Due to distinctive features in the spectra of the 'Little Red Dots', a new class of objects spotted by the James Webb Space Telescope, it was thought that these were distant galaxies with massive black holes at their centres. However, new research suggests that the light from these galaxies is shaped not only by the motion of gas near the central black hole, but also by the effects of radiation. MPA scientists have modelled three key processes – resonance, Raman, and Thomson scattering – and found that these, acting together,  can explain the formation of hydrogen emission lines in the Little Red Dots. more

Eric Rohr came to MPA to benefit from the numerical and scientific expertise here, and was not expecting the full programme of social events.  more

During Girls' Day, the MPA offered young girls from the region a varied, interactive programme designed to introduce them to the work carried out at our institute in an enjoyable, accessible way. During the morning, the participants embarked on a journey of discovery through the world of astrophysics, learning about everything from exploding stars to the mysterious dark matter. more

by Prof. Benjamin D. Wandelt, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University  more

The European Astronomical Society announced today that the 2026 Fritz Zwicky Prize for Astrophysics & Cosmology is awarded to Prof. Rashid Sunyaev for his pioneering work on the cosmic microwave background and the theory of disk accretion. more

Rare or unusual astrophysical objects are used to test the limits of theoretical models because of their extreme properties. The bright X-ray source SS433 in our galaxy undoubtedly belongs to this category. Initially identified as an Hα emitter, it was later recognised as a black hole in a binary system.  Since then, SS433, which emits strongly in the radio and X-ray bands, has been targeted by almost every space- and ground-based observatory, leading to a flurry of discoveries.  In contrast, the surrounding huge W50 nebula, spanning more than two degrees, is much fainter and difficult to study. The complete radio image earned W50 the nickname 'Manatee Nebula', while X-ray maps were mostly patches from different observatories or lacked spatial or energy resolution. This shortcoming has finally been overcome by the recently published SRG/eROSITA map of W50 in multiple X-ray colours, which reveals a beautiful blend of thermal and non-thermal processes within an elongated cocoon.
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An international team of astronomers has created the most detailed 3D map yet of Lyman alpha light emitted by hydrogen in the early universe. Using Line Intensity Mapping on data by the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX), they identified faint galaxies and gas that were previously difficult to observe. This can now be compared to simulations of the structures in the early universe. The team processed half a petabyte of data to refine their map, revealing unseen objects and enhancing our understanding of galaxy evolution.  more