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[ Tue, Dec 17th 2024 ]: Yahoo
Top science stories of 2024

Very cold detectors reveal very hot universe and kick off a new era in X-ray astronomy

The article discusses the launch of the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), a collaborative project between NASA, JAXA, and ESA, aimed at revolutionizing X-ray astronomy. XRISM, launched on September 6, 2023, features advanced technology including microcalorimeter spectrometers that can detect X-rays with unprecedented precision, allowing scientists to study the universe's hottest regions, largest structures, and most massive objects in detail. These detectors operate at extremely low temperatures, just above absolute zero, to measure the energy of incoming X-rays with high accuracy. The mission's key instrument, Resolve, provides insights into the composition, motion, and physical states of cosmic phenomena like galaxy clusters, supernova remnants, and black holes. This capability promises to enhance our understanding of cosmic evolution, the dynamics of galaxy clusters, and the behavior of matter under extreme conditions, marking the beginning of a new era in X-ray astronomy.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/astronomy/very-cold-detectors-reveal-very-hot-universe-and-kick-off-a-new-era-in-x-ray-astronomy/ar-AA1w2AvV ]