SCOPE SCOPEAstronomers find clues to the origin of energetic cosmic X-ray flashes
Astronomers have traced the mechanism behind a mysterious celestial non-repeating flash of X-ray called Fast X-ray Transients (FXTs) that was detected on November 7 last year. The study of the X-ray flash which they linked to collapse of a massive star or the merger of two neutron stars could help us better understand the physics of these extreme events.
This study was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in a paper titled "Characterizing EP241107a: multiwavelength observations of an Einstein Probe-detected fast X-ray transient", and is authored by Deepak Eappachen, Arvind Balasubramanian, G. C. Anupama, D. K. Sahu and Sudhanshu Barway of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, and Vishwajeet Swain, V. Bhalerao, Tanishk Mohan and G. Waratkar of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper is here.
SCOPE SCOPE100 Years of solar data traces new clues on how the Sun's surface tracks its 11-Year Activity Cycle
The Kodaikanal solar observatory, known for the oldest continuous series of solar data collected in India, have helped uncover how giant convection patterns on the Sun respond to solar activity, providing insights for future solar cycle prediction.
This study was published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters in a paper titled "Which Solar Latitude Follows the Sunspot Cycle Exactly?", and is authored by K.P. Raju of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper is here.
SCOPE SCOPEScientists explore possibility of dwarf galaxies hosting black holes
A new study has probed the possibility of some of the smallest galaxies in the universe, particularly dwarf spheroidal galaxies orbiting the Milky Way, hosting black holes. This can help advancing our understanding of black hole formation and galaxy evolution across cosmic time.
This study was published in the Astrophysical Journal in a paper titled "Can Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies Host a Central Black Hole?", and is authored by K. Aditya and Arun Mangalam of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper is here.
SCOPE SCOPEProbes into long-standing solar mystery can help predict weather forecasting
Researchers delving into solar coronal shocks triggered by solar flares have cracked a long-standing puzzle about the reason behind the strange variation in the relative strengths of radio waves called fundamental (base note of the wave) and harmonic emissions (overtone) for different bursts.
This study was published in the Solar Physics Journal titled "Relative Strengths of Fundamental and Harmonic Emissions of Solar Radio Type II Bursts", by Rishikesh G. Jha, K. Sasikumar Raja, R. Ramesh, C. Kathiravan & Christian Monstein.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper can be downloaded from here.
SCOPE SCOPEIntense Geomagnetic Storm shows effect of subtle solar CMEs on space weather
Astronomers have investigated a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that travelled all the way from the Sun to Earth in March 2023, through a coronal hole, an opening in the Sun’s magnetic field lines, leading to leakage of solar wind streams. The study highlighted how a subtle solar CME could trigger intense geomagnetic storms on earth increasing the challenges of forecasting the effects of space weather.
This study was published in The Astrophysical Journal in a paper titled "An Intense Geomagnetic Storm Originated from Stealth Coronal Mass Ejection: Remote and In Situ Observations by Near Radially Aligned Spacecraft", by P. Vemareddy and K. Selva Bharathi.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper is here.
SCOPE SCOPERole of magnetic fields in the birth of a young star traced
A team led by IIA researchers have unveiled critical new observational evidence linking magnetic fields from the scale of molecular clouds down to the scale of dense star-forming cores using polarisation studies. This novel work sheds light on the morphology and strength of the magnetic fields across multiple spatial scales, and elucidates the competing roles of magnetic fields and gravity in the formation of proto-stars.
This study was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in a paper titled "Magnetic fields on different spatial scales of the L328 cloud", by Shivani Gupta, Archana Soam, Janik Karoly, Chang Won Lee, and G. Maheswar.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
The paper can be downloaded from here.
SCOPE SCOPEWhen the inner wall fell: complex hydrocarbon molecules in a young stellar disk
Astronomers have unveiled an intriguing secret behind the dusty veil of a young star named T Chamaeleontis, quietly forming planets about 350 light-years from Earth when part of its circumstellar inner wall collapsed partially. This can help rewrite our understanding of how planetary systems evolve.
This study was published in The Astronomical Journal in a paper titled "When the Wall Fell: Study of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in T Chamaeleontis Using JWST", by R. Arun of IIA.
The paper can be downloaded from here
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
SCOPE SCOPEIIA Celebrates 10 Years of Operation of the UltraViolet Imaging Telescope on board AstroSat
UIVT is the primary payload on board AstroSat, India’s first dedicated space observatory, launched on September, 28, 2015 by ISRO. AstroSat carries five payloads capable of observing simultaneously from the ultraviolet to soft X-rays and hard X-rays. UIVT was designed, assembled, tested, and delivered by IIA, from its campus in Hosakote. To commemorate this achievement and to plan for future space UV telescopes, IIA organised a one-day academic workshop on 4 December 2025, to mark 10 years since the opening of the doors of UVIT on 30 November 2015.
The UVIT image gallery can be seen here.
The DST press release is here.
The PIB press release is here.
SCOPE SCOPEKodaikanal Solar Observatory data helps tracing solar magnetic activity influencing satellite communication
A study led by astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics traced the variation of the Sun's magnetic activity with latitude of almost eleven years using a new technique. This was done using calcium K line spectroscopic data from the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory which recently celebrated its 125th anniversary.
This study was published in The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society as a paper titled "Variations of the Ca II K line profile parameters with solar latitude and time observed from Kodaikanal Solar Observatory", by Apoorva Srinivasa, Anu Sreedevi, K P Raju, K Nagaraju, Jagdev Singh, Narayanankutty Karuppath, P Devendran, T Ramesh Kumar, P Kumaravel.
The paper can be downloaded from here.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.
SCOPE SCOPESimulations decode rare twin radio galaxies twisting in space
Twin radio galaxies (TRGs) are extremely rare objects, with only three known so far. A team led by astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics has succeeded in reproducing the complex morphology of the most recently discovered TRG through 3-D hydrodynamical simulations, proving the crucial role played by the precession of the twin plasma jets emanating from the two supermassive black holes in this system.
This study was published in The Astrophysical Journal in a paper titled "Low-velocity Precessing Jets Can Explain Observed Morphologies in the Twin Radio Galaxy TRG J104454+354055", by Santanu Mondal, Gourab Giri, Ravi Joshi, Paul J. Wiita, Gopal-Krishna, and Luis C. Ho.
The paper can be downloaded from here.
A video simulation of the evolution of jets with time is here.
The PIB press release is here.
The DST press release is here.