(Press-News.org) AMES, Iowa – Even though a dwarf galaxy clear across the Milky Way looks to be a mouse, it may have once been a bear that slashed through the Milky Way and created the galaxy's spiral arms, writes an Iowa State University astronomer in the journal Nature.
Curtis Struck, an Iowa State professor of physics and astronomy, uses a News & Views commentary in the Sept. 15 issue of Nature to add context and color to a study published in the same issue by a research team led by Chris W. Purcell of the University of Pittsburgh.
The Purcell group reports that the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy collided with the Milky Way, creating the galaxy's spiral arms, its central bar structure and the flaring at its outer disk. Along the way, the dwarf galaxy's stars were scattered and the galaxy shrunk to an object that's so small and unimpressive it's hard to see.
The Purcell group writes that dwarf galaxies such as the Sagittarius originally had massive amounts of dark matter. The original galaxy, in other words, may have been 100,000 times more massive than it is today. And that may have given it the power to shape our galaxy.
Struck has studied galaxies for 30 years and focuses his research on galactic collisions. His book, "Galaxy Collisions: Forging New Worlds from Cosmic Crashes," was published earlier this year. (Struck will discuss the book at Iowa State's Parks Library at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26.)
In his Nature commentary, Struck said the Sagittarius paper gives astronomers new ideas to study. Among them: Maybe the evolution of our Milky Way galaxy did include collisions and wasn't as peaceful as astronomers had thought. And, even though these dwarf galaxies are dim and difficult to detect, the effects of their collisions with bigger galaxies may be widespread across the universe.
Struck reported there are several clues to those widespread effects: In recent years several dozen of the dwarf galaxies have been discovered around the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. The effects of galaxy collisions with these dwarfs could be long lived. And models of galaxy formation indicate that these dwarf galaxies could be common and important parts of galaxy growth.
Struck also writes that the estimated range of the size of Sagittarius in its original form is likely to be the subject of study and contention. He notes the estimates at the smaller end of the range indicate the dwarf galaxy would have smaller, but still significant, impacts on the Milky Way.
That means a galactic mouse could have once been a bear that's "been messing things up for some time," Struck wrote. And so, he warned, "Beware of the wildlife, even in apparently quiet galaxies."
INFORMATION:
Iowa State astronomer: 'Beware of the wildlife, even in apparently quiet galaxies'
2011-09-16
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Team Massachusetts Competes in U.S. Department of Energy's 2011 Solar Decathlon with 4D Home Design
2011-09-16
After nearly two years of committed planning and design, the 2011 Solar Decathlon Team Massachusetts heads to Washington, D.C. where its completed "4D Home" will participate alongside 19 other collegiate entries in this year's competition. A unique dwelling that boasts both affordable and sustainable design elements, the "4D Home" is fully solar-powered, cost-effective and energy-efficient.
"Team Massachusetts showcases public higher education at its best. The creation of this self-sustaining home designed and developed by students at Massachusetts ...
4TH R Foundation: Science Has a Closed Mind on Wisdom - Wisdom is Super Mature Emotional Intelligence (Now Defined Within the Paradigm of Science); Wisdom Education is Emotional Intelligence Education
2011-09-16
From the very beginning our philosophers and scientists realized that the key to great societies was wisdom. They saw that wisdom was real and that if only they could figure out what it is and how to teach it; they would be able to create wise societies. Ever since the times of Aristotle till today, man has been trying to figure out wisdom by putting wisdom under the microscope. As wisdom is an innate property of the pure self it is a secondary entity; just like fragrance is a property of the flower. It is exactly like a symptom of a disease. So by putting wisdom under ...
Study update: Cancer information on Wikipedia is accurate, but not very readable
2011-09-16
PHILADELPHIA--It is a commonly held that information on Wikipedia should not be trusted, since it is written and edited by non-experts without professional oversight. But researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson have found differently, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the Journal of Oncology Practice.
Reassuringly, they found that cancer information found on a wiki was actually similar in accuracy and depth to the information on a peer-reviewed, patient-oriented cancer web site. There is one caveat, however: they found that the information ...
Study finds an increase of children accidentally poisoned with pharmaceuticals
2011-09-16
Cincinnati, OH, September 16, 2011 -- Pharmaceutical poisoning remains a common childhood injury, despite years of concerted prevention efforts, such as improved safe guards on packaging. Over half a million children are exposed to pharmaceuticals each year. A new study soon to be published in The Journal of Pediatrics attempts to understand this growing problem to aid in the progress of reducing the number of childhood injuries due to pharmaceutical poisoning.
Dr. Randall Bond and colleagues from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati ...
Yuval Tal, Payoneer Founder to Speak at Take Charge Summit
2011-09-16
Yuval Tal, founder of the global electronic payment provider Payoneer, will speak at the Take Charge 2011 Digital Commerce Summit from September 13 to 14. The conference, which will take place in Airport City, Israel, will feature the most cutting-edge ecommerce creations and trends for vendors and affiliates.
Attendees can expect to have a global experience, with potential for boosting online sales, taking advantage of new marketing, and improving conversion rates. Vendors and affiliates also will have the opportunity to network, sell and discover products, participate ...
Number of children poisoned by medication rising dramatically, study says
2011-09-16
The number of young children admitted to hospitals or seen in emergency departments because they unintentionally took a potentially toxic dose of medication has risen dramatically in recent years, according to a new Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center study.
The rise in exposure to prescription products has been so striking that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established the PROTECT Initiative, intended to prevent unintended medication overdoses in children.
Randall Bond, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Cincinnati Children's, will ...
Investment Banker and Fine Arts Photographer Scott Mead Showcases His Works at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition
2011-09-16
With over 20 years of dedicated work within the investment banking sector, Scott Mead has begun to showcase his artistic talents in a number of exhibitions, with his most recent works being exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition.
Scott Mead's two photographs on display at the Summer Exhibition are an untitled piece and a piece entitled Evening Light. Evening Light was created in 1975 during Scott Mead's college years at Harvard College, when he studied under recognized American photographers William Eggleston, Emmet Gowin and Minor White. The photograph, ...
Total Family Dental Group Announces the Appointment of Maria Gomez to Its Full-Service Dental Practice
2011-09-16
Total Family Dental Group is delighted to announce the appointment of a new staff member, Maria Gomez, to its Torrance dental office. Maria has joined the group as treatment coordinator after spending 23 years with Village Family Dental in Torrance.
Maria has over 30 years' experience in the dental field and uses her considerable knowledge to guide patients through every step of the treatment process; coordinating treatment plans, insurance benefits and financial options. Maria was very happy with her previous employers, making friends among staff and patients alike ...
deVere Sponsors the Annual Geneva Charity Ball for Third Consecutive Year
2011-09-16
The Geneva Charity Ball is about "having a good time doing good". It takes place once a year with the prime aim of raising funds for a selected number of charities, while also leveraging the skills and passions of individuals in order to make things happen.
Senior Managing Partner for deVere Group Switzerland and Italy, Mr Paul Dodds, commented, "We are proud to have the opportunity to support a passionate committee this year who are working for a memorable cause. We are looking forward to a fun evening and hope to raise even more funds than last year!" ...
Mobile Internet Nearing 50% Worldwide But International Roaming Costs Remain High...With One Exception: abroadband.com
2011-09-16
The rise of Internet use on mobile devices has made it hard to forget data roaming charges. abroadband.com has alleviated this problem by offering a unique mobile roaming solution. Users of their service can now access broadband on their mobile devices at only EUR0.59 per megabyte of data.
A quick comparison of operators across the world illustrates the rarity of this type of flat rate service (source: BBC Website/Technology). abroadband was launched by Telekoms Austria earlier this year in February. The idea grew out of the unrest with high roaming charges that has ...