Erika
@explorecosmos.bsky.social
Astrophysicist studying orbital evolution • Seeking mountain peaks • Breathing with the Earth through yoga • Writing what the soul whispers.
It provides a rare, visible manifestation of subatomic processes that are otherwise hidden from direct human perception. 7/7
January 8, 2026 at 7:46 AM
It provides a rare, visible manifestation of subatomic processes that are otherwise hidden from direct human perception. 7/7
Today, this deep blue light is both a warning and a scientific tool. It signals the presence of intense ionising radiation, while also being exploited in particle detectors, nuclear reactors, and neutrino observatories. 6/
January 8, 2026 at 7:46 AM
Today, this deep blue light is both a warning and a scientific tool. It signals the presence of intense ionising radiation, while also being exploited in particle detectors, nuclear reactors, and neutrino observatories. 6/
The phenomenon was first observed experimentally in 1934 and later explained theoretically, work that led to the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1958. Its explanation confirmed how relativity and electromagnetism operate in material media. 5/
January 8, 2026 at 7:46 AM
The phenomenon was first observed experimentally in 1934 and later explained theoretically, work that led to the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1958. Its explanation confirmed how relativity and electromagnetism operate in material media. 5/
This radiation produces the distinctive blue glow. The colour arises because Cherenkov radiation is strongest at shorter wavelengths, which are dominated by blue and ultraviolet light. 4/
January 8, 2026 at 7:46 AM
This radiation produces the distinctive blue glow. The colour arises because Cherenkov radiation is strongest at shorter wavelengths, which are dominated by blue and ultraviolet light. 4/
While nothing can exceed the speed of light in a vacuum, light travels more slowly in materials like water.
When a charged particle surpasses this reduced speed, it emits a coherent shock-like electromagnetic wave, often described as an optical analogue of a sonic boom. 3/
When a charged particle surpasses this reduced speed, it emits a coherent shock-like electromagnetic wave, often described as an optical analogue of a sonic boom. 3/
January 8, 2026 at 7:46 AM
While nothing can exceed the speed of light in a vacuum, light travels more slowly in materials like water.
When a charged particle surpasses this reduced speed, it emits a coherent shock-like electromagnetic wave, often described as an optical analogue of a sonic boom. 3/
When a charged particle surpasses this reduced speed, it emits a coherent shock-like electromagnetic wave, often described as an optical analogue of a sonic boom. 3/
This light is neither fire nor heat; it is Cherenkov radiation, a physical phenomenon that occurs when charged particles, such as high-energy electrons produced during nuclear fission, travel through a transparent medium faster than light can propagate within that same medium. 2/
January 8, 2026 at 7:46 AM
This light is neither fire nor heat; it is Cherenkov radiation, a physical phenomenon that occurs when charged particles, such as high-energy electrons produced during nuclear fission, travel through a transparent medium faster than light can propagate within that same medium. 2/
In this way, the new radio detection offers a compelling piece of evidence that 3I/ATLAS is a bona-fide interstellar comet, a visitor from beyond our Solar System behaving in line with our known cometary physics. 9/9
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
In this way, the new radio detection offers a compelling piece of evidence that 3I/ATLAS is a bona-fide interstellar comet, a visitor from beyond our Solar System behaving in line with our known cometary physics. 9/9
Further monitoring will help clarify whether the hydroxyl production is steady or variable, how extended the gas tail is, and how the object’s trajectory responds to non-gravitational forces. 8/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Further monitoring will help clarify whether the hydroxyl production is steady or variable, how extended the gas tail is, and how the object’s trajectory responds to non-gravitational forces. 8/
The observations were made on 24 October, shortly before the object’s perihelion, and after earlier unsuccessful attempts on 20 and 28 September. 7/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The observations were made on 24 October, shortly before the object’s perihelion, and after earlier unsuccessful attempts on 20 and 28 September. 7/
Although the detection alone does not shut down every alternative hypothesis, it significantly reduces the plausibility of a “probe” interpretation and underscores the comet-like nature of 3I/ATLAS. 6/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Although the detection alone does not shut down every alternative hypothesis, it significantly reduces the plausibility of a “probe” interpretation and underscores the comet-like nature of 3I/ATLAS. 6/
Earlier speculations had entertained the possibility of technological origin, fanned by social-media theories and even proposals by controversial astrophysicist Avi Loeb, but this molecular signature strongly tilts the balance toward a natural origin. 4/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Earlier speculations had entertained the possibility of technological origin, fanned by social-media theories and even proposals by controversial astrophysicist Avi Loeb, but this molecular signature strongly tilts the balance toward a natural origin. 4/
Because 3I/ATLAS was approaching its closest point to the Sun, the geometry favored absorption of radio signals rather than emission, matching expected behaviour of an active comet rather than a transmitter. 3/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Because 3I/ATLAS was approaching its closest point to the Sun, the geometry favored absorption of radio signals rather than emission, matching expected behaviour of an active comet rather than a transmitter. 3/
The signal consists of absorption lines of hydroxyl radicals (OH) at 1665 MHz and 1667 MHz, molecules commonly found when icy bodies near the Sun sublimate and generate a gaseous coma. 2/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The signal consists of absorption lines of hydroxyl radicals (OH) at 1665 MHz and 1667 MHz, molecules commonly found when icy bodies near the Sun sublimate and generate a gaseous coma. 2/
... (which will eventually survey ~20 billion galaxies) will systematically reveal a rich archaeological record of galaxy formation. 5/5
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
... (which will eventually survey ~20 billion galaxies) will systematically reveal a rich archaeological record of galaxy formation. 5/5
... namely its unusually high star-formation rate and multiple supernovae.
The discovery underscores that such stellar streams are likely ubiquitous around large galaxies and that Rubin’s unprecedented wide-field, deep-imaging camera... 4/
The discovery underscores that such stellar streams are likely ubiquitous around large galaxies and that Rubin’s unprecedented wide-field, deep-imaging camera... 4/
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
... namely its unusually high star-formation rate and multiple supernovae.
The discovery underscores that such stellar streams are likely ubiquitous around large galaxies and that Rubin’s unprecedented wide-field, deep-imaging camera... 4/
The discovery underscores that such stellar streams are likely ubiquitous around large galaxies and that Rubin’s unprecedented wide-field, deep-imaging camera... 4/
Astronomers interpret this as the shredded remnant of a dwarf galaxy that M61’s gravity ripped apart: this ancient encounter may have triggered fresh bursts of star formation in M61 and explains some of the galaxy’s puzzling properties, ... 3/
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Astronomers interpret this as the shredded remnant of a dwarf galaxy that M61’s gravity ripped apart: this ancient encounter may have triggered fresh bursts of star formation in M61 and explains some of the galaxy’s puzzling properties, ... 3/
... and revealed for the first time a faint but very long stellar stream, a “tail” stretching about 55 kiloparsecs (≈180,000 light-years)—that had gone unnoticed despite decades of study. 2/
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
... and revealed for the first time a faint but very long stellar stream, a “tail” stretching about 55 kiloparsecs (≈180,000 light-years)—that had gone unnoticed despite decades of study. 2/
These fresh observations highlight just how much we still don’t know about interstellar objects. 7/7
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
These fresh observations highlight just how much we still don’t know about interstellar objects. 7/7
Though such behavior is not unheard of for comets, 3I/ATLAS nevertheless remains unusual: it shares comet-like activity while originating from outside our Solar System, and its composition and behaviour may inform us about conditions in another part of the galaxy. 6/
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Though such behavior is not unheard of for comets, 3I/ATLAS nevertheless remains unusual: it shares comet-like activity while originating from outside our Solar System, and its composition and behaviour may inform us about conditions in another part of the galaxy. 6/
Concurrently, the object brightened significantly, by a factor of about five in the green band, which supports the idea that volatile release or fragmentation is ongoing. 5/
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Concurrently, the object brightened significantly, by a factor of about five in the green band, which supports the idea that volatile release or fragmentation is ongoing. 5/
Based on the measured accelerations, the mass loss could amount to about 13 percent (or more) of the body’s total mass, assuming a typical gas-ejection speed near perihelion. 4/
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Based on the measured accelerations, the mass loss could amount to about 13 percent (or more) of the body’s total mass, assuming a typical gas-ejection speed near perihelion. 4/