p>



<p>They are biodegradable and safe, with a limited lifespan and strictly laboratory-bound existence, eliminating concerns of external exposure or uncontrolled proliferation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transformative-potential-of-the-third-state">Transformative potential of the third state</h2>



<p>Notably, these multicellular organisms have a limited life span, breaking down naturally after four to six weeks. This built-in “kill switch” prevents the risk of potentially harmful cell growth.</p>



<p>“This research has the potential to transform regenerative medicine, redefine legal death, and provide insights into life's physiological limits, paralleling inquiries in embryogenesis,” the authors concluded.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To sum it all up, gaining a deeper understanding of how certain cells can continue functioning and transform into multicellular organisms after an organism’s death, the "third state," holds great potential for advancing both personalized and preventive medicine. </p>



<p>Stay tuned...this field of biology is getting very interesting, indeed.</p>



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"Third state" of existence between life and death confirmed by scientists

In science fiction movies like Frankenstein and Re-Animator, human bodies...

<p>Astronomers have recently captured a rare and remarkable image of a giant exoplanet in an unusually tilted planetary system just 60 light-years away.</p>



<p>Using NASA’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-may-reveal-how-fast-the-universe-is-expanding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a>, researchers have directly observed 14 Herculis c - one of the coldest planets ever imaged. This observation offers new insights into the evolution and behavior of planets in systems unlike our own.</p>



<p>The findings mark a significant leap forward in our ability to detect and study cold, older exoplanets thanks to Webb’s infrared sensitivity and imaging tools.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-14-herculis-c-comes-into-focus">'14 Herculis c' comes into focus</h2>



<p>Only a small number of the nearly 6,000 known exoplanets have been directly imaged. Most of those tend to be blazing hot - often hundreds or even thousands of degrees Fahrenheit.</p>



<p>By contrast, 14 Herculis c is strikingly cold, with a temperature around 26 degrees Fahrenheit (or -3 degrees Celsius). The planet is also massive, estimated to weigh about seven times more than Jupiter.</p>



<p>William Balmer is co-first author of the new paper and a graduate student at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a>.</p>



<p>“The colder an exoplanet, the harder it is to image, so this is a totally new regime of study that Webb has unlocked with its extreme sensitivity in the infrared,” he said.</p>



<p>“We are now able to add to the catalog of not just hot, young exoplanets imaged, but older exoplanets that are far colder than we’ve directly seen before Webb.”</p>



<p>Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) captured the faint glow of 14 Herculis c, a planet orbiting a star much like our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/widest-high-resolution-photo-of-the-sun-ever-captured-solar-orbiter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun</a>.</p>



<p>The central star, 14 Herculis, is slightly smaller and cooler than the Sun but otherwise quite similar. The system’s outer planet now offers a vivid window into planetary physics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planetary-system-in-disarray">Planetary system in disarray</h2>



<p>What makes this system even more fascinating is its unusual orbital layout. The two known planets, 14 Herculis b and 14 Herculis c, do not orbit in the same flat plane like the planets in our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiral-structure-discovered-at-the-edge-of-our-solar-system-oort-cloud/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar system</a>.</p>



<p>Instead, their orbits are inclined about 40 degrees to each other, forming a tilted, crisscrossing dynamic around the star.</p>



<p>This extreme misalignment is the first of its kind ever seen in a directly imaged planetary system. The result is a gravitational tug-of-war as the two massive planets pull at each other while circling the star.</p>



<p>“The early evolution of our own solar system was dominated by the movement and pull of our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jupiters-past-how-the-young-gas-giant-shaped-our-solar-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gas giants</a>,” Balmer said.</p>



<p>“They threw around <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-that-once-threatened-earth-may-target-the-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asteroids</a> and rearranged other planets. Here, we are seeing the aftermath of a more violent planetary crime scene. It reminds us that something similar could have happened to our own solar system. The outcomes for small planets like Earth are often dictated by much larger forces.”</p>



<p>One theory suggests that an early collision ejected a third planet, leaving the remaining two in skewed orbits.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-reveals-14-herculis-c-s-orbit">Webb reveals 14 Herculis c's orbit</h2>



<p>Webb’s image does more than show a planet - it also reveals hints about its atmosphere and orbit. </p>



<p>14 Herculis c orbits its star at a distance of about 1.4 billion miles, placing it between Saturn and Uranus in terms of location if it were in our solar system.</p>



<p>The planet’s orbit is highly elliptical - like a football - and closer to the star than earlier estimates suggested.</p>



<p>The researchers measured the planet’s brightness at a specific infrared wavelength - 4.4 microns - using Webb’s coronagraph. </p>



<p>Combined with known data about the planet’s mass and the system’s age, the team expected the planet to be brighter at that wavelength - but it wasn’t.</p>



<p>“If a planet of a certain mass formed 4 billion years ago, then cooled over time because it doesn't have a source of energy keeping it warm, we can predict how hot it should be today,” said Daniella C. Bardalez Gagliuffi of <a href="https://www.amherst.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amherst College</a>, co-first author of the paper with Balmer.</p>



<p>“Added information, like the perceived brightness in direct imaging, would in theory support this estimate of the planet’s temperature.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-clues-in-a-cold-atmosphere">Carbon clues in a cold atmosphere</h2>



<p>But 14 Herculis c turned out to be dimmer than expected. Researchers argue that a process known as carbon disequilibrium chemistry - often observed in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brown-dwarfs-detected-outside-the-milky-way-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brown dwarfs</a> - is the likely reason.</p>



<p>In these very cold atmospheres, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide show up in places where methane should dominate. </p>



<p>The likely cause is rapid mixing that pushes warm molecules from deep within the planet into colder upper regions.</p>



<p>“This exoplanet is so cold, the best comparisons we have that are well-studied are the coldest brown dwarfs,” Bardalez Gagliuffi explained.</p>



<p>“In those objects we see carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide existing at temperatures where we should see methane.”</p>



<p>“This is explained by churning in the atmosphere. Molecules made at warmer temperatures in the lower atmosphere are brought to the cold, upper atmosphere very quickly.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beginning-of-a-new-chapter">Beginning of a new chapter</h2>



<p>Researchers hope that this early look at 14 Herculis c is just the beginning. </p>



<p>Webb's tiny light holds data, but future spectroscopic observations will reveal even more. They could give scientists a much clearer picture of the planet’s atmospheric makeup.</p>



<p>That, in turn, could help explain not just how this strange system formed, but how planetary systems evolve when governed by giant forces and chaotic events.</p>



<p>By pushing the boundaries of what we can see, Webb has once again opened a door - to a cold and tilted world far from Earth, where the rules of planet-making seem just a little different.</p>



<p>The research was presented at the <a href="https://aas.org/meetings/aas246" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">246th meeting of the American Astronomical Society</a> in Anchorage, Alaska.</p>



<p>The study has been accepted for publication in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/2041-8205"><em>The Astrophysical Journal Letters</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Webb Telescope reveals a chaotic, cold, and strange exoplanet

Astronomers have recently captured a rare and remarkable image of...

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