RadioNet newsletter 02/2023
Read the RadioNet newsletter issue 02/2023 here.
ALMA Traces History of Water in Planet Formation Back to the Interstellar Medium
Scientists studying a nearby protostar have detected the presence of water in its circumstellar disk. The new observations made with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) mark the first detection of water being inherited into a protoplanetary disk without significant changes to its composition. These results further suggest that the water in our Solar System [...]
The MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa receives prestigious award of the Royal Astronomical Society
The MeerKAT team is awarded the Group Award of the Royal Astronomical Society for a series of spectacular observations in radio astronomy, the highlight being the images of the Galactic Centre region and the spectacular radio bubbles. In addition, the MeerKAT team have supported the development of science and technology in Africa and stress-tested technology [...]
ALMA Scientists Find Pair of Black Holes Dining Together in Nearby Galaxy Merger
While studying a nearby pair of merging galaxies using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) scientists discovered two supermassive black holes growing simultaneously near the center of the newly coalescing galaxy. These super-hungry giants are the closest together that scientists have ever observed in multiple wavelengths. Read the ALMA press release here. Image: © ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO); [...]
Webb Reveals an Exoplanet Atmosphere as Never Seen Before
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope just scored another first: a molecular and chemical portrait of a distant world’s skies. While Webb and other space telescopes, including the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, have previously revealed isolated ingredients of this heated planet’s atmosphere, the new readings provide a full menu of atoms, molecules, and even signs [...]
European Research Council awards €636m in grants to emerging science talent across Europe
Four hundred eight researchers have won this year’s European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants. The funding is worth in total €636 million and is part of the Horizon Europe programme. The grants will be invested in scientific projects spanning all disciplines of research from engineering to life sciences to humanities. The laureates of this grant competition proposed to [...]
To the Heart of 3C 273: International Team Observes Innermost Structure of a Quasar Jet
An international group of scientists including astronomers at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) and ALMA present new observations of the first quasar ever identified. Its name is 3C273 and it is located at a distance of approx. 1.9 Billion light years in the Virgo constellation. The new high-resolution radio images trace the [...]
ALMA Services Affected by Cyberattack
On October 29, the ALMA observatory in Chile suffered a cyberattack on its computer systems, forcing the suspension of astronomical observations and the public website. Also the email system is affected. Read more in the Joint ALMA Observatory statement.
ICRI2022
Every two years since 2012 the International Conference for Research Infrastructures (ICRI) takes place. This worldwide important event provides the opportunity for strategic discussions about international cooperation in research infrastructures (RIs). A variety of experts and stakeholders discuss challenges and emerging trends, highlighting the essential role of RI. The ICRI 2022 (October 19-21, 2022 in Brno/CZ) [...]
ERIS 2022
The 9th European Radio Interferometry School (ERIS 2022), funded by the ORP Project and hosted by JIVE and ASTRON took place between 19 - 23 September 2022. It was attended by over 70 participants and provided a week of lectures and tutorials on how to achieve scientific results from radio interferometry. More information here. Image: [...]