Oversized Black Hole

Summary: Scientists have found a enormous black hole in the middle of a relatively small galaxy. It's been calculated that the black hole accounts for about 15% of the galaxies mass. This is way more than is typical. Scientist are guessing that it was formed a long time ago and then nothing else really started to form. Check out the details below.



Nature: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v491/n7426/full/nature11592.html
BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20528137

Update to Future Space plans in Europe

Summary: Many new things were agreed on as the esa member states concluded their meeting, the biggest news being that not only would the UK supply the propulsion mechanism for NASA's Orion rocket, it would also contribute £2m to the project. The UK has typically stayed out of contributing funds, but as their economy seems to be looking up, they have decided to invest monetarily as well. Check out the article for other decisions that were agreed upon during this meeting.



BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20424858

Another chance for Mars

Summary: Europe and Russia are teaming up to explore the surface and the atmosphere of Mars with missions set for 2016 and 2018.



BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20407902

New Oldest Object

Summary: Scientists working with the Hubble and Spitzer telescopes have discovered a new oldest object in the universe. It still has a boring name, but has a very interesting history. It's old.


SciShow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3j4wz31gIM

Rogue Planet

Summary: Scientists working at the Very Large Telescope Array have found a rogue planet! This means it is not orbiting any star. It appears, however, to be drifting with another group of celestial objects. Based on the ages of those objects, it is predicted that the planet was formed between 50 and 120 million years ago. Based on this, they have also guessed that the planet is about 400 degrees Celsius and its mass is between 4-7 times that of Jupiter.
It is unsure whether the planet was a failed star formation or whether it was cast off from its original planetary system and doomed to wander alone.



BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20309762

SciShow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2kPQ0j_TLo&feature=colike
(As pointed out by Hank, it has a very unpronounceable name. Suggestions for a better name? Discuss.)

New Method of Measuring Dark Energy

Summary: I'm not sure I understand this one. Here's what I understand: there is a new way of measuring the presence of Dark Energy in our universe over time. It involves measuring the scatter of light through hydrogen clouds. The way quasars scatter through those clouds is very specific so it can be measured. It has helped to confirm that the early universe the Gravitational force dominated, causing a deceleration in the expansion of the universe, but then Dark Energy took over and the universe began the phase of rapid expansion we are currently in.
This new method is being employed by the members of BOSS team in the US.



BBC News: ion years into the past.
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20303592

Another blow struck at the Standard Model

Summary: The scientists at the LHCb have observed a Bs meson decay into three muons, a decay possibility that is extremely rare. This puts a hole in the Supersymmetry model which attempts to explain some if the inconsistencies in the standard model. As usual, this is not conclusive evidence, but it seems to indicate that our universe is more complicated than a standard model can predict.



BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20300100

Particle and Wave Simultaneously?

Summary: Somehow, scientists have been able to design an experiment that seeing light as both a particle and a wave at the same time. From what I read the article doesn't say too much, but it nevertheless an interesting read.

http://www.livescience.com/24509-light-wave-particle-duality-experiment.html

Space Internet!

Summary: Internet has become a crucial part of life, especially when it comes to communicating over extremely long distances. But our beloved Internet has been lacking in space. Don't fret though, you future astronauts! NASA and ESA have been working on creating an interplanetary net. While they probably aren't too concerned about whether you will be able to watch YouTube or not, it will allow them better control over their rovers.
The way it is now, each robot is controlled separately and if there is an error in sending data, it it lost forever. This new space Internet hopes to remedy that. It is in testing phase with astronauts on the ISS successfully controlling a robot in Germany. I honestly do not understand how it works but the BBC explains it well for anyone who knows computers well.



BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20270833

More habitable candidates

Summary: Three more exoplanets have been found orbiting the star known as HD 40307. While the planets are about seven times bigger than Earth, initial signs indicate that the planets may contain liquid water. As is typical, more research will need to be done before we know for sure if the planets could be Earth 2.0.


BBC News: link coming soon

Martian Hula party

After examining its first sample of Martian soil, Curiosity's scientists have noticed that the soil strongly resembles the soil on Hawaii. They've said it was basaltic like the ground near volcanos in Hawaii.
Curiosity also analysed the soil further by shooting X-rays at it. This is a technique well known back here on Earth that allows scientists to learn the chemical make up of a sample by the light it emits.
As always, check out the original article for further details and don't hesitate to ask me any questions you may have.



BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-2015178