Astronomers used ALMA to analyze ancient stardust to determine the formation of the first stars.

STATES CHRONICLE – Astronomers discovered that ancient stardust might help them reveal how the first stars managed to form. They used ALMA in the Chilean Andes. ALMA represents the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array which has helped astronomers make several groundbreaking findings since it was brought online back in 2011. ALMA is bound to provide images of the sky at submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths, tracing emissions which are associated with dust and molecular gas.

These celestial objects are cold and can be hard or impossible to be detected at other wavelengths. By implementing this ability, ALMA had tracked gas and dust in a galaxy which formed when our universe was only 4% of the age it is now. The galaxy is known as A2744_YD4 being the most distant galaxy which was ever discovered by ALMA.

It appears at a redshift of 8.38, which is related to a time when the universe was only six hundred million years old. Redshift is bound to measure the amount by which the light of a faraway object is stretched by the expansion of the universe. Celestial objects which have a higher redshift appear to be farther away. Thus, we see them as they were in the past.

In the nearby universe, cosmic objects seem to have a redshift close to zero. A galaxy like A2744_YD4 has situated very far away, the exact distance depending on the universe’s expansion history. Scientists highlight the idea that redshifts are not linear. Those redshifts which measure 0-1 are known to be relatively close while the ones of 8-9 are among the farthest objects we can see when looking back at the early formation stages of the universe.

The cosmic microwave background was developed at a redshift of approximately 1,000. A2744_YD4’s cosmological mark as provided by its redshifts is categorized as being included in the Epoch of Reionization. That age occurred around a redshift of 10 when the universe was approximately four hundred million years old. The Epoch of Reionization is when the first sources of light of the universe, such as galaxies, quasars, and stars, had ionized neutral hydrogen atoms.

Neutral becomes opaque in front of short wavelengths of light. This means that it absorbs the wavelengths very easy in such a way that the light is not able to pass through.

Image source: vimeo

Astronomers reveal some of the celestial events taking place this month.

STATES CHRONICLE – Astronomers reveal the celestial events bound to take place this month. February is known to be named after Februa, which was the Roman festival of purification. Since Groundhog Day takes place at six weeks after the winter solstice, half of the winter season is already gone. Researchers claim that winter is the shortest season of every year because it lasts one day less compared to summer.

That happens due to the fact that the Earth is almost at its closest point to the sun and is moving faster than it does during summer time. If you are willing to spend time outdoors contemplating the winter sky, then you will be lucky to see several fantastic celestial events. This winter, Venus shines brighter than it did in the last five years.

Stargazers may be thrilled to know that Comet 45P Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova will continue to be visible throughout this month. You only need some binoculars to spot it in Aquarius, near Venus. This month another eclipse season will start. We will be able to witness a profound penumbral eclipse of the moon. Unfortunately, the annular eclipse which will occur two weeks later will not be visible for us because it will be too far south.

This eclipse season will be the last one until the total solar eclipse on August 21. Early this month, Venus will reach its highest and brightest point in the sky, being positioned at 40 degrees above the horizon, at sunset. The planet will be there, visible at four hours after the sun will set when it starts to decline again. If you have a telescope, you can use it to analyze the phases Venus will go through.

At first, at the beginning of the month, it will be half bright, being lit by the sun and then going to just 18% light 28 days later. Mars will still be visible above Venus, to the left. On the first of February, these two planets will be only five degrees apart. By the end of the month, Venus and Mars will drift apart, facing a 12-degree separation. Mars will start fading since the Earth will keep getting farther in the faster orbit around the sun. Nevertheless, Venus will approach to Earth even closer, sinking below the western horizon in late spring.

Image source: wikipedia

In some footage posted by the ISS, an astronaut hides some flashing lights which are believed to be alien objects.

STATES CHRONICLE – Astronauts from the International Space Station have hidden evidence of flashing lights which are moving past the space station. Could be proof of the existence of extraterrestrial life? Many specialists are still wondering. A group of UFO hunters claimed that astronauts on board the space station tried to avoid offering a view of the bright lights glittering when passing by the space station.

Those passionate about UFOs argued that they have observed these twinkling lights near the ISS. The strange lights were revealed in a video uploaded by a group of conspiracy theorists called Secure 10. The members of this group noted that these lights were captured when an astronaut from the ISS was filming the view of Earth from Cosmos.

Suddenly, some glowing lights appeared, and one can clearly see how the astronaut tries to cover the camera with his hand. Secure ten observed that a similar method is used by an astronaut when flashing lights across our planet. The astronaut places his hand in front of the camera blocking the view. Some people started questioning the origin of those lights. A commentator wrote that these short videos are unusual because the viewer can clearly notice how the one who films tries to hide something.

Moreover, a significant number of people started commenting on those videos, trying to find an accurate answer regarding the origin of those lights. There were a lot of shared and opposite opinions as well. Previously, a spokesperson at NASA explained that these flashing lights are nothing but the reflections from the windows of the station or probably lights on Terra which were considered artifacts in videos and photos from the International Space Station.

Nevertheless, UFO hunters appear to be triggered by alien stories and extraterrestrial objects, being their favorite topic. Conspiracy theorists find it a fascinating subject of discussion, scouring NASA feeds to reveal what they might have thought to be proof of alien existence.

Last November, a moving object was seen moving past by the International Space Station a few moments before the live stream interrupted. In the short video uploaded to YouTube on the ISS channel, a bright white speck can be spotted rising from the darkness above the horizon of our planet.

Image source: vimeo

Experts have established that radiation from Fukushima in the US do not express a threat for humans.

STATES CHRONICLE – Experts have determined that radiation from Fukushima explosion has reached the US West Coast. The seaborne leak of cesium-134 has alarmed the authorities and many locals which were afraid of some terrible effects. The leak was announced that happened earlier this week. This unfortunate event caused people to avoid going fishing or consuming any sea foods.

What is more, swimming in the affected areas is prohibited. Specialists have developed a report meant to inform the West Coast residents that the Fukushima radiation may not be as disastrous as it may seem. Back on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear explosion has occurred being caused by the Tohoku earthquake. The earthquake measured 9.0 in magnitude and triggered the formation of massive tsunami waves which affected Japan.

The cooling systems of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were destroyed because of the powerful earthquake and massive tsunami. This accident led to continuous emissions of radiation and three nuclear meltdowns. Scientists who closely analyzed this terrible disaster and who have investigated the matter have argued that the nuclear breakdown in Japan was more severe than the catastrophe which happened at Chernobyl back in 1986.

Others claimed the contrary, stating that the calamity from Chernobyl is known to be the most terrible such accident, still emitting radiations even today, raising the risks of cancer for those who work on the site. The radiation appears to have reached the Gold Beach and Tillamook Bay in Oregon. Experts from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution claimed that they had unveiled the existence of cesium-34 in the two different beaches. This ingredient is known to be the elemental one which was emitted in the Fukushima disaster.

Scientists stated that this is the first time this chemical element occurred on the US beaches after it was first revealed from a water sample on Vancouver Island. After analyzing the effects of the isotope on the waters of the US beaches, experts have argued that they believe the level of exposure to radiation is extremely low such that residents can still swim and fish in the waters there.

Ken Buesseler, the senior scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has declared that the amount of cesium-134 detected in the sea was insignificant. If somebody were to swim in the contaminated water every day for about six hours per day for a year, the level of radiation which affects your body is even more decreased than a dental x-ray.

Image courtesy of: flickr