Astronomy

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An international team of astronomers and an exotic pair of binary stars have proved that Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity is still right, even in the most extreme conditions tested yet.

The results of their research are described in the April 26 issue of Science.

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Stars 10 times as massive as the Sun, or more, should not exist: as they grow, they tend to push away the gas they feed on, starving their own growth.

Scientists have been struggling to figure out how some stars overcome this hurdle.

Now, a group of researchers led by two astronomers at the University of Toronto suggests that baby stars may grow to great mass if they happen to be born within a corral of older stars –with these surrounding stars favorably arranged to confine and feed gas to the younger ones in their midst.

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It's a glimpse into the world of scientists who study the stars, analyze the interaction of matter and radiated energy, and search for extra-terrestrial life.

On March 22, 2013, a team of graduate students in the Master of Museum Studies (MMSt) program at the University of Toronto will unveil their public exhibit showcasing the development of astronomical instrumentation at the David Dunlap Observatory (DDO) and the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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The smallest astronomical satellite ever built  launched Feb. 25, 2013 as part of a mission to prove that even a very small telescope can push the boundaries of astronomy.

The satellite was designed and assembled at the Space Flight Laboratory of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). It was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, along with its twin, also designed in Canada, but assembled in Austria.

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The Connaught Fund, the University of Toronto’s premier internal funding program, has announced the results of its Innovation Awards and Summer Institute Awards, investing more than $1 million in projects that span the disciplines.

One of the Innovation Award winners is Professor Carolyn Cummins of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, who received $100,000 for her work developing a new drug to prevent the side effects associated with the treatment of inflammatory diseases.