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Astronomers first discovered mysterious objects in the ‘Mass Gap’ of cosmic collisions

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In August of a year ago, the LIGO and Virgo joint efforts made a first-of-its-sort gravitational wave discovery – what appeared to be a dark gap gobbling up a neutron star. Presently LIGO has affirmed the occasion, giving it the name GW190814. Furthermore, it would appear that the neutron star was not really… a neutron star.

That would mean the recognition is the first of an alternate kind – the littlest dark opening we’ve at any point distinguished, narrowing the secretive ‘mass hole’ between neutron stars and black gaps. Be that as it may, as most answers the Universe gives us, it opens up dozen more.

“This is going to change how scientists talk about neutron stars and black holes,” said physicist Patrick Brady of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration representative.

“The mass gap may in fact not exist at all but may have been due to limitations in observational capabilities. Time and more observations will tell.”

Into the mass hole

The mass hole is an inquisitive special case in our location of black openings and neutron stars. The two sorts of articles are the crumpled, dead centers of monstrous stars. For neutron stars, the begetter stars are around 8 to multiple times the mass of the Sun; they brush off the greater part of their mass before they pass on, and the centers breakdown down to objects of around 1.4 sunlight based masses.

In the interim, ancestor stars bigger than around 30 sun based masses breakdown down into dark gaps, with a wide scope of masses.

Which drives us to the hole. We’ve never observed a pre-merger object between specific upper and lower limits – a neutron star bigger than around 2.3 sunlight based masses, or a dark opening littler than 5 sun powered masses.

GW190814 has now conveyed that object. Investigation of the gravitational wave signal has uncovered that the bigger of the two blending objects – deciphered as a dark gap – was 23 sun oriented masses. The littler of the two was simply 2.6 sun based masses, multiple times littler than the other.

This mass methods it could be the greatest neutron star we’ve at any point distinguished; or, significantly more likely, the littlest dark gap.

“It’s a challenge for current theoretical models to form merging pairs of compact objects with such a large mass ratio in which the low-mass partner resides in the mass gap. This discovery implies these events occur much more often than we predicted, making this a really intriguing low-mass object,” clarified astrophysicist Vicky Kalogera of Northwestern University in Illinois.

“The mystery object may be a neutron star merging with a black hole, an exciting possibility expected theoretically but not yet confirmed observationally. However, at 2.6 times the mass of our Sun, it exceeds modern predictions for the maximum mass of neutron stars, and may instead be the lightest black hole ever detected.”

The cutoff on neutron stars

The explanation cosmologists aren’t sure what lives in the mass hole is that it’s extremely hard to compute something many refer to as the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit (TOV limit).

This is the breaking point above which the mass of a neutron star is so incredible, the outward weight of neutrons can no longer repulse each other against the internal weight of gravity, and the object collapses into a black gap.

As our perceptions develop progressively powerful, limitations on as far as possible for neutron stars are shutting in. Counts by and large put it somewhere close to 2.2 and 2.4 sunlight based masses; and information from GW170817 – a 2017 neutron star merger that created a post-merger mass-hole dark gap of 2.7 sun based masses – have limited it down to around 2.3 sun based masses.

The vulnerability over the littler item in GW190814 emerges from the wiggle room in as far as possible – at the same time, as indicated by the group’s analysis, if the 2.3 sun based mass computation is taken, there’s just an opportunity of around three percent that the article is a neutron star.

“GW190814 is probably not the product of a neutron star-black hole coalescence, despite its preliminary classification as such,” the analysts wrote in their paper. “Nonetheless, the possibility that the secondary component is a neutron star cannot be completely discounted due to the current uncertainty in [the TOV limit].”

Presently what?

While a neutron star-black opening merger would have been excessively energizing, the way that GW190814 has likely ended up featuring a little dark gap is extremely amazing, as well.

For one, the finding would now be able to assist space experts with constraining the mass hole. What’s more, significantly, it tosses our development models of both neutron stars and paired frameworks into a significant chaos.

Astronomers believe that heavenly mass black gaps are created by extremely gigantic stars that go supernova and breakdown into a black opening. What’s more, we accept neutron stars structure a similar way.

In any case, scholars were delivering development models that fit around the mass hole; presently that a pre-merger mass hole object has been discovered, those models should be reevaluated.

The other issue is the enormous mass discrepancy. The vast majority of the gravitational wave mergers distinguished to date include two objects of pretty much equivalent size. Not long ago, researchers declared a dark opening merger with a mass proportion of generally 3:1, yet GW190814 is far increasingly extraordinary.

There are two main ways for twofold frameworks to shape. It is possible that they are brought into the world together out of a similar piece of interstellar cloud, living respectively for their whole life expectancies, and afterward kicking the bucket together; or they meet up sometime down the road. Be that as it may, it’s extremely hard for these double arrangement models to create systems with such extraordinary mass proportions.

Furthermore, the way that GW190814 was identified only a couple of years after the principal gravitational wave discovery in 2015 suggests that such extreme systems aren’t even that exceptional.

“All of the common formation channels have some deficiency,” astronomer Ryan Foley of the University of California, Santa Cruz told ScienceAlert. Foley was an individual from the group who found the underlying GW190814 identification, and was not engaged with this new paper.

“It’s that the rate [of this kind of event] is relatively high. [And] it’s not just that you have masses that are different by a factor of nine. It’s also that one of them is in this mass gap. And one of them is really, really massive. So all those things combined, I don’t think that there’s a good model that really solves those three separate issues.”

There’s plenty in this one location to keep scholars occupied for some time, reconsidering those arrangement situations to decide how a framework like GW190814, and its different parts, can appear – regardless of whether the littler article is a neutron star or a black gap.

With respect to making sense of the last mentioned, that will involve more location. LIGO is presently disconnected while it experiences overhauls. It’s relied upon to return online at some point one year from now, more touchy than any time in recent memory – ideally to distinguish more occasions like GW190814, which will help settle a portion of the remarkable inquiries.

“This is the first glimpse of what could be a whole new population of compact binary objects,” said astrophysicist Charlie Hoy of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Cardiff University in the UK.

“What is really exciting is that this is just the start. As the detectors get more and more sensitive, we will observe even more of these signals, and we will be able to pinpoint the populations of neutron stars and black holes in the Universe.”

Mark David is a writer best known for his science fiction, but over the course of his life he published more than sixty books of fiction and non-fiction, including children's books, poetry, short stories, essays, and young-adult fiction. He publishes news on apstersmedia.com related to the science.

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China’s Tianwen-2 Set for Launch to Asteroid and Comet

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China’s Tianwen-2 Set for Launch to Asteroid and Comet

China has taken a major step forward in its deep-space exploration efforts as the Tianwen-2 spacecraft arrived at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province for final launch preparations. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) confirmed the development on February 20, 2025, signaling that the mission is on track for its scheduled launch in the first half of the year.

A Dual-Purpose Mission

The Tianwen-2 mission is a combined near-Earth asteroid sample return and comet rendezvous mission, marking another ambitious endeavor for China’s space program. The mission is set to launch aboard a Long March 3B rocket, with a tentative liftoff expected around May 2025.

The primary target of Tianwen-2 is the near-Earth asteroid Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3), a small celestial body with a diameter estimated between 40 to 100 meters. The asteroid is considered a quasi-satellite of Earth, meaning it follows a co-orbital path with our planet. Scientists believe Kamoʻoalewa might be a fragment of the Moon, ejected into space after an ancient impact event.

After collecting samples from Kamoʻoalewa, the main spacecraft will continue its journey to comet 311P/PANSTARRS, a celestial body that exhibits both asteroid-like and comet-like characteristics. By studying these two objects, scientists aim to gain valuable insights into the composition, evolution, and history of the solar system, including the distribution of water and organic molecules.

Launch Preparations Underway

CNSA stated that the launch site facilities are fully prepared, and pre-launch tests are proceeding as planned. Engineers and scientists are meticulously working to ensure the spacecraft is ready for its complex mission, which will involve multiple orbital maneuvers, sample collection, and deep-space travel over nearly a decade.

Sampling Kamoʻoalewa: Two Innovative Techniques

To collect material from Kamoʻoalewa, Tianwen-2 will employ two advanced sampling methods:

  1. Touch-and-Go (TAG) Method – This technique, used by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and JAXA’s Hayabusa2 missions, involves briefly touching the asteroid’s surface to gather samples.
  2. Anchor-and-Attach System – This approach uses drills attached to the spacecraft’s landing legs, allowing for a more stable and secure extraction of subsurface material.

Early mission concepts, when Tianwen-2 was initially known as Zheng He, indicated that China aimed to collect between 200 and 1,000 grams of asteroid samples. These samples will help scientists analyze Kamoʻoalewa’s mineral composition, origin, and potential similarities with lunar material.

Challenges in Sample Return

Although China has successfully executed two lunar sample return missions—Chang’e-5 (2020) and Chang’e-6 (2024)—returning asteroid samples presents unique challenges. Unlike the Moon, Kamoʻoalewa has negligible gravity, requiring specialized landing and sampling techniques. Additionally, the reentry module carrying the samples will experience higher velocities, demanding advanced thermal protection and parachute deployment systems.

To address these challenges, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) conducted high-altitude parachute tests in 2023, ensuring the safe return of asteroid samples to Earth around 2027.

Comet Rendezvous: Studying 311P/PANSTARRS

Returning samples from Kamoʻoalewa will not mark the end of Tianwen-2’s mission. The spacecraft will execute a gravitational slingshot maneuver around Earth, propelling it toward comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the main asteroid belt. The rendezvous is expected around 2034.

311P/PANSTARRS is considered a transitional object between asteroids and comets, making it an ideal candidate for studying the origins of cometary activity within the asteroid belt. Scientists hope to analyze its orbit, rotation, surface composition, volatile elements, and dust emissions, shedding light on the evolution of comets in the inner solar system.

Scientific Instruments on Board

The Tianwen-2 spacecraft is equipped with a suite of cutting-edge instruments to study its targets, including:

  • Multispectral and infrared spectrometers – To analyze surface composition.
  • High-resolution cameras – To map geological features in detail.
  • Radar sounder – To probe subsurface structures.
  • Magnetometer – To search for residual magnetic fields.
  • Dust and gas analyzers – To examine cometary activity.
  • Charged particle detectors – To study interactions with the solar wind (developed in collaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences).

China’s Expanding Deep-Space Ambitions

Tianwen-2 follows the highly successful Tianwen-1 Mars mission, which saw China land the Zhurong rover on Mars in 2021. The Tianwen series is a key part of China’s growing presence in deep-space exploration:

  • Tianwen-3 – A Mars sample return mission, scheduled for 2028–2030.
  • Tianwen-4 – A Jupiter system exploration mission, launching around 2030, featuring a solar-powered orbiter for Callisto and a radioisotope-powered spacecraft for a Uranus flyby.

Chinese researchers have emphasized the importance of asteroid sample return missions, citing their potential for groundbreaking scientific discoveries and the development of new space technologies.

With Tianwen-2, China is taking a bold step into the future of deep-space exploration. By returning samples from an asteroid and studying a comet, the mission will provide crucial insights into the origins of the solar system and planetary evolution. As launch preparations continue, the world eagerly anticipates another milestone in China’s space program.

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SpaceX to Launch 21 Starlink Satellites from Florida on February 4

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SpaceX to Launch 21 Starlink Satellites from Florida on February 4

SpaceX plans to launch another batch of Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida’s Space Coast on February 4, 2025. The mission will deploy 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 equipped with direct-to-cell communications capabilities, marking another major step in SpaceX’s ambitious plan to provide global high-speed internet coverage.

The Falcon 9 rocket flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled to take place during a roughly three-hour launch window that opens at 3:37 a.m. (0837 GMT). SpaceX will livestream the event on its X account (formerly Twitter), with coverage beginning about five minutes before liftoff.

The mission will use the experienced Falcon 9 first-stage rocket, which will be making its 21st launch and landing. According to SpaceX, this rocket has already flown on 20 missions, 16 of which were dedicated Starlink launches. If all goes as planned, the rocket will return to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff, landing on the unmanned “Just Read the Instructions” craft in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Falcon 9 upper stage will continue its journey to deploy 21 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) about 65 minutes after liftoff. This will be SpaceX’s 15th Falcon 9 mission in 2025, with nine flights dedicated to expanding the Starlink constellation.

Direct-to-cell capabilities


A notable feature of this mission is the inclusion of 13 Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability. These advanced satellites are designed to enable seamless connectivity for standard mobile phones, eliminating the need for specialized hardware. This technology has the potential to revolutionize communications in remote and underserved areas, providing reliable internet and cellular services directly to users’ devices.

The growing Starlink constellation


SpaceX is rapidly expanding its Starlink network, which is already the largest satellite constellation ever assembled. In 2024 alone, the company launched more than 130 Falcon 9 missions, about two-thirds of which were dedicated to Starlink deployments. According to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell, SpaceX currently operates nearly 7,000 Starlink satellites in LEO.

The Starlink network aims to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access to users around the world, especially in regions lacking traditional infrastructure. With this latest launch, SpaceX is expanding the network’s capacity and coverage, bringing its dream of global connectivity closer to reality.

Recyclability and sustainability


The Falcon 9 rocket’s first-stage booster exemplifies SpaceX’s commitment to reusability, a key factor in reducing the cost of spaceflight. By successfully landing and reusing the rocket, SpaceX has revolutionized the aerospace industry and set a new standard for sustainable space operations.

However, the rapid expansion of the Starlink constellation has raised concerns among astronomers and environmentalists. The growing number of satellites in LEO has created problems such as light pollution, which can interfere with astronomical observations, and space debris, which poses a threat to other spacecraft. SpaceX is actively working to mitigate these issues by implementing measures such as blacking out satellite surfaces and responsibly deorbiting inactive satellites.

The February 4 launch is part of SpaceX’s broader strategy to achieve global internet coverage and support its growing customer base. With the addition of direct-to-cell-connect satellites, the company is poised to offer even more versatile and simple connectivity solutions.

As SpaceX pushes the boundaries of space technology, the world will be watching to see how the Starlink network evolves and addresses the challenges associated with large-scale satellite constellations. For now, the focus is on the upcoming launch, which will mark another milestone in SpaceX’s journey to connect the world.

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Scientists Trap Molecules for Quantum Tasks, Paving the Way for Ultra-Fast Tech Advancements

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Scientists Trap Molecules for Quantum Tasks, Paving the Way for Ultra-Fast Tech Advancements

In a groundbreaking milestone for quantum computing, researchers from Harvard University have successfully trapped molecules to perform quantum operations. This achievement marks a pivotal advancement in the field, potentially revolutionizing technology and enabling ultra-fast computations in medicine, science, and finance.

Molecules as Qubits: A New Frontier

Traditionally, quantum computing has focused on using smaller, less complex particles like ions and atoms as qubits—the fundamental units of quantum information. Molecules, despite their potential, were long considered unsuitable due to their intricate and delicate structures, which made them challenging to manipulate reliably.

However, the latest findings, published in the journal Nature, change this narrative. By utilizing ultra-cold polar molecules as qubits, the researchers have opened up new possibilities for performing quantum tasks with unprecedented precision.

A 20-Year Journey to Success

“This is a breakthrough we’ve been working toward for two decades,” said Kang-Kuen Ni, Theodore William Richards Professor of Chemistry and Physics at Harvard and senior co-author of the study.

Quantum computing leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations exponentially faster than classical computers. It has the potential to solve problems that were once deemed unsolvable.

“Our work represents the last critical piece needed to construct a molecular quantum computer,” added co-author and postdoctoral fellow Annie Park, highlighting the significance of this achievement.

How Molecular Quantum Gates Work

Quantum gates, the building blocks of quantum operations, manipulate qubits by taking advantage of quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement. Unlike classical logic gates that process binary bits (0s and 1s), quantum gates can process multiple states simultaneously, exponentially increasing computational power.

In this experiment, the researchers used the ISWAP gate, a crucial component that swaps the states of two qubits while applying a phase shift. This process is essential for creating entangled states—a cornerstone of quantum computing that allows qubits to remain correlated regardless of distance.

Overcoming Long-Standing Challenges

Earlier attempts to use molecules for quantum computing faced significant challenges. Molecules were often unstable, moving unpredictably and disrupting the coherence required for precise operations.

The Harvard team overcame these obstacles by trapping molecules in ultra-cold environments. By drastically reducing molecular motion, they achieved greater control over quantum states, paving the way for reliable quantum operations.

The breakthrough was a collaborative effort between Harvard researchers and physicists from the University of Colorado’s Center for Theory of Quantum Matter. The team meticulously measured two-qubit Bell states and minimized errors caused by residual motion, laying the groundwork for even more accurate future experiments.

Transforming the Quantum Landscape

“There’s immense potential in leveraging molecular platforms for quantum computing,” Ni noted. The team’s success is expected to inspire further innovations and ideas for utilizing the unique properties of molecules in quantum systems.

This advancement could significantly alter the quantum computing landscape, bringing researchers closer to developing a molecular quantum computer. Such a system would harness the unique capabilities of molecules, opening doors to unprecedented computational possibilities.

The Road Ahead

The implications of this achievement extend far beyond academia. By unlocking the potential of molecules as qubits, the researchers have taken a vital step toward creating powerful quantum computers capable of transforming industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to financial modeling.

As researchers continue to refine this technology, the dream of a molecular quantum computer—one that capitalizes on the complexities of molecular structures—moves closer to reality. This breakthrough represents not just a leap forward for quantum computing but a glimpse into the future of technology itself.

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