Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features UGC 5460, a spiral galaxy that is located about 60 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.&nbsp;



“This image combines four different wavelengths of light to reveal UGC 5460’s central bar of stars, winding spiral arms and bright blue star clusters. Also captured in the upper left-hand corner of this image is a far closer object: a star just 577 light-years away in our own galaxy,” said <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



“UGC 5460 has hosted two recent supernovae named SN 2011ht and SN 2015as. It’s because of these two stellar explosions that Hubble targeted this galaxy, collecting data for three observing programmes that aim to study various kinds of supernovae.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-core-collapse-supernova-nbsp">A core-collapse supernova&nbsp;</h2>



SN 2015as is an example of a core-collapse supernova. This type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova</a> occurs when the core of a massive star - typically with more than 8 times the mass of the sun - can no longer support its own gravity after exhausting its nuclear fuel. 



This causes the core to collapse under its own weight, leading to an extremely violent explosion. The collapse triggers the release of an enormous amount of energy, expelling the outer layers of the star into space.



In the aftermath of the explosion, a dense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shockingly-bright-carbon-monoxide-detected-in-supernova-remnant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remnant</a> is created. This is often a neutron star or black hole, depending on the mass of the original star. Core-collapse supernovae are some of the most powerful events in the universe.



According to ESA, Hubble observations of SN 2015as will help researchers understand what happens when the expanding shockwave of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-dandelion-year-1181-leaves-behind-zombie-star-defying-death/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova</a> collides with the gas that surrounds the exploded star.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-stars-with-large-eruptions-nbsp">Rare stars with large eruptions&nbsp;</h2>



“SN 2011ht might have been a core-collapse supernova as well, but it could also be an impostor called a luminous blue variable. Luminous blue variables are rare stars that experience eruptions so large that they can mimic supernovae,” noted ESA.



“Crucially, luminous blue variables emerge from these eruptions unscathed, while stars that go supernova do not. Hubble will search for a stellar survivor at SN 2011ht’s location, and the explosion’s identity may be revealed at last.”



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



Spiral galaxies are some of the most recognizable and beautiful structures in the universe. They are known for their distinctive arms that spiral outward from a central bulge.&nbsp;



These galaxies are typically composed of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter. The arms are often sites of intense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fluffy-molecular-clouds-may-change-our-understanding-of-star-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a>, where clouds of gas collapse to form new stars. 



In the center of a spiral galaxy lies a dense concentration of older stars and, often, a supermassive black hole.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structure-of-a-spiral-galaxy-nbsp">Structure of a spiral galaxy&nbsp;</h2>



The structure of a spiral galaxy is generally divided into three main components: the disk, the bulge, and the halo.&nbsp;



The disk is where the spiral arms are located and contains most of the galaxy's visible stars and interstellar medium.&nbsp;



The bulge is a tightly packed region of older stars at the core, and the halo consists of a sparse collection of stars and globular clusters that surround the galaxy.&nbsp;



Spiral galaxies can be classified into different types based on the tightness and number of their spiral arms, as well as the size of their central bulge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-milky-way-galaxy">The Milky Way galaxy</h2>



Our solar system is located within a large spiral galaxy known as the Milky Way. The name refers to its appearance as a dim, milky band of light stretching across the night sky.&nbsp;



The term "Milky Way" comes from ancient Greek mythology, where it was associated the goddess Hera's milk spilling into the sky. In Greek, it was called "Galaxias Kyklos," meaning "milky circle."&nbsp;



Spanning about 100,000 light-years in diameter, the Milky Way is composed of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter. The galaxy has a distinct disk shape with spiral arms that wind outward from a central bulge, which houses a supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-ways-black-hole-unleashes-mysterious-flares/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a>. 



Our sun is located in one of the spiral arms - known as the Orion Arm - positioned roughly halfway from the center to the outer edge.&nbsp;



The Milky Way is part of a small group of galaxies called the Local Group, which includes the Andromeda Galaxy and several smaller galaxies.



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Hubble views a spiral galaxy with stellar explosions

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

Today's Image of the Day from NASA features an extraordinary view of Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun in our solar system. 



The photo reveals the rings, moons, and extreme seasons of the ice giant Uranus in unprecedented detail.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-north-polar-cap-nbsp">Dynamic north polar cap&nbsp;</h2>



“The Webb image exquisitely captures Uranus’s seasonal north polar cap, including the bright, white, inner cap and the dark lane in the bottom of the polar cap,” noted NASA.



Unlike Earth, where polar ice caps are formed by the freezing of water, Uranus's polar caps are thought to be primarily composed of a dense concentration of haze in the atmosphere.&nbsp;



The polar cap's haze is likely composed of methane particles. Methane in Uranus's atmosphere condenses into ice particles, which then create a thick haze that scatters sunlight, giving the polar cap its distinct bright appearance in visible and infrared light.



The polar cap is dynamic and changes over time. It becomes more prominent during the summer season of each pole. 



As Uranus moves along its orbit, the cap's appearance transforms, with the haze becoming thicker and brighter when the pole is in continuous sunlight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-zeta-ring-nbsp">The Zeta ring&nbsp;</h2>



The inner and outer rings of Uranus are visible in the image, including Zeta - the innermost ring which is the faintest and most difficult to observe.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-photo-of-uranus-and-its-rings-and-moons-captured-by-the-webb-telescope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rings of Uranus</a> are primarily composed of narrow bands of particles, likely made of water ice mixed with a dark material. These rings are distinct from those of Saturn in that they are much darker and narrower.



The faintness and characteristics of the Zeta ring make it a subject of interest in studies related to the dynamics and composition of planetary ring systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moons-of-uranus-nbsp">Moons of Uranus&nbsp;</h2>



The <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/multimedia/images/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb</a> photo also features nine of the planet’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-four-uranus-moons-may-have-oceans-that-are-miles-deep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moons</a>, which appear as blue dots surrounding the rings.&nbsp;



“Clockwise starting at 2 o’clock, they are: Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Bianca, Portia, Juliet, and Perdita. The orbits of these moons share the 98-degree tilt of their parent planet relative to the plane of the solar system,” noted NASA.



Uranus has 27 known moons, and they are divided into three main groups based on their orbits: the inner moons, the major moons, and the irregular moons.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uranus-moon-ariel-may-have-a-hidden-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moons</a> of Uranus are unique because they are named after characters from the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope, rather than being named after figures from classical mythology, as is common for the moons of other planets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ice-giant-uranus-nbsp">The ice giant Uranus&nbsp;</h2>



Uranus is classified as an "ice giant" because, unlike the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, which are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, Uranus has a significant proportion of "ices" in its composition.&nbsp;



In astronomical terms, ices refer to volatile substances like water, ammonia, and methane, which exist in solid or liquid forms at the low temperatures found in the outer solar system.



Uranus has a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium, but beneath that, it contains a large, dense mantle composed of these ices, along with rock and other heavier elements.&nbsp;



The term <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diamond-rain-may-be-common-on-giant-icy-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice giant</a> differentiates Uranus (and Neptune, the other ice giant) from the larger gas giants, emphasizing the different chemical compositions and internal structures of these planets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-of-uranus-nbsp">Climate of Uranus&nbsp;</h2>



Uranus has a unique and extreme climate, largely influenced by its unusual tilt, which causes the planet to rotate almost on its side. This tilt leads to extreme seasonal variations, with each pole experiencing 42 years of continuous sunlight followed by 42 years of darkness.&nbsp;



Even though it is closer to the sun than Neptune, Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system, with temperatures plunging to as low as -224°C (-371°F). The reason for this is not fully understood, but it might be due to an internal heat distribution anomaly.



Despite these frigid conditions, Uranus experiences intense weather patterns, including powerful storms and winds that can reach speeds of up to 900 kilometers per hour. These winds blow in the same direction as the planet’s rotation and are some of the fastest in the solar system.



Storms on Uranus are driven by its internal heat and the interaction of its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uranus-is-more-gassy-less-icy-than-we-ever-imagined/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheric gases</a>. Observations have shown that these storms can be quite large, sometimes comparable in size to the Earth, and can last for several years.&nbsp;



The planet’s extreme axial tilt also means that the storms and weather patterns are highly variable, depending on the season. During equinoxes, when the Sun is directly over the equator, Uranus exhibits more storm activity compared to when the poles are pointed towards the Sun or away from it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observations-of-uranus">Observations of Uranus</h2>



“One day on Uranus is about 17 hours, so the planet’s rotation is relatively quick. This makes it supremely difficult for observatories with a sharp eye like Webb to capture one simple image of the entire planet - storms and other atmospheric features, and the planet’s moons, move visibly within minutes,” explained NASA.



“This image combines several longer and shorter exposures of this dynamic system to correct for those slight changes throughout the observing time.”



The first recorded observations of Uranus were made by John Flamsteed on December 13, 1690. However, Flamsteed mistakenly identified the planet as a star, which he named “34 Tauri."&nbsp;



It wasn't until March 13, 1781, that Uranus was officially identified as a planet by William Herschel. He initially thought he had discovered a comet, but further observations and calculations by other astronomers confirmed that it was a new planet, making Uranus the first planet discovered in modern history with the aid of a telescope.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI



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The ice giant Uranus in stunning detail

Today's Image of the Day from NASA features an extraordinary...

Today's Image of the Day 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;



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



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



“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>.



“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.”



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



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



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



“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.”



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



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;



“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;



“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.”



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



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



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;



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



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. 



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



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



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. 



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



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



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.



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



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;



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



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



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;



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.



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.



Image Credit: ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA, J. Lee



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Starburst galaxy in the constellation Columba

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features NGC 1333, a reflection nebula located in the Perseus molecular cloud about 960 light-years away from Earth. The photo is a mosaic of images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.



“Webb’s superb sensitivity allows astronomers to investigate young objects with extremely low masses. Some of the faintest ‘stars’ in the picture are in fact newly born free-floating brown dwarfs with masses comparable to those of giant planets,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



The same cluster was featured in the 33rd anniversary image of the Hubble Space Telescope in April 2023. 



According to ESA, Hubble’s image just scratched the surface of this region, because clouds of dust obscure much of the star formation process. 



"Observing with larger aperture and in the infrared part of the spectrum, Webb is capable of peering through the dusty veil to reveal newborn stars, brown dwarfs and planetary mass objects."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-s-view-of-ngc-1333">Webb’s view of NGC 1333</h2>



ESA noted that the center of the image presents a deep peek into the heart of the NGC 1333 cloud.&nbsp;



“Across the image we see large patches of orange, which represent gas glowing in the infrared. These so-called Herbig-Haro objects form when ionized material ejected from young stars collides with the surrounding cloud. They are hallmarks of a very active site of star formation."



The disks of gas and dust that surround the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-stars-milky-way-are-old-as-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a> in this image may eventually produce planetary systems.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stars-in-the-sun-s-birth-cluster">Stars in the Sun's birth cluster</h2>



“Similar to the young stars in this mosaic, our own Sun and planets formed inside a dusty molecular cloud, 4.6 billion years ago. Our Sun did not form in isolation but as part of a cluster, which was perhaps even more massive than NGC 1333,” explained ESA.



Over time, the stars in the Sun's birth cluster would have drifted apart due to gravitational interactions and the dispersion of gas in the region.



Astronomers have been studying certain clues, such as isotopic signatures in meteorites, that hint the Sun may have formed near massive stars. These stars likely produced supernovae, which could have influenced the early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-objects-spotted-in-the-outer-solar-system-beyond-pluto/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solar system</a> by injecting heavy elements like iron-60.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-ngc-1333">Star formation in NGC 1333</h2>



NGC 1333 is a vibrant example of a stellar nursery, where active <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 ongoing. It is known for its chaotic appearance, shaped by the interactions between newborn stars and the surrounding material.



Within NGC 1333, astronomers have observed a high level of turbulence, which makes the region dynamic and complex. 



These disturbances are caused by the outflows of young stars as they eject material into their surroundings, creating shock waves and influencing further star formation.&nbsp;



These outflows are often seen as jets, which are visible in multiple wavelengths of light, especially infrared, as the surrounding dust absorbs visible light.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-stages-of-planet-formation">Early stages of planet formation </h2>



NGC 1333 is also an area of interest for studying the early stages of star and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planet formation</a>, as many of the stars within the cluster are in their infancy.



These stars are still in the process of gathering material and developing protoplanetary disks. 



In images, NGC 1333 is marked by bright patches of blue and red, representing reflection <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nebulae</a> and the ionized gas created by energetic young stars.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-perseus-molecular-cloud-nbsp">The Perseus molecular cloud&nbsp;</h2>



The Perseus molecular cloud is a vast region of cold gas and dust located about 600 light-years away from Earth in the constellation <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/1500-billion-orphan-stars-discovered-in-the-perseus-galaxy-cluster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perseus</a>.&nbsp;



It is one of the most studied star-forming regions in our galaxy due to its relative proximity and the diversity of its young stellar objects. This cloud spans several hundred light-years and contains dense pockets of gas where new stars are actively forming.&nbsp;



These areas are often enshrouded in thick dust, which obscures them in visible light but allows astronomers to study them using infrared and radio wavelengths.



The Perseus molecular cloud is particularly interesting because of the chemistry taking place within it, including the formation of complex organic molecules that could be precursors to life.&nbsp;



Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA



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Stellar nursery shines in the Perseus cloud

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features a blanket of dust over the Tarim Basin - a vast, arid region in northwestern China. 



Mountain peaks are visible through a break in the dust. These peaks are part of Tekilik Shan, a subrange of the Kunlun Mountains.



Though not as widely known as some other mountain ranges in the area, Tekilik Shan plays a significant role in shaping local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-is-pushing-nature-toward-a-breaking-point/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather</a> patterns and geography.



Its snow-covered peaks can rise above 13,000 feet, contributing to the dramatic elevation differences that define the basin’s borders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dust-storms-in-the-tarim-basin-nbsp">Dust storms in the Tarim Basin&nbsp;</h2>



Spring marks the height of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sahara-desert-dust-storms-carry-harmful-bacteria-and-fungi-around-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dust storm</a> activity in the Tarim Basin, particularly in its southern region.&nbsp;



“It’s a time of year when regional wind patterns shift in ways that cause winds and storm systems to sweep in from the northwest,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154126/a-curtain-of-dust-over-the-tarim-basin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.



“In early spring, when landscapes in this region are especially dry and have minimal vegetation, land surfaces warm rapidly under the Sun’s heat every morning, fueling convection that can help loft dust upward by the afternoon.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fingerlike-dust-formations-nbsp">Fingerlike dust formations&nbsp;</h2>



Satellite images revealed dust formations with fingerlike shapes that mirrored the landscape below. These projections aligned with valleys, which channeled and directed the airborne dust.&nbsp;



Ralph Kahn is an atmospheric scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder and scientist emeritus at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.



According to Kahn, the dust may have been “self-lofting.” In this process, sunlight heats recently stirred-up surface dust, creating pockets of convection that lift it even higher into the air.



This interpretation is supported by hourly observations from Japan’s Himawari-9 geostationary satellite, which showed dust gradually rising into the Tekilik Shan throughout the day. By late afternoon, the storm had grown dense enough to obscure the mountains.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decline-in-atmospheric-dust">Decline in atmospheric dust</h2>



Long-term satellite data from MODIS suggest that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-storms-in-the-gulf-of-alaska-help-shape-the-global-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheric dust</a> levels in this region have declined by about 1.5 percent each year since the early 2000s.&nbsp;



NASA researcher Hongbin Yu attributes this trend mainly to springtime changes - such as altered wind speeds, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-soil-moisture-can-predict-severe-storms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soil moisture</a>, or vegetation cover - rather than shifts in other seasons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rainfall-in-the-tarim-basin-nbsp">Rainfall in the Tarim Basin&nbsp;</h2>



“The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Takla-Makan-Desert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Takla Makan Desert</a> is one of the driest, most barren expanses on Earth. Flanked by mountain ranges on three sides and parched by the resulting <a href="https://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Rain_shadow" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rain shadow</a>, parts of the Tarim Basin receive no more than 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) of rain per year,” noted NASA.



“Dust storms can lead to public health problems in populated areas downwind by transporting small particles, bacteria, and viruses that infiltrate human respiratory systems.”&nbsp;



NASA added that dust storms can also affect Earth’s climate by scattering and absorbing incoming solar radiation and changing the properties of clouds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-landscape-of-the-tarim-basin-nbsp">Landscape of the Tarim Basin&nbsp;</h2>



The Tarim Basin is one of the largest endorheic basins in the world, meaning that its rivers do not drain into the sea but instead flow into interior lakes or evaporate.&nbsp;



The basin is encircled by three mountain ranges: the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west. These ranges create a powerful rain shadow effect, making the region exceptionally dry.



At the heart of the Tarim Basin lies the Taklamakan Desert, one of the most extreme deserts on Earth. The desert is known for its high dunes, intense temperature swings, and minimal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-rainfall-will-wreak-havoc-on-mountain-ranges-as-warming-climate-turns-snow-to-rain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rainfall</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-history-and-geology">History and geology</h2>



Despite its harsh environment, the basin has been historically significant. It was a key section of the ancient Silk Road, with several oases such as Kashgar, Khotan, and Loulan serving as vital trading and cultural centers for centuries.



Geologically, the basin is rich in natural resources, particularly oil and natural gas, and has become a focal point for China's energy exploration and development.&nbsp;



The region’s challenging climate and remote location, however, make infrastructure development and human habitation difficult.&nbsp;



The image was captured on March 27, 2025 by the Operational Land Imager instrument on Landsat 8.



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Blanket of dust covers China’s Tarim Basin

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features...

Today's Image of the Day 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). 



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.



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



"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>.



"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."



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.



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



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;



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;



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



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.



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



"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."



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



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.



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. 



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



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



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.



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



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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. 



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.



Image Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope



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Young, massive stars in the Triangulum Galaxy

Bee hives in the desert are always underground or in rock crevices. This large hive took residence in an old ant bear hole underground. Photo Credit: Whensilencefindsme

Desert Bee Hive

Every day, we face distractions that fight for our attention like vivid billboards. Yet, we often brush them aside without meaning to, as if our minds quietly file them under the “not needed” category.



Recent findings indicate that repeated exposure teaches our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brains</a> to downplay flashy elements and rather focus attention on relevant information. The researchers point to this process as a key reason why we can eventually tune out bold visuals.



The study's lead author, Dock Duncan of <a href="https://vu.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam</a>, collaborated with co-author Dr. Norman Forschack from the Wilhelm Wundt Institute of Psychology at <a href="https://www.uni-leipzig.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leipzig University</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-attention-fades-with-repeated-distraction">Attention fades with repeated distraction</h2>



In a set of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3491357/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EEG studies</a>, 24 volunteers were tasked with picking out a standout shape. The participants were asked to locate a specific object, for example a green circle among green diamonds, while a distracting stimulus - a red diamond - was repeatedly planted in a particular spot in the field of view.



Analysis of brain activity showed that, over time, participants got better at ignoring the attention-grabbing stimulus. Their brains began to suppress information from that position within the very first moments of visual processing. 



“We found consistent evidence that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-mapping-research-mouse-neurons-revolutionary-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">learning</a> alters the early responses of the visual system to these stimuli,” said Dr. Forschack.



The distractor seemed less alarming with each appearance, suggesting that our brains swiftly adapt to repeated signals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distractions-in-the-same-location">Distractions in the same location</h2>



Experts say that it's not just about what the flashy item looks like, but also where it sits. If something overwhelming pops up in one spot again and again, that area gradually becomes a mental gray zone.



“Interestingly, we also observed reduced visual processing for target stimuli when they appeared in the position where the distractor had been frequently shown,” said Dr. Forschack.



This suggests that even helpful information can slip under the radar if it shows up in a place that our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-brain-pathways-identified-as-being-unique-to-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">minds</a> have learned to disregard.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-our-brain-filters-out-irrelevant-information">Our brain filters out irrelevant information </h2>



Some <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25631249/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scientists</a> refer to this as a hallmark of <a href="https://www.statlearning.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statistical learning</a>, the mind’s built-in knack for noticing patterns that pop up often in daily life. 



By homing in on what truly matters, we avoid being swarmed by the same old signs and icons that rarely have new meaning.



Many believe this adaptation is a crucial mental shortcut. It spares us from a flood of distraction, and helps us focus attention on important tasks and signals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-repeated-designs-lose-attention-over-time">Repeated designs lose attention over time</h2>



In traffic, repeated ads and placards might fade into the background, freeing drivers from constant sensory overload. Consistent layouts on highways can help people navigate more smoothly, with less stress.



Still, a new caution sign might get lost if it looks too much like a familiar roadside poster. That same principle applies to web design or app layouts, where a fresh alert might blend too easily with older, repetitive elements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-familiar-distractions-can-hide-alerts">Familiar distractions can hide alerts </h2>



“It is clear that people automatically recognize familiar user interfaces or textbook chapter layouts and find these useful, and that this effect is already reflected in basic visual processing,” noted Duncan.



While this is handy for quick browsing, it can also mean that we miss the latest updates when they appear in a well-worn spot.



Designers might want to vary the look of alerts or shift their placement to counteract these autopilot habits. The goal is to make sure truly important notifications stand out in a crowd of familiar banners.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tuning-out-repeated-visuals">Tuning out repeated visuals</h2>



The mechanism behind this type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-our-brains-build-mental-maps-of-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">learned</a> filtering is still under active study. Some researchers wonder if it relies on quiet shifts in brain connectivity or if it springs into action only when a bright item appears again.



So far, these experiments highlight how the mind fine-tunes attention and filters out distractions. They also show how repeated exposure can form mental blind spots that help us stay calm in busy surroundings but might also make us ignore fresh warnings.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2025/04/03/JNEUROSCI.1973-24.2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Journal of Neuroscience</a>.



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Our brain stops paying attention to repeated distractions

Every day, we face distractions that fight for our attention...

Every plant leaf, eagle feather, and speck of pond scum spell out existence with the same four DNA letters. Ribosomes read that code, snap together twenty familiar amino acids, and pay each cellular bill with the energy token ATP.



That sameness keeps biologists chasing one big puzzle: if the instructions are nearly identical everywhere, who wrote the first edition? 



The answer points to LUCA - the Last Universal Common Ancestor - an organism that sat at the split between Bacteria and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-the-pressure-builds-archaea-go-multicellular/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archaea</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-genetic-code-one-single-ancestor">One genetic code, one single ancestor</h2>



Living systems are not fond of coincidence. A single genetic alphabet, the same protein‑making machinery, and a universal energy currency add up to more than luck. 



“The evolutionary history of genes is complicated by their exchange between lineages," explained Dr. Edmund Moody, lead author from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>. His team sifted thousands of genomes to see how far back the shared toolkit stretches.



"We have to use complex <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-model-esm3-creates-new-protein-that-simulates-500-million-years-of-biological-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary models</a> to reconcile the evolutionary history of genes with the genealogy of species.” 



By letting the data, rather than strict cutoffs, decide which features belonged to LUCA, the researchers landed on roughly 2,600 genes - about as many as a run‑of‑the‑mill modern bacterium carries. 



Co-author Dr. Tom Williams noted, “One of the real advantages here is applying the gene‑tree species‑tree reconciliation approach to such a diverse dataset representing the primary domains of life, Archaea and Bacteria. This allows us to say with some confidence - and assess that level of confidence - in how LUCA lived.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-luca-s-developmental-toolkit">LUCA's developmental toolkit</h2>



Previous estimates swung from a lean 80‑gene outline to libraries topping 1,500 families. The updated theory paints LUCA as anything but a genetic ghost. 



Inside those 2,600 blueprints are membrane pumps, DNA‑repair crews, and all the ingredients for simple lipids. Better still, the cache includes the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood%E2%80%93Ljungdahl_pathway" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wood–Ljungdahl pathway</a>, a tidy chemical loop that welds carbon dioxide to hydrogen, spits out acetate, and releases usable energy in the process.



Such provisions point to a self‑reliant cell thriving without outside help. That picture challenges older ideas that early life was a stripped‑down passenger riding geology’s coattails toward complexity. 



Instead, LUCA seems to have been capable, adaptable, and ready to try new tricks the moment the planet cooled enough to keep liquid water in place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemistry-of-hydrothermal-vents">Chemistry of hydrothermal vents</h2>



Tracking gene changes throughout Earth's history, the study dates LUCA to about 4.2 billion years ago, only a few hundred million years after Earth itself pulled together. 



“We did not expect LUCA to be so old, within just hundreds of millions of years of Earth formation. However, our results fit with modern views on the habitability of early Earth,” said <a href="https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/sandra-alvarez-carretero?_gl=1*1vhoh1m*_ga*NzU0MjM5MjI2LjE3NDQ5Mjc5MDk.*_ga_6R8SPL3HLT*MTc0NDkzMTg1Ni4yLjEuMTc0NDkzMTk2Mi42MC4wLjA." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Sandra Álvarez‑Carretero</a>.



Back then, asteroid impacts and belching volcanoes regularly upended the crust. Yet seafloor hydrothermal vents likely offered warm, metal‑rich oases. 



Iron, nickel, and sulfur minerals could have driven the very reactions scripted in LUCA’s genome. 



The Wood–Ljungdahl pathway, still used by some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-microbes-found-earths-deep-soil-critical-zone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">present‑day microbes</a>, fits neatly into that setting, turning vent chemistry into food and fuel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-luca-s-peace-was-short-lived">LUCA's peace was short-lived</h2>



“Our study showed that LUCA was a complex organism, not too different from modern prokaryotes. What is really interesting is that it clearly possessed an early immune system, showing that even by 4.2 billion years ago, our ancestor was already engaged in an arms race with viruses,” said <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/people/person/Davide-Pisani-27ef6f2a-19b3-4474-b71c-e61f2c8585a4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Davide Pisani</a>. 



Genes resembling today’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crispr-gene-editing-gets-a-revolutionary-upgrade-with-new-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CRISPR</a> defenses suggest viral predators appeared almost as soon as cells did.



This constant sparring matters. Viral raids can shuffle genes between hosts faster than random mutation alone. 



The pressure to dodge infection forces microbes to innovate, potentially speeding up the invention of new enzymes, pathways, and even entire metabolic lifestyles that later lineages would inherit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-sharing-space-with-luca">Microbes sharing space with LUCA</h2>



It’s clear that LUCA was exploiting and changing its environment, but it is unlikely to have lived alone. 



"Its waste would have been food for other microbes, like methanogens, that would have helped to create a recycling ecosystem,” observed Tim Lenton from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a>. 



In modern hydrothermal vents, acetate‑producers and methane‑makers trade leftovers, smoothing local chemistry and stabilizing energy flows.



Similar give‑and‑take could explain how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/was-early-earth-a-purple-planet-scientists-say-its-possible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early Earth</a> cycled carbon and hydrogen long before <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sounding-the-alarm-microplastics-are-disrupting-photosynthesis-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a> took the stage. 



By knitting together waste and resource, hydrothermal vent communities may have tempered extreme swings in temperature and acidity, opening fresh niches for the next wave of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-first-bacteria-used-oxygen-about-one-billion-years-earlier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary experiments</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-luca-matter">Why does LUCA matter?</h2>



“The findings and methods employed in this work will also inform future studies that look in more detail into the subsequent evolution of prokaryotes in light of Earth history, including the lesser‑studied Archaea with their methanogenic representatives,” said Professor Anja Spang, co-author from the Royal Netherlands <a href="https://www.nioz.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute for Sea Research</a>.



<a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/people/person/Philip-Donoghue-4fd2d6ef-3986-4566-97e4-7ae7db296525/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Philip Donoghue</a> highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the work, saying it brought together data and techniques from across multiple fields. 



This collaborative approach, he explained, made it possible to uncover insights into early Earth and the origins of life that no single discipline could have revealed on its own. 



He also pointed out how swiftly ecosystems seem to have taken root on the early planet - an observation that opens the door to the possibility that life might be thriving on other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-k2-18b-strongest-evidence-yet-of-extraterrestrial-life-discovered-webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth-like worlds</a> in the universe.



"This suggests that life may be flourishing on Earth‑like biospheres elsewhere in the universe," Donoghue concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



To sum it all up, each genome pulled from ocean mud or desert crust adds a puzzle piece to LUCA’s portrait. 



As sequencing tech grows faster and cheaper, scientists will keep hunting for ancient gene families, refining the ancestral blueprint, and scoping out early viral fossils hidden in microbial DNA. 



New drilling missions aimed at untouched seafloor vents could reveal communities whose lifestyles echo those first biochemical gambles, tightening links between geology and genetics.



The storyline is still unfolding, but one takeaway already stands firm: life did not tiptoe onto the stage. It sprinted, armed with a full toolkit, ready to spar with viruses, and eager to reshape its surroundings - leaving every organism alive today carrying a hint of that four‑billion‑year‑old spark.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02461-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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All life on Earth comes from one single ancestor, and now we know what it was

Every plant leaf, eagle feather, and speck of pond scum...

When country music legend Glen Campbell took the stage during his final tour, his memory was fading fast due to Alzheimer’s disease. 



Yet somehow, despite not recognizing his closest loved ones or remembering what day it was, he could still play his guitar and sing every lyric of his greatest hits thanks to the science behind the connection of music and the brain.



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



Rhonda Winegar is a nurse practitioner in neurology and assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. She found Campbell's uncanny ability to be more than just touching - it sparked her scientific curiosity.



“He kept wandering off, and they’d have to push him back on stage,” noted Winegar. “Yet he could still play all those difficult chords and remember the lyrics to his songs.”



This striking example of music’s resilience in the face of neurodegeneration became the foundation for Winegar’s research into the profound <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-therapy-key-features-of-healing-music-identified/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">therapeutic power</a> of music. 



Her findings, recently published with co-author Dustin Hixenbaugh in <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1555415525000327" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Journal for Nurse Practitioners</a>, reinforce what many have intuitively known for centuries: music isn’t just entertainment - it’s medicine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemistry-of-the-musical-experience">Chemistry of the musical experience</h2>



“Music delays neurodegeneration in conditions such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-blood-test-can-track-the-progression-of-alzheimers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s</a>,” Winegar explained. “Sometimes, patients with memory issues get anxious and upset, which can start affecting their speech and ability to communicate. But if they’re able to sing, they can express their feelings, which helps reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.”



While Winegar’s work highlights music’s ability to soothe and strengthen neurological function, a recent imaging study from the Turku PET Center in Finland delves even deeper. The study dives into the molecular chemistry of the musical experience. 



Published in the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00259-025-07232-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Journal of Nuclear Medicine</a>, the research has found that listening to favorite music activates the brain’s opioid system, the same reward system that governs pleasure from food, social bonding, and even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-as-a-pain-reliever-the-power-of-your-playlist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pain relief</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pleasure-pathways-in-the-brain">Pleasure pathways in the brain</h2>



“These results show for the first time directly that listening to music activates the brain’s opioid system,” said Vesa Putkinen from the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Turku</a>. 



“The release of opioids explains why music can produce such strong feelings of pleasure, even though it is not a primary reward necessary for survival or reproduction, like food or sexual pleasure.”



Using positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the Finnish research team measured the release of natural opioids in the brain as participants listened to music that gave them chills. 



The more opioid receptors a person had, the stronger their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-triggers-unique-prediction-zones-in-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brain</a> responded to the music - suggesting a biological basis for why some people are deeply moved by a favorite song while others remain unmoved.



“The brain’s opioid system is also involved in pain relief. Based on our findings, the previously observed pain-relieving effects of music may be due to music-induced opioid responses in the brain,” noted Lauri Nummenmaa, a professor at the University of Turku.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-therapy-heals-the-brain">Music therapy heals the brain</h2>



Back in Texas, Winegar describes the ways in which this pleasurable response to music can be practically applied in medicine and caregiving. Active music therapy - where patients sing or play instruments - can help stroke survivors regain language skills.



Music therapy can also be beneficial for people with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-plays-an-unexpected-role-in-movement-and-parkinsons-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parkinson’s</a>, as it may improve walking rhythm and motor control. Passive listening also shows benefits, such as reducing heart rate, blood pressure, and seizure activity.



“In neurology, music has been shown to decrease seizure activity by calming abnormal electrical impulses in the brain,” she said. “Research also shows that music can regulate heart rate and blood pressure by reducing over excitation in the nervous system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-right-song-right-person">Right song, right person</h2>



The power of music therapy isn’t restricted to one genre, either. Winegar’s own research was presented through the lens of country music, which she describes as “a support group in song.” 



However, the emotional and physiological effects vary widely depending on personal preference. Whether someone finds peace in heavy metal or motivation in gospel, the brain’s response is most powerful when the music resonates personally.



“We focused on how country music can be used in a clinical setting,” Winegar said. “It often tells the stories of struggle - my wife left me, I’m an alcoholic, my truck won’t start. We framed our presentation around the idea that music can serve as a support group, helping people connect with others facing similar struggles.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-music-to-heal-the-brain">Using music to heal the brain</h2>



With neuroscience revealing the biological underpinnings of music’s effects and clinicians harnessing its healing potential, the implications for health care are enormous. 



From managing chronic pain and regulating mood to enhancing mobility and preserving memory, music offers an accessible way to heal the brain and treat mental health conditions.



“The most important takeaway from this research is that music has always been there for us. It doesn’t cost anything to turn on the radio, and it can be there for you during rough patches - whether you’re feeling anxious, depressed or in pain. It can motivate you, help you exercise or provide comfort,” said Winegar.



As science continues to explore the symphony between mind and music, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this universal human experience is more than just background noise. It’s a form of therapy written into our biology - a healing harmony available to all.



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Experts reveal how music can heal the brain

When country music legend Glen Campbell took the stage during...

Physics,Quantum,And,Quantum,Entanglement,,3d,Rendering.,3d,Illustration.

Researchers have long studied quantum entanglement to understand how photons appear to influence each other instantaneously.



This peculiar link first emerged when Albert Einstein pointed to what he called “spooky action at a distance,” suggesting that this peculiar behavior contradicted intuitive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/google-claims-commercial-quantum-computing-is-just-five-years-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">views</a> of cause and effect.



The conversation around these phenomena has evolved through the decades. 



Ph.D. student <a href="https://phys.technion.ac.il/en/component/adm/person/1189" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amit Kam</a> and <a href="https://scholar.google.co.il/citations?user=Jf5cMM8AAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Shai Tsesses</a> from <a href="https://www.technion.ac.il/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technion</a> are now adding a twist to this story by exploring surprising effects in photons that occupy incredibly tight spaces.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-quantum-entanglement">Understanding quantum entanglement</h2>



Quantum entanglement is a strange but very real phenomenon where two particles become linked in such a way that their states depend on each other, even when separated by huge distances. 



Imagine you take a pair of gloves, put one in a box, and send it to the other side of the universe. The moment you open the box and see a left glove, you instantly know the other box has the right one. 



With entangled particles, it’s like that, but much weirder. The twist is, unlike gloves that had a clear identity from the start, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-speed-is-measured-first-time-too-fast-for-humans-minds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">entangled particles</a> don’t “decide” their state until someone measures them. And once one does, the other reacts instantly, no matter how far away it is.



Einstein was never fully onboard with quantum entanglement because it seems to break the rule that nothing can travel faster than light. 



But time and again, experiments have shown it’s real. No hidden signals. No delay. Just instant correlation. 



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



Einstein’s <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qt-epr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collaboration</a> with Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen produced a classic puzzle that challenged existing ideas. 



Their EPR paper helped spark deeper inquiries into how one <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microsoft-announces-giant-leap-in-quantum-computing-majorana-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">particle</a> can instantly affect another across vast distances, a phenomenon that puzzled even seasoned physicists.



Years later, the idea reached practical horizons with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.70.1895" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum teleportation</a>, which was conceptualized by Charles Bennett, Gilles Brassard, and Asher Peres. 



This opened the door to quantum communication protocols that rely on bizarre correlations only possible in the quantum world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-photon-spaces-are-revealing">Tiny photon spaces are revealing</h2>



The push to miniaturize devices is not just about saving space. Scaling down light-based components can strengthen the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baffling-quantum-entanglement-statistics-puzzle-finally-solved-advanced-technologies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interaction</a> between photons and nearby materials, which may lead to applications that larger-scale systems cannot achieve.



Photons in <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsanm.3c04950" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nanoscale</a> environments showcase new combinations of properties. Instead of seeing separate spin and orbital components, scientists are dealing with <a href="https://faculty.washington.edu/seattle/physics541/12text.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">total angular momentum</a>, which merges these features into one quantity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strange-photon-actions-in-small-spaces">Strange photon actions in small spaces</h2>



Most people imagine light beams spreading out freely, but these experiments <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-dance-entangled-photons-wave-functions-captured-real-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">confine photons</a> into structures tinier than a thousandth the thickness of a human hair.



That restriction forces angular components of light to overlap in unexpected ways, altering how each photon can carry information.



These observations may hold promise for new kinds of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radical-theory-unites-gravity-spacetime-and-the-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum</a> devices. 



Researchers propose that total angular momentum entanglement might enable more compact hardware for quantum computing or communication links than previously thought possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-kind-of-quantum-entanglement">Different kind of quantum entanglement</h2>



Several forms of entanglement in photons involve separate characteristics such as direction, frequency, or polarization. In contrast, total angular momentum combines many properties into a single description.



Evidence for this new structure only surfaced when <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08761-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> tested how photon pairs behave once they pass through carefully designed nanoscale channels. 



The outcomes hinted at correlations that do not resemble conventional entanglement structures in larger settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-this-matter">Why does this matter?</h2>



Those studying photon-based technologies aim to construct more efficient equipment that harnesses quantum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-phase-superradiant-phase-transition-srpt-observed-in-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effects</a> for faster computations or stealthy message exchanges. 



Smaller components can pack more operations onto a single chip, much like the ongoing trend in electronics.



While some quantum methods focus on established particle attributes, this work suggests that total angular momentum could be an untapped resource. 



The miniature systems explored by Technion scientists might offer fresh ways to encode and process data without taking up a lot of space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-photon-control-and-next-steps">Photon control and next steps</h2>



Entangled photons, even in conventional systems, are notoriously sensitive to environmental disturbances. 



Confining light in tiny spaces can amplify those effects, so the engineering behind these setups must address potential losses or interference.



Researchers also want to confirm whether total angular momentum entanglement behaves reliably in real-world conditions. 



Investigations into materials and device architectures are underway, guided by the new data from these nanoscale experiments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-this-links-back-to-einstein">How this links back to Einstein</h2>



Einstein’s skepticism about instant influence did not stop the scientific community from uncovering new frontiers in quantum theory. 



The <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2022/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022 Nobel Prize in Physics</a> recognized key contributions that shaped how we measure and interpret entanglement.



Today, the focus has turned toward next-generation experiments that push these correlations into ever-smaller spaces. 



By compressing photons into structures below their typical wavelength, scientists hope to uncover possibilities beyond familiar optical behaviors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



Each step in quantum research sparks questions about how nature encodes information. 



The notion of merging spin and orbit into a single total angular momentum points to a shift in the thinking about light, especially when devices must stay small.



Further studies may translate these findings into commercial products. 



Many experts foresee a path where photons replace electrons in computing tasks, leading to faster speeds and less heat dissipation. This new entanglement feature could become an essential piece of that puzzle.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08761-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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New type of quantum entanglement discovered that will transform real-world technology

Researchers have long studied quantum entanglement to understand how photons appear...

Magnetars are ultra-dense remnants of massive stars, known for possessing the strongest magnetic fields in the universe - trillions of times more powerful than Earth's magnetic field. A magnetar named SGR 0501+4516 is challenging what scientists thought they knew about how these bizarre stars come into being.



In a new study, researchers from Radboud University and the <a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Warwick</a> used the Hubble Space Telescope to track the magnetar SGR 0501+4516 as it moves across our galaxy. The findings suggest that this object might not have been formed in a traditional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova</a>, as previously believed.



Instead, the mysterious magnetar could have originated from a much rarer and less understood process - one that may even hold answers to the mystery of fast radio bursts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-magnetars-so-unique">What makes magnetars so unique?</h2>



“Magnetars are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neutron-stars-may-hold-the-key-to-understanding-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neutron stars</a> - the dead remnants of stars - composed entirely of neutrons. What makes magnetars unique is their extreme magnetic fields,” said Ashley Chrimes, lead author of the study. 



If a magnetar came within half the distance to the Moon, its magnetism could erase every credit card on Earth. A human within 600 miles would be physically torn apart by the force.



The magnetar in question, SGR 0501+4516, was first spotted in 2008 by NASA’s Swift Observatory, which detected its brief and intense gamma-ray flashes. At the time, scientists assumed it had formed in a supernova explosion. 



After all, it was located near the remnants of a supernova known as HB9. But new data from Hubble and the European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft is telling a different story.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magnetar-with-mysterious-origins">Magnetar with mysterious origins</h2>



With data collected in 2010, 2012, and 2020, the researchers used Hubble’s steady view and infrared imaging to measure the magnetar’s movement over time.



The experts compared its position to a precise stellar map provided by Gaia, which allowed them to trace the magnetar’s slow drift across the sky.



“All of this movement we measure is smaller than a single pixel of a Hubble image,” said co-investigator Joe Lyman. “Being able to robustly perform such measurements really is a testament to the long-term stability of Hubble.”



The results were surprising. The direction and speed of SGR 0501+4516’s journey showed that it likely didn’t originate from the nearby <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shockingly-bright-carbon-monoxide-detected-in-supernova-remnant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova remnant</a>. When scientists traced its path back thousands of years, they found no sign of any known supernova remnants or star clusters that could explain the birth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explaining-the-magnetar-s-origins">Explaining the magnetar’s origins</h2>



If it wasn’t born from a supernova, what could explain the magnetar’s existence? The researchers suggest it may have formed in a different way entirely - either from the collision of two smaller neutron stars or through something called accretion-induced collapse.



“Normally, this scenario leads to the ignition of nuclear reactions, and the white dwarf exploding, leaving nothing behind. But it has been theorized that under certain conditions, the white dwarf can instead collapse into a neutron star. We think this might be how SGR 0501 was born,” noted study co-author Andrew Levan.



This theory involves a white dwarf in a binary system pulling in too much gas from its companion. If it gets heavy enough, it can collapse under its own weight - not explode - and possibly become a magnetar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-to-fast-radio-bursts">Clues to fast radio bursts</h2>



This discovery might also help explain one of the biggest puzzles in astrophysics: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-radio-bursts-are-even-more-mysterious-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fast radio bursts</a> (FRBs). These are brief but powerful bursts of radio waves that have been detected across the universe.



SGR 0501+4516 is now the top candidate in our galaxy for a magnetar that may have formed through an accretion-induced collapse or merger — both of which are scenarios that could generate FRBs. That’s especially significant for bursts that appear in old star populations where no new massive stars (and thus no new supernovae) are expected.



“Magnetar birth rates and formation scenarios are among the most pressing questions in high-energy astrophysics, with implications for many of the universe’s most powerful transient events, such as gamma-ray bursts, super-luminous supernovae, and fast radio bursts,” said study co-author Nanda Rea.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-to-discover-across-our-galaxy">More to discover across our galaxy</h2>



The research team plans to continue using Hubble to study other magnetars across the Milky Way. With new findings, researchers gain more knowledge about the mysterious origins of magnetars like SGR 0501+4516.



Each new observation could bring us closer to understanding how these powerful magnetic stars are born - and what role they might play in some of the universe’s strangest phenomena.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2025/04/aa53479-24/aa53479-24.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics</a>.



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Mysterious magnetar has unknown origins

Magnetars are ultra-dense remnants of massive stars, known for possessing...

Plastic waste has a habit of sneaking into every corner of our lives. It’s in packaging, containers, housewares, and even hidden in places we don’t expect. 



Despite growing awareness and recycling efforts, less than ten percent of all plastic manufactured around the world last year was made from previously used materials.



That startling figure comes from an in-depth analysis led by Quanyin Tan from the <a href="https://www.the-ies.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institution of Environmental Sciences</a>, an international organization with member countries all over the world. 



This research team aimed to crunch fresh data on how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-normal-plastic-turns-into-dangerous-micro-and-nanoplastics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a> is produced, consumed, and disposed of.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-use-is-outpacing-recycling">Plastic use is outpacing recycling</h2>



Worldwide, manufacturing of plastic goods has exploded, hitting 400 million tons in 2022. That is part of a decades-long rise tied to easy availability of <a href="https://chandra-asri.com/en/blog/what-is-petrochemical" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">petrochemicals</a> and a growing demand for convenience goods.



Most feedstocks, or basic materials used to make <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-is-changing-the-entire-earth-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastics</a>, still come from oil and coal. This reliance continues to cause <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-petrochemicals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">concern</a> for policymakers who worry about pollution and greenhouse emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-plastic-is-burned-or-dumped">Most plastic is burned or dumped</h2>



Even though new plastic goods keep rolling off the conveyor belts, billions of pounds of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alarming-levels-of-microplastics-found-in-every-major-european-river/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">waste</a> pile up in landfills. 



Many communities are trying to move away from tossing items into the ground, so incineration - high-temperature burning of trash - has become normal practice in several regions.



Recycling has not caught up. Only a small slice of global plastic waste heads for proper sorting, and an even tinier portion makes it into fresh products.



Burning <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coca-cola-may-dump-1-3b-pounds-plastic-into-oceans-by-2030/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a> can reduce landfill buildup. Yet it creates questions about whether harmful byproducts make their way into the environment.



In some places, waste-to-energy plants harness the heat from incineration to generate electricity. But critics argue that this discourages efforts to lower production of throwaway items or boost recycling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-recycling-trends-differ-worldwide">Plastic recycling trends differ worldwide</h2>



In the United States, people use more plastic per person than anywhere else, averaging 216 kilograms annually. Not all of that waste is dealt with locally, as a portion still travels overseas in search of processing facilities.



China, with the biggest overall use, faces a different set of obstacles. The country has seen a shift toward incineration, in an attempt to cut the amount of trash going into dumps.



Consumers often assume throwing a plastic cup in the blue bin solves the problem. The reality is more complicated, because <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2008.0311">mechanical recycling facilities</a> struggle with contaminated or hard-to-sort materials.



“This study provides important data for devising future policies and regulations,” said Tan. The authors highlight another bottleneck: even after plastics are collected for recycling, about half end up in the incinerator anyway. 



One approach relies on boosting demand for items made of reused plastic. When manufacturers see value in secondhand resin, they are more likely to invest in the technology needed to process it.



Governments can step in by drafting standards that require products to contain a certain percent of reclaimed materials. These rules help build a reliable market for suppliers who repurpose waste.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-it-matters-for-everyone">Why it matters for everyone</h2>



Plastics offer convenience and durability. That same toughness means <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-treaty-is-a-historic-opportunity-to-stop-a-human-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a> debris persists for a very long time, often escaping into waterways and farmland as it slowly degrades into smaller fragments.



Tiny particles known as microplastics turn up in soil and even inside living organisms. Such discoveries raise questions about health impacts, and fuel a push to fix <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b01517" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the plastic loop</a> once and for all.



It starts with cutting back on disposable items. Simple decisions like opting for long-lasting goods or switching to refillable containers will reduce overall usage.



Proper sorting is also key. If more families rinse and separate their plastics, it takes less effort at the recycling facility, creating a cleaner stream of usable material.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-recycling-must-improve">Plastic recycling must improve</h2>



Tracking plastic flows helps scientists pinpoint the most serious leaks in the system. They can see which nations and industries are cleaning up their act and which ones still need help.



That big-picture view allows leaders to craft better laws. These regulations might prioritize cutting single-use packaging, boosting recycling plants, or funding incineration upgrades to handle toxic fumes.



As production inches toward 800 million tons per year by 2050, extra plastic could swamp the planet if we keep using the same playbook. 



Cutting reliance on virgin feedstocks can slow the tide, especially if more recycled content edges its way into new manufacturing.



Those shifts demand cooperation across borders and industries. Otherwise, next-generation efforts might fail to tackle a problem that grows bigger and more threatening each year.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02169-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a>.



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Disturbingly small amount of plastic is recycled around the world

Plastic waste has a habit of sneaking into every corner...

When the Webb telescope launched, astronomers expected new surprises. But few predicted the discovery of something as striking as Zhúlóng - a massive, elegant spiral galaxy that had already formed just one billion years after the Big Bang.



In a cosmos that should still have been chaotic and unstructured at that time, this galaxy stands out as an anomaly. Not only is it huge and distant, but it also resembles modern spirals like our own Milky Way, which were long believed to be latecomers in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-galaxies-discovery-would-upend-current-understanding-of-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic history</a>.



The discovery, detailed in a new study from the PANORAMIC Survey team, is shaking up long-held ideas about how galaxies grow and evolve. Using <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>’s cutting-edge imaging, astronomers spotted Zhúlóng nestled in the ancient Universe. 



At a redshift of z ∼ 5.2, meaning that the light has been travelling from this galaxy for 12.5 billion years, Zhúlóng is now the most distant spiral galaxy known - a record-breaker and a puzzle rolled into one.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zhulong-the-torch-dragon">Zhúlóng: The "Torch Dragon"</h2>



‘‘We named this galaxy Zhúlóng, meaning ‘Torch Dragon’ in Chinese mythology," explained Dr. Mengyuan Xiao, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Astronomy at the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Geneva</a>, and lead author of the study. 



"In the myth, Zhúlóng is a powerful red solar dragon that creates day and night by opening and closing its eyes, symbolizing light and cosmic time.’’ 



Zhúlóng is massive, red, and shockingly mature considering that it formed at a very early time in cosmic history. It sports a well-defined classical bulge and a sweeping disk with spiral arms that stretch across 62,000 light-years.



This structure is not common among galaxies formed in the early universe, which usually appear clumpy and irregular in deep space images.



<a href="https://www.unige.ch/sciences/astro/cosmicdawn/jwst-surveys/panoramic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The PANORAMIC Survey</a> that uncovered Zhúlóng used JWST’s “pure parallel mode,” a method that allows one camera to collect additional images while another conducts its primary task. This clever approach captured extra slices of the early universe, increasing the chances of turning up rare finds.



“Wide-area surveys are necessary to discover rare, massive galaxies. We were hoping to discover massive and bright galaxies across the earliest epochs of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strange-signals-from-the-center-of-our-galaxy-hint-at-a-new-kind-of-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> to understand how massive galaxies form and evolve, which helps to interpret the later epochs of their evolution that will be observed with the LSST,” noted Christina Williams, co-leader of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zhulong-looks-like-a-modern-galaxy">Zhúlóng looks like a modern galaxy</h2>



Zhúlóng looks nothing like the galaxies typically found at this redshift. Most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxy-found-in-the-early-universe-that-shouldnt-exist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> formed in early epochs are distorted, compact, or undergoing chaotic starbursts. Instead, this one features a calm, balanced structure - a red, quiescent core surrounded by a vast disk filled with young stars.



Using JWST’s deep infrared data, astronomers revealed a stellar mass of about 10¹¹ solar masses. That places it on par with the Milky Way. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Zhulong_torch-galaxy_JWST_NoirLab_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Zhulong_torch-galaxy_JWST_NoirLab_1s.webp" alt="This image of Zhúlóng, the most distant spiral galaxy discovered to date, shows its remarkably well-defined spiral arms, a central old bulge, and a large star-forming disk, resembling the structure of the Milky Way. Credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/NASA/CSA/ESA" class="wp-image-1966137"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This image of Zhúlóng, the most distant spiral galaxy discovered to date, shows its remarkably well-defined spiral arms, a central old bulge, and a large star-forming disk, resembling the structure of the Milky Way. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/NASA/CSA/ESA</figcaption></figure>



The galaxy has already transitioned its core into a quiet state that no longer forms stars. Surrounding this core, however, the disk still supports some ongoing star formation, albeit at a relatively modest rate of around 66 solar masses per year.



Zhúlóng’s specific star formation rate is surprisingly low for a galaxy formed so early in the history of the universe. 



This suggests the galaxy is entering a transitional phase - moving from active formation into cosmic retirement, long before <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-found-something-strange-at-core-of-milky-way-galaxy-webb-meerkat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most galaxies</a> of its kind.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mature-spiral-born-in-chaos">Mature spiral born in chaos</h2>



The elegance of Zhúlóng’s spiral arms has drawn intense attention. These arms are not faint or broken but stretch cleanly from the central bulge outward, resembling the structure of well-formed spirals like the Milky Way.



For decades, theorists believed such arms required many billions of years to develop, as they rely on organized disk dynamics and stable conditions.



Yet Zhúlóng contradicts this. 



“It is really exciting that this galaxy resembles a grand-design spiral galaxy like our Milky Way,” says Williams. 



“It is generally thought that it takes billions of years for this structure to form in galaxies, but Zhúlóng shows that this could also happen in only one billion years.”



What’s more, the arms appear in residual maps after subtracting the galaxy’s main light components, which confirms their reality. The spiral pattern extends across an unusually large face-on disk that is nearly 20 kiloparsecs wide.



Its half-light radius reaches up to 3.9 kiloparsecs, and when using a non-parametric method, 80% of its stellar light spreads out to nearly 10 kiloparsecs. This is immense by any standard, let alone for a galaxy so early in cosmic history.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-find-or-tip-of-the-iceberg">Rare find or tip of the iceberg?</h2>



Could Zhúlóng be unique, or is it the first of many such ancient spirals? The answer may lie in future wide-area JWST surveys and improved models of galaxy formation. 



So far, only a handful of spiral-like galaxies have been identified at redshift z &gt; 3. Zhúlóng stands as the most distant example.



Its large disk, mature bulge, and red spiral arms all point to a level of organization that is rarely expected in the early cosmos. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://storage.noirlab.edu/media/archives/images/publicationjpg/noirlab2516a.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Zhulong_torch-galaxy_PANORAMIC-survey_JWST_NoirLab_1s.webp" alt="Zhúlóng was discovered as part of the PANORAMIC Survey — a wide-area imaging survey being conducted with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). . Credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/NASA/CSA/ESA" class="wp-image-1966138"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Zhúlóng was discovered as part of the PANORAMIC Survey — a wide-area imaging survey being conducted with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Click image to enlarge. Credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/NASA/CSA/ESA</figcaption></figure>



The galaxy also avoids heavy dust obscuration, unlike some other massive galaxies discovered with submillimeter telescopes. Instead, it offers a clear view into the dynamics of early disk galaxies.



The rarity of spiral arms in early epochs could mean they are short-lived. In the high-density, merger-rich universe of that time, such delicate structures might often be destroyed before reaching our telescopes. Zhúlóng may represent a fleeting moment of cosmic symmetry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-zhulong-matter">Why does Zhúlóng matter?</h2>



Zhúlóng challenges the narrative of slow galaxy growth. It suggests that some massive galaxies, perhaps under specific conditions, can grow their bulges and disks rapidly. 



It also reinforces that the classic Hubble sequence - with spirals, ellipticals, and bulge-disk galaxies - may have begun forming far earlier than once thought.



In comparing Zhúlóng to the Milky Way, the similarities become startling. The size, mass, and structure closely match our home galaxy, but Zhúlóng achieved this structure in only a tenth of the time. 



This forces a reevaluation of the timing and mechanics behind spiral galaxy formation.



Despite the turbulent environment of the early universe, some galaxies found a path to order and elegance. Zhúlóng is one such case - not just a cosmic oddity but a glimpse into what the first billion years could produce when conditions aligned.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



Zhúlóng’s discovery opens the door to a new class of early galaxies. 



As the Webb telescope continues scanning the deep universe and surveys like COSMOS-Web expand, more such spirals may emerge. If they do, astronomers will need to refine their theories about when - and how - galaxies become mature.



This galaxy is a striking example of cosmic maturity arriving far earlier than theory allows. Its red bulge, youthful arms, low star formation rate, and ultra-massive profile defy expectations. 



But it is only one data point. Future spectroscopy and deep imaging from JWST and <a href="https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/alma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ALMA</a> will help decode its origin story.



For now, Zhúlóng stands as a dragon in the deep, carrying light, time, and mystery from an age we are only just beginning to understand.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.aanda.org/component/article?access=doi&amp;doi=10.1051/0004-6361/202453487" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astronomy and Astrophysics</a>.



Image Credit: <a href="https://noirlab.edu/public/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOIRLab</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsf.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NSF</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aura-astronomy.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AURA</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CSA</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>, M. Xiao (<a href="https://www.unige.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Geneva</a>), G. Brammer (<a href="https://nbi.ku.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Niels Bohr Institute</a>), D. de Martin &amp; M. Zamani (<a href="https://noirlab.edu/public/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NSF NOIRLab</a>)



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Meet Zhúlóng: The oldest known spiral galaxy in the universe

When the Webb telescope launched, astronomers expected new surprises. But...

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. 



The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.



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Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.



Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. 



They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).



Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.



Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.



This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River.



In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;



According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;



Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. 



Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.



Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. 



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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Wild hog in the Namib desert in Namibia Photo Credit: Photofex-AUT

Wild Hog

Black Widow Spider -Female, male and egg sac Photo Credit: Mark_Kostich

Wild Hog

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