Computer simulations suggest that the amplification of magnetic fields in stellar collisions may play an important role in the formation of a particular subset of stars in clusters. Blue straggler stars in clusters appear not only bluer, but also younger than other cluster members. One proposed explanation for their apparently different ages is that they are the result of stellar collisions. However, this would require the resulting star to spin down efficiently without losing too much mass. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics have now shown, using sophisticated 3D simulations, that the energy of the magnetic field is greatly amplified in the collisions of low-mass stars, providing a potentially efficient spin-down mechanism. more

The Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope is now ready to be assembled at its destination in the Atacama Desert. Planned to take up operations in April 2026, it will be able to look all the way back to the Big Bang, revealing new details about star and galaxy formation.
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The expansion rate of the Universe, quantified by the Hubble constant (H₀), remains one of the most debated quantities in cosmology. Measurements based on nearby objects yield a higher value than those inferred from observations of the early Universe—a discrepancy known as the "Hubble tension". Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics and their collaborators have now presented a new, independent determination of H₀ using Type II supernovae. By modeling the light from these exploding stars with advanced radiation transport techniques, they were able to directly measure distances without relying on the traditional distance ladder. The resulting H₀ value agrees with other local measurements and adds to the growing body of evidence for the Hubble tension, offering an important cross-check and a promising path toward resolving this cosmic puzzle. more

Most stars form in clusters, deeply embedded in the densest and coldest cores of giant molecular gas clouds. A few million years into the formation of a cluster the remaining gas is finally expelled by supernova explosions. Thereafter the clusters lose stars in the galactic tidal field and eventually disrupt. This entire life-cycle is very difficult to observe. Star clusters begin their lives deeply embedded in their birth clouds and are invisible to most observatories and the disruption of a single cluster can take tens of millions of years or more. An international team led by researchers at MPA has presented a new high-resolution supercomputer simulation, which can follow entire galactic star cluster life-cycles from birth to disruption and sheds light on the unobservable phases of star cluster evolution. more

The Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA) is excited to announce the launch of its new Mentorship Program, designed to connect aspiring astronomers from underrepresented groups with researchers at the institute. This initiative aims to increase diversity and inclusion in theoretical and computational astrophysics, offering participants valuable guidance and insights into the field. more

In some of the first data from ESA’s Euclid space telescope, scientists have found a rare image of a distorted background galaxy, appearing as a so-called ‘Einstein Ring’ right in our cosmic backyard. Using a state-of-the art computer model at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, the astrophysicists were able to model the gravitational lensing system allowing them to learn more about this rare object. more

The formation and evolution of galaxies are among the most complex challenges in astrophysics. Recent advancements with instruments like JWST and ALMA have shed light on high-redshift galaxies – those that existed billions of years ago. However, most theoretical models are tuned to match galaxies in the local universe. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics and the University of Bonn now comprehensively evaluated the Munich semi-analytical model L-GALAXIES using the latest observations and found that while the model aligns well with the properties of local galaxies, it struggles with key aspects of high-redshift galaxies. Particularly, the study highlights critical issues with the model’s predictions of quenched galaxies, those that have ceased star formation. Their results suggest a need to revise the implementation of processes driving star formation quenching, including supermassive black hole feedback and galaxy mergers.
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