Press Releases
Space junk traffic dangers to be tackled by first-of-its-kind research centre in UK
New ways of tackling the threat that space junk in our skies poses are being explored by University of Warwick scientists, as they pioneer new research that could help the UK fulfil its ambition to become a responsible spacefaring nation.
Century-old mystery of how planets reflect light solved
New research involving an honorary professor in the University of Warwick Department of Physics describes a new way of calculating phase curves, the ‘shape’ the sunlight that is reflected towards us from planets and moons that can give astronomers information about their surface and atmospheres.
Fast changes between the solar seasons resolved by new sun clock
In a new study led by the University of Warwick and published in The Astrophysical Journal, scientists found that the change from solar maximum to the declining phase is fast, happening within a few (27 day) solar rotations. They also showed that the declining phase is twice as long in even-numbered solar cycles as it is in odd-numbered cycles.
Planetary shields will buckle under stellar winds from their dying stars
Any life identified on planets orbiting white dwarf stars almost certainly evolved after the star’s death, says a new study led by the University of Warwick that reveals the consequences of the intense and furious stellar winds that will batter a planet as its star is dying.
Teardrop star reveals hidden supernova doom
University of Warwick astronomers have made the rare sighting of two stars spiralling to their doom by spotting the tell-tale signs of a teardrop-shaped star, the tragic shape is caused by a massive nearby white dwarf distorting the star with its intense gravity, which will also be the catalyst for an eventual supernova that will consume both
Star’s death will play a mean pinball with rhythmic planets
Four planets locked in a perfect rhythm around a nearby star are destined to be pinballed around their solar system when their sun eventually dies, according to a study led by the University of Warwick that peers into its future.