Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) are a feature of the large-scale structure of the universe, providing a "standard ruler" that helps astronomers measure the expansion history of the cosmos. The term "baryonic" refers to normal matter, such as protons and neutrons, which make up stars, galaxies, and everything we see around us. The concept of Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations originated from the early universe, specifically during the epoch of recombination, which occurred about 380,000 years after the Big Bang. At that time, the universe was a hot, dense soup of particles, primarily electrons and protons. Photons (light particles) were constantly interacting with these charged particles through a process called Thomson scattering. However, as the universe expanded and cooled, electrons and protons combined to form neutral hydrogen atoms. This process, known as recombination, allowed photons to travel freely through space without constant scattering. The
#. Cosmic explosion: Type 1a Supernova remnant DEM L249. These cosmic ribbons of gas have been left behind by a titanic stellar explosion called a supernova. DEM L249 is thought to be the remnant of a Type 1a supernova, the death of a white dwarf star. White dwarf stars are usually stable, but in a binary system – two stars orbiting each other – a white dwarf can gravitationally pull so much matter from its companion that it reaches critical mass and explodes. DEM L249, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, is an unusual supernova remnant. Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton found its gas was hotter and shone brighter in the X-rays than the remnant of a typical Type 1a supernova. Astronomers suspect DEM L249’s white dwarf star was more massive than expected – heavier stars expel more gas – which also means it would have died earlier in its lifecycle. Hubble took this image while searching for surviving compa
Skip to main content Open menu Subscribe TRENDING Missing Titanic submersible Summer solstice Mystery orca stranding Deepest point in the ocean Best air purifiers for allergies When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works . Does consciousness explain quantum mechanics? News By Paul Sutter ( lifes-little-mysteries ) published December 29, 2022 A wild theory suggests that consciousness may explain quantum mechanics, by forcing the subatomic particles to choose one concrete outcome. Comments (11) (Image credit: PASIEKA via Getty Images) One of the most perplexing aspects of quantum mechanics is that tiny subatomic particles don't seem to "choose" a state until an outside observer measures it. The act of measurement converts all the vague possibilities of what could happen into a definite, concrete outcome. While the mathematics of quantum mechanics provides rules for how that process works, that mat
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