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Discovery of Binary Stars Marks First Step Toward a “Movie of the Universe”

By The Australian National University (ANU)
Edited by Gaby Clark • Reviewed by Robert Egan
Educational commentary by DatalytIQs Academy

A Galactic Film in the Making

Astronomers from The Australian National University (ANU) have made a discovery that could reshape our understanding of how galaxies—and perhaps the universe itself—evolve. Using the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, researchers detected binary stars within the outer reaches of the globular cluster 47 Tucanae, one of the oldest and brightest star systems in the Milky Way.

The finding, part of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), marks the beginning of an ambitious 10-year quest to create a “movie of the universe” — capturing billions of stars and galaxies as they move and transform across time.

Binary Stars: Cosmic Duos that Shape the Galaxy

Binary stars—two stars orbiting a shared center of gravity—are the hidden engines of stellar evolution. Within dense globular clusters, they:

• Exchange energy with neighboring stars,

• Influence whether a cluster remains stable over billions of years, and

• Give rise to exotic celestial objects like blue stragglers — unusually luminous stars that seem younger than their surroundings.

Using Rubin’s first public dataset (Data Preview 1), ANU scientists detected binaries in 47 Tucanae’s outer regions for the first time. Surprisingly, they found that binary stars are three times more common in the outskirts than in the crowded central zones previously explored by the Hubble Space Telescope.

This suggests that while dense centers may destroy or disrupt binary systems through frequent stellar interactions, those in the calmer outskirts survive intact — preserving a glimpse into the cluster’s original stellar makeup.

Unveiling 47 Tucanae: A Stellar Time Capsule

“47 Tucanae has been studied for over a century,” said Professor Luca Casagrande of ANU,
“but only now, thanks to Rubin, can we truly map its outskirts and uncover how these ancient clusters assembled.”

The cluster—visible to the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere—contains hundreds of thousands of stars tightly packed within a few dozen light-years. These ancient stellar cities serve as natural laboratories for studying the long-term evolution of stars and galaxies.

The Rubin Observatory’s LSST will allow astronomers to monitor these systems repeatedly, building a frame-by-frame record of cosmic changes.
The result will be nothing less than a dynamic, evolving portrait of the universe — a scientific “film reel” documenting how matter and motion shape galaxies over time.

A Transformative Tool for Astronomy

Even at its early stage, Rubin’s LSST has demonstrated its revolutionary potential.

“Even in its first test data, LSST is already opening a new window on stellar populations and dynamics,”
said Professor Helmut Jerjen, co-author of the study.

Over the next decade, the observatory will map billions of binary systems across the entire southern sky, providing the most complete census of stars ever achieved and testing models of cluster and galaxy formation with unprecedented precision.

DatalytIQs Academy Perspective: Learning from the Cosmos

At DatalytIQs Academy, we celebrate discoveries like this as perfect examples of how astronomy, data science, and physics converge.
This study highlights:

• The importance of long-term observation and time-series analysis in understanding cosmic evolution.

• The power of big data in astronomy — Rubin’s LSST will generate tens of petabytes of data, demanding advanced analytics, machine learning, and visualization tools.

• The value of binary systems as astrophysical “testbeds” for energy transfer, stellar dynamics, and galactic history.

Our learners explore these same analytical principles in courses on Astrophysical Data Analytics, Simulation Modeling, and Machine Learning for Space Science, connecting classroom theory to frontier discoveries shaping our understanding of the universe.

The Future: A Universe in Motion

With Rubin’s global survey underway, astronomy is entering its cinematic era. Soon, scientists won’t just take snapshots of the cosmos—they’ll watch galaxies evolve, clusters breathe, and stars dance in real time.

From static images to cosmic motion, we are witnessing the birth of a universal story told through data, light, and time.
— DatalytIQs Academy

Light-Controlled Electron Gas Points Toward the Future of Ultra-Fast Electronics

By CNRS – French National Center for Scientific Research
Edited by Stephanie Baum • Reviewed by Robert Egan
Educational analysis and commentary by DatalytIQs Academy

A Spark of Light That Could Transform Electronics

Imagine a world where your smartphone, computer, and internet connections operate not through electric currents, but through light itself — achieving speeds and energy efficiencies far beyond today’s silicon-based chips.

That future may have just moved a step closer.
Researchers at the Albert Fert Laboratory (CNRS/Thales) have, for the first time, created and controlled an electron gas using light rather than electricity — a discovery published in Nature Materials.

The Breakthrough

In semiconductor materials, a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is a thin layer where electrons move freely, conducting current with minimal resistance. These quantum gases are what make modern LEDs and some transistors possible.

Until now, however, scientists have been able to generate or manipulate such gases only electrically — by applying voltage.
The CNRS team achieved it optically, simply by shining light on a carefully engineered stack of oxide materials.

When the light was turned off, the gas vanished — proving direct optical control.

Why It Matters

This new phenomenon sits at the frontier of optics, electronics, and quantum physics, opening vast possibilities for future technologies:

• Ultra-fast transistors: controlled by light instead of electrical signals, eliminating up to one-third of chip contacts — roughly a billion fewer electrical connections in a single processor.

• Energy-efficient computing: reduced heat and resistance mean lower power consumption.

• Photonics–electronics fusion: devices that use both light and electrons for communication and computation.

• Super-sensitive optical detectors: light increases current flow by up to 100,000×, creating a new class of sensors.

How They Did It

The researchers combined atomic-scale imaging, theoretical modeling, and precision material engineering:

• Two oxide layers were stacked, creating a unique electronic interface at their atomic level.

• Light exposure triggered a rearrangement of electron positions, generating the gas.

• Quantum simulations explained how light energy altered electron mobility within the structure.

The project involved scientists from:

• Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (CNRS/Université de Strasbourg)

• Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay)

DatalytIQ’s Academy Perspective: Education Meets Innovation

At DatalytIQ’s Academy, we view this discovery as a cornerstone for teaching the future of quantum and photonic technologies.
It beautifully illustrates:

• How quantum mechanics, materials science, and data modeling merge in real-world innovation.

• The transition from electrical engineering to photonics-driven computation — an evolution students must understand to stay at the forefront of technological change.

• The importance of simulation and data analytics in decoding atomic and electronic behavior.

We’re integrating such frontier topics into our Advanced Electronics, Quantum Computing, and Data-Driven Materials Analytics courses, preparing learners to navigate — and shape — this rapidly evolving landscape.

A Glimpse of What’s Coming

The discovery of light-controlled electron gases hints at a world where chips communicate at the speed of light, quantum processors run cooler and faster, and data travels with minimal energy loss.

From illuminating atoms to illuminating the future — this is science in motion.
— DatalytIQs Academy

Unified Model Reveals Why Giant Planets Have Opposite Jet Streams

By the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA)
Edited by Lisa Lock • Reviewed by Robert Egan
Commentary and educational analysis by DatalytIQs Academy

A Long-Standing Cosmic Mystery

For decades, astronomers have marveled at the wild jet streams encircling the gas giants — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These atmospheric rivers reach breathtaking speeds between 500 and 2,000 km/h, making them the fastest winds in the solar system.

Yet there’s always been a puzzle:

• Jupiter and Saturn have eastward-flowing equatorial jets.

• Uranus and Neptune have westward-flowing ones.

How could planets with such similar structures, heat sources, and rotation rates have winds blowing in opposite directions?

A Unified Theory Emerges

A team led by Dr. Keren Duer-Milner of Leiden Observatory and SRON (Netherlands Institute for Space Research) has finally cracked the code.
Using sophisticated global circulation models, they discovered that fast-rotating convection — swirling updrafts that carry heat through a planet’s atmosphere — can produce either eastward or westward jet streams, depending on how deep the atmospheric layer is.

This system exhibits what scientists call a bifurcation: under nearly identical conditions, the atmosphere can stabilize into two different equilibrium states — one with eastward jets, one with westward jets.

That means the same physical process explains both behaviors — a single elegant mechanism governing the climate engines of all four giant planets.

How It Works

Imagine the atmosphere as a colossal conveyor belt.
Near the equator, powerful convection cells circulate vertically — rising, cooling, and sinking again. These movements interact with the planet’s rapid rotation to create vast horizontal flows.
Depending on how thick or thin the convective layer is, the conveyor belt can flip direction — spinning the jet stream eastward or westward.

It’s the same principle that shapes Jupiter’s colorful bands, Saturn’s golden stripes, and Neptune’s dark storms — all arising from a universal dance between heat, rotation, and depth.

Beyond Our Solar System

Dr. Duer-Milner’s team believes this model could also explain atmospheric flows on exoplanets, helping scientists interpret data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and future missions.
By linking jet direction to internal heat and depth, researchers can now make more accurate climate predictions for planets light-years away.

As the study notes, data from NASA’s Juno mission — now orbiting Jupiter — may soon confirm whether these convective “conveyor belts” truly exist.

🎓 Educational Significance – DatalytIQs Academy Perspective

At DatalytIQs Academy, we celebrate breakthroughs like this because they bridge theoretical physics, atmospheric science, and planetary modeling — disciplines central to our STEM and data-driven learning philosophy.

Our educators highlight this unified jet-stream model as a perfect example of:

• Cross-disciplinary thinking in astronomy and fluid dynamics,

• Model-based reasoning is used in advanced mathematics and computational physics, and

• The power of data visualization and simulation in uncovering hidden universal laws.

Through projects in Climate Modeling, Space Analytics, and Planetary Systems, DatalytIQs Academy encourages learners to explore how such research informs both Earth’s weather prediction systems and exoplanet climatology — proving that science is indeed a language of patterns shared across worlds.

In Summary

“We’ve finally found a simple, elegant explanation for a complex phenomenon,”
— Dr. Keren Duer-Milner, Lead Author

A single model now unites the turbulent atmospheres of the giant planets — from Jupiter’s roaring eastward winds to Neptune’s howling westward gales — illuminating not only our solar system, but potentially thousands of worlds beyond.

And at DatalytIQs Academy, we continue our mission to make such discoveries accessible, educational, and inspiring for the next generation of data-driven explorers.

A historic ocean mission has begun.
Rutgers University, in collaboration with Teledyne Marine, has launched Redwing — an advanced autonomous underwater glider designed to circumnavigate the globe in a five-year scientific mission. If successful, it will be the first underwater robot to achieve this feat, marking a new era in global ocean observation.

Engineering Marvel of the Deep

Unlike traditional propeller-driven vehicles, Redwing moves gracefully by adjusting its buoyancy, sinking and rising in a zigzag pattern that saves energy.
Key innovations include:

• A carbon fiber hull for endurance and pressure resistance.

• Advanced navigation and avoidance algorithms to dodge fishing nets and marine hazards.

• Sensors to measure salinity, temperature, and depth, offering a real-time, 3D view of the ocean.

• A fish-tracking system capable of detecting tagged marine life, opening new frontiers in behavioral ecology.

It’s built to stay operational for 1–2 years continuously, sending data to scientists via satellite every 8–12 hours.

Journey Around the Planet

Redwing’s global route is as ambitious as its design:

1. Launch Point: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Massachusetts.

2. Atlantic Leg: Riding the Gulf Stream to Europe, stopping at Gran Canaria.

3. Southern Crossing: To Cape Town, then across the Indian Ocean to Western Australia and New Zealand.

4. Antarctic Circuit: Through the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the planet’s most powerful ocean current.

5. Final Stretch: Via the Falkland Islands, Brazil, and the Caribbean, back to the Atlantic.

This full-circle path mirrors the global flow of ocean currents — essentially, Redwing will travel with the heartbeat of the planet.

Science with Purpose

Redwing’s mission supports one of the greatest scientific needs of our time — understanding the ocean’s role in Earth’s climate system.
By measuring how warm, salty, and deep the waters are across various regions, Redwing will help:

• Refine climate models and hurricane forecasts.

• Track marine heatwaves and biodiversity shifts.

• Study how ocean currents influence weather systems worldwide.

“This is a historic moment for ocean science,” said mission co-leader Prof. Scott Glenn. “We’re deploying a robot that will travel the world’s oceans, gathering data — and we’re doing it with students, educators, and international collaborators every step of the way.”

A Global Classroom in Motion

Beyond its scientific goals, Redwing doubles as an educational experiment in global collaboration.
More than 50 Rutgers undergraduates are currently enrolled in a class that monitors Redwing’s progress and shares updates through a mission blog. Schools and universities around the world will join in — connecting students through virtual sessions, storytelling, and cultural exchanges as Redwing passes near their regions.

This initiative builds on Rutgers’ earlier success with the Scarlet Knight glider (2009) — the first robot to cross the Atlantic, paving the way for today’s global mission.

Legacy and Inspiration

The name Redwing pays tribute to:

• Rutgers’ scarlet colors, and

• Doug Webb, the late inventor of the original Slocum glider and founder of the research company that became Teledyne Marine.

His motto — “Work hard, have fun, and change the world” — lives on through this mission.

Why It Matters

Redwing represents the fusion of robotics, climate science, and education — a symbol of how data-driven technology can help humanity adapt to a changing planet.
By mapping the ocean’s inner workings, Redwing could become a vital tool in forecasting extreme weather, protecting marine ecosystems, and refining global climate predictions for generations to come.

In essence:

Redwing isn’t just a robot — it’s a messenger from the deep, carrying the story of Earth’s oceans to classrooms and research labs across the globe.

XMM-Newton’s deep-space view uncovers a vast X-ray halo and signs of past stellar activity in a massive spiral galaxy.

Astronomers using the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton satellite have discovered a hot gaseous outflow extending from the massive spiral galaxy NGC 5746.
This new observation reveals a vast halo of diffuse, high-temperature plasma and two massive hot bubbles stretching tens of thousands of light-years above and below the galaxy’s plane — a sign of an ancient galactic wind that once blew through the system.

The findings, posted on October 1, 2025, to the arXiv preprint server (DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.. 2510.00868), promise to deepen our understanding of how galactic outflows regulate star formation and evolution in large spiral galaxies like our own Milky Way.

A Massive Galaxy on the Edge

Located about 94.5 million light-years away, NGC 5746 is a barred spiral galaxy seen almost edge-on from Earth — a vantage point that provides an ideal view of its disk and halo.
With a stellar mass between 110 and 130 billion Suns, NGC 5746 is a true giant, forming part of a galaxy pair with NGC 5740 and serving as the largest member of the NGC 5746 Group.

For years, scientists have debated whether this galaxy hosts a halo of hot gas — a key feature in understanding how galaxies exchange material with their cosmic environment.
Earlier X-ray studies using NASA’s Chandra Observatory had hinted at such a halo, but later analyses questioned its existence due to data sensitivity limits.

Now, new evidence from XMM-Newton brings the debate to a close.

A Sharper Look with XMM-Newton

Led by Roman Laktionov of the Dr. Karl Remeis Observatory in Bamberg, Germany, the research team used XMM-Newton’s European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) to take deep exposures of NGC 5746 across multiple X-ray bands.

“EPIC’s larger effective area and superior low-energy response make it far more sensitive to faint, diffuse X-ray emission than Chandra,”
the researchers wrote in their study.

By merging four separate observations, they produced a three-color composite X-ray image, mapping:

• 🔴 Soft X-rays (0.3–0.7 keV) in red,

• 🟢 Medium X-rays (0.7–1.2 keV) in green, and

• 🔵 Hard X-rays (1.2–5.0 keV) in blue.

The resulting image revealed a diffuse X-ray halo extending over 100,000 light-years on average — and even up to 130,000 light-years east and west of the galaxy’s disk.

The halo’s plasma temperature, around 0.56 keV, is notably higher than that of halos around most spiral galaxies — suggesting an energetic and dynamic history.

The Ghost of a Galactic Wind

Within this enormous halo, XMM-Newton detected two hot, bubble-like regions rising symmetrically above and below the galactic plane.
These structures form a biconical outflow, likely remnants of a powerful stellar wind or past starburst episode.

Unlike the chaotic, clumpy winds seen in more active galaxies, the outflow in NGC 5746 appears smoother and more extended — evidence that the event is no longer active.
Astronomers believe the gas was heated long ago and has since expanded and cooled into the faint, diffuse halo now observed.

“The signs of a recent stellar outflow indicate that the star-forming activity in this galaxy is higher than previously thought,”
the authors reported.

Revised estimates suggest a star formation rate (SFR) of about 2.9 solar masses per year — nearly three times higher than earlier estimates.

The Disk: X-ray Binaries at Work

The study also revealed that NGC 5746’s disk emits strong diffuse X-rays with a plasma temperature of 0.7 keV, dominated by unresolved X-ray binaries — systems where a compact object (like a neutron star or black hole) accretes matter from a companion star.

This emission, coupled with the halo’s hot gas, provides clues about how energy and matter flow between the disk and the surrounding intergalactic medium.

What It Means for Galaxy Evolution

The discovery of this vast, faint X-ray halo offers valuable insights into feedback processes — the mechanisms through which galaxies regulate their own growth.
Hot gaseous outflows, driven by supernova explosions or bursts of star formation, can expel material into the galactic halo, influencing how future stars and planets form.

NGC 5746’s halo also reinforces the view that even galaxies with moderate star formation can generate large-scale outflows over cosmic timescales.
These processes may help explain why some galaxies stop forming stars earlier than others, and how metals and energy are distributed across the universe.

Reference

Laktionov, R., Nowakowski, T., et al. (2025).
Detection of a Hot Gaseous Outflow and X-ray Halo in NGC 5746.
arXiv preprint DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2510.00868
Image Credit: ESA/XMM-Newton/EPIC; Dr. Karl Remeis Observatory.

A Galaxy That Breathes Fire

The discovery of a halo glowing with million-degree plasma transforms our picture of NGC 5746 from a quiet spiral to a galaxy that once breathed fire into space.
Though the outflow has now calmed, its hot remnants remain — a silent record of the energetic forces that shape galaxies across the universe.