Discovery: Galaxies Might Cluster via the 'Cheerios Effect'
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 3:17 am
Galaxies Might Cluster via the 'Cheerios Effect'
Discovery Space News | Jennifer Ouellette | 30 Nov 2010
Physics Buzz | 15 Sep 2010
Discovery Space News | Jennifer Ouellette | 30 Nov 2010
Heterogeneous Structure of Granular Aggregates with Capillary Interactions - M Berhanu, A KudrolliA new paper in the Dec. 1 issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters announces the discovery of a strange, boomerang-shaped galaxy nestled in a filament of hot gas connecting two massive galaxy clusters (Abell 1763 and Abell 1770).
Astronomers believe similarly shaped galaxies could serve as signposts to help identify other filaments, which in turn are an indicator of fertile regions for the formation of stars.
This unusual galaxy may offer some tantalizing clues about how galaxy clusters and superclusters form and evolve. Meanwhile, other physicists are looking a bit closer to home for clues about the deep structure of our universe -- namely, your morning bowl of cereal.
Clark University's Arshad Kudrolli and Michael Berhanu published a paper in Physical Review Letters this fall describing the so-called "Cheerios effect" and its implications for galaxy clusters.
Stars congregate in galaxies. Galaxies tend to bunch together in clusters, which in turn clump near other clusters to form so-called "superclusters", joined by long thin filaments of super-heated gas connecting the massive clusters. The result: huge, gravitationally linked walls of galaxies with vast empty spaces in between -- a gigantic cosmic web.
- Physical Review Letters 105 098002 (23 Aug 2010) DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.098002
Physics Buzz | 15 Sep 2010
A well-known effect in breakfast cereal helps scientists understand the universe.