PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

29-Jan-2014

Contact: Brittany Ashcroft press@astro.org 703-839-7336 American Society for Radiation Oncology

Fairfax, Va., January 29, 2014 Standard external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) provided a higher breast preservation rate than brachytherapy in women age 66 and older with invasive breast cancer, according to a study published in the February 1, 2014 print edition of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Brachytherapy after lumpectomy is an increasingly popular treatment protocol for breast cancer; however, there is conflicting data regarding its effectiveness. Additionally, published suitability criteria directing patient selection for brachytherapy have not been empirically validated. This study compares the long-term likelihood of breast preservation, risks of post-operative complications and local toxicities, and validity of suitability categories of three treatment strategies after lumpectomy: EBRT, brachytherapy and no radiation.

This study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database to identify 35,947 women, age 66 and older, diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (79.9 percent) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (20.1 percent) from 2002 to 2007 and treated with lumpectomy alone (23 percent), lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy (3.6 percent) or lumpectomy followed by EBRT (73.4 percent). Patients with invasive breast cancer were also classified as suitable (34.7 percent), cautionary (17.6 percent) or unsuitable (35.2 percent) for brachytherapy based on ASTRO's Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation Consensus Statement. Twelve-and-a-half percent of patients were unclassified. The patients with DCIS in this study were analyzed separately. For this study, patients age 70 or older were classified as "older suitable."

The median follow-up for patients was 3.5 years. For this study, subsequent mastectomy is defined as a claim for mastectomy identified from one year after diagnosis until December 31, 2009, which was the last date of follow-up. The five-year cumulative incidence of subsequent mastectomy for patients with invasive breast cancer was 4.7 percent for those treated with lumpectomy alone, 2.8 percent for those treated with lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy and 1.3 percent for those treated with lumpectomy followed by EBRT. In patients with DCIS, 2.2 percent underwent subsequent mastectomy during follow-up. The five-year cumulative incidence of subsequent mastectomy in patients with DCIS was 3.2 percent for those treated with lumpectomy alone, 4.6 percent for those treated with brachytherapy and 1.6 percent for those treated with EBRT.

In this study, brachytherapy was associated with a greater likelihood of breast preservation than lumpectomy alone, while EBRT showed more likelihood of breast preservation than brachytherapy. When stratified into the ASTRO-defined suitability groups, the study found suitable group patients were the least likely to undergo subsequent mastectomy and had the smallest absolute difference when comparing those treated with brachytherapy and those treated with EBRT. The small number of patients with DCIS treated with brachytherapy in this cohort does not allow definitive conclusions on the effectiveness of brachytherapy for these patients.

"Brachytherapy offered a breast preservation benefit, although in general this benefit was slightly less than the benefit derived from standard external beam radiation therapy," said Benjamin D. Smith, MD, a co-author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. "Our findings suggest that certain patients with very favorable tumors do just as well with either brachytherapy or standard external beam radiation therapy, whereas other patients with higher risk tumors seem to do better with standard external beam radiation therapy."

The February 1 print edition of the Red Journal also contains two editorials addressing breast brachytherapy and examining the data from this study. Peter Y. Chen, MD, a radiation oncologist at William Beaumont Health System in Royal Oak, Mich., emphasizes the need to ensure guidelines keep up with changing data. Robert R. Kuske, MD, a radiation oncologist at Arizona Breast Cancer Specialists in Scottsdale, Ariz., and S. Stanley Young, PhD, the assistant director for bioinformatics at the National Institute of Statistical Sciences, explore the reported differences between breast brachytherapy and whole breast irradiation from the statistical and clinical implications.

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EBRT reduces risk of subsequent mastectomy in patients with invasive breast cancer

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Newswise Fairfax, Va., January 29, 2014 Standard external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) provided a higher breast preservation rate than brachytherapy in women age 66 and older with invasive breast cancer, according to a study published in the February 1, 2014 print edition of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Brachytherapy after lumpectomy is an increasingly popular treatment protocol for breast cancer; however, there is conflicting data regarding its effectiveness. Additionally, published suitability criteria directing patient selection for brachytherapy have not been empirically validated. This study compares the long-term likelihood of breast preservation, risks of post-operative complications and local toxicities, and validity of suitability categories of three treatment strategies after lumpectomy: EBRT, brachytherapy and no radiation.

This study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database to identify 35,947 women, age 66 and older, diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (79.9 percent) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (20.1 percent) from 2002 to 2007 and treated with lumpectomy alone (23 percent), lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy (3.6 percent) or lumpectomy followed by EBRT (73.4 percent). Patients with invasive breast cancer were also classified as suitable (34.7 percent), cautionary (17.6 percent) or unsuitable (35.2 percent) for brachytherapy based on ASTROs Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation Consensus Statement. Twelve-and-a-half percent of patients were unclassified. The patients with DCIS in this study were analyzed separately. For this study, patients age 70 or older were classified as older suitable.

The median follow-up for patients was 3.5 years. For this study, subsequent mastectomy is defined as a claim for mastectomy identified from one year after diagnosis until December 31, 2009, which was the last date of follow-up. The five-year cumulative incidence of subsequent mastectomy for patients with invasive breast cancer was 4.7 percent for those treated with lumpectomy alone, 2.8 percent for those treated with lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy and 1.3 percent for those treated with lumpectomy followed by EBRT. In patients with DCIS, 2.2 percent underwent subsequent mastectomy during follow-up. The five-year cumulative incidence of subsequent mastectomy in patients with DCIS was 3.2 percent for those treated with lumpectomy alone, 4.6 percent for those treated with brachytherapy and 1.6 percent for those treated with EBRT.

In this study, brachytherapy was associated with a greater likelihood of breast preservation than lumpectomy alone, while EBRT showed more likelihood of breast preservation than brachytherapy. When stratified into the ASTRO-defined suitability groups, the study found suitable group patients were the least likely to undergo subsequent mastectomy and had the smallest absolute difference when comparing those treated with brachytherapy and those treated with EBRT. The small number of patients with DCIS treated with brachytherapy in this cohort does not allow definitive conclusions on the effectiveness of brachytherapy for these patients.

Brachytherapy offered a breast preservation benefit, although in general this benefit was slightly less than the benefit derived from standard external beam radiation therapy, said Benjamin D. Smith, MD, a co-author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Our findings suggest that certain patients with very favorable tumors do just as well with either brachytherapy or standard external beam radiation therapy, whereas other patients with higher risk tumors seem to do better with standard external beam radiation therapy.

The February 1 print edition of the Red Journal also contains two editorials addressing breast brachytherapy and examining the data from this study. Peter Y. Chen, MD, a radiation oncologist at William Beaumont Health System in Royal Oak, Mich., emphasizes the need to ensure guidelines keep up with changing data. Robert R. Kuske, MD, a radiation oncologist at Arizona Breast Cancer Specialists in Scottsdale, Ariz., and S. Stanley Young, PhD, the assistant director for bioinformatics at the National Institute of Statistical Sciences, explore the reported differences between breast brachytherapy and whole breast irradiation from the statistical and clinical implications.

For a copy of the manuscript of the study or the editorials, contact Brittany Ashcroft at 703-839-7336, press@astro.org. For more information about the Red Journal, visit http://www.redjournal.org.

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External Beam Radiation Therapy Reduces Risk of Subsequent Mastectomy in Patients with Invasive Breast Cancer

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

29-Jan-2014

Contact: Brittany Ashcroft press@astro.org 703-839-7336 American Society for Radiation Oncology

Fairfax, Va., January 29, 2014 Long-term (five-year) outcomes of breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) after breast-conserving surgery show excellent tumor control and breast cosmesis (cosmetic outcomes) with minimal late toxicity, according to a study published in the February 1, 2014 print edition of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

APBI delivers highly conformal radiation therapy, during a period of one to two weeks, to the site where the cancer was removed. APBI has seen a 10-fold increase in use from 2002 to 2007 and is currently the focus of several ongoing phase III trials.

The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute study examines the long-term outcomes, tumor control and breast cosmesis of a cohort of early-stage and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) breast cancer patients who received a five-day treatment of APBI at the University of Pittsburgh from 2002 to 2007.

The study is a retrospective review of 157 patients with localized breast cancer treated with adjuvant MammoSite, single-lumen balloon-based brachytherapy after breast-conserving surgery from June 1, 2002 to December 31, 2007. For all patients, at least five years had passed since receiving brachytherapy. Patients were all age 40 or older, with 88.5 percent over age 50, and had stage T1-T2 breast cancer, with 82.4 percent in stage T1A-C, 12.2 percent with DCIS, 4.7 percent in stage T2 and 0.7 percent in stage T1mic. Patients were also categorized by demographics and tumor characteristics into suitable, cautionary and unsuitable groups based on recommendations from ASTRO's APBI Consensus Statement.

APBI was delivered to a median dose of 34 Gy in 10 fractions over a five-day period. In addition, 89 percent of patients received additional adjuvant systemic therapy, with 66.9 percent receiving hormonal therapy, 13.4 percent chemotherapy and 8.3 percent chemotherapy with hormonal therapy. Follow-up was conducted every three to four months for the first two years post-treatment, and every six months thereafter at the discretion of the patient's breast surgeon and radiation oncologist. Baseline mammograms were performed three to six months after treatment, and annually thereafter. In addition, cosmetic outcomes were documented via photography at each visit, and toxicity was assessed during the final follow-up visit.

At a median follow-up of 5.5 years post-treatment, the five-year and seven-year actuarial ipsilateral breast control were 98 percent/98 percent, the lymph nodal control were 99 percent/98 percent and the distant control were 99 percent/99 percent. The breast cancer specific survival was 100 percent at five years and 99 percent at seven years. The overall survival was 89 percent at five years and 86 percent at seven years. There were no significant differences in tumor recurrence or survival rates in the appropriateness subgroups based on ASTRO's consensus statement. Good to excellent breast cosmesis was reported in 93.4 percent of patients. Overall toxicity rates were low, and the most common toxicity was telangiectasia, small, dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin, which was reported in 27 percent of study participants. The study correlated telangiectasia development and the maximum radiation dose to the skin. The study institution practice is to keep maximum skin dose 100 percent and at maximum 125 percent to limit the risk of telangiectasia.

"These results may encourage women to choose this convenient five-day treatment and also help radiation oncologists use techniques that can reduce skin dose further, thus further reducing the long-term effects of partial breast radiation therapy on skin changes and breast cosmesis," said Sushil Beriwal, MD, a co-author of the study and a radiation oncologist at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center. "The promising outcomes seen across subgroups, as defined by prior consensus definitions for appropriate patient selection, suggest that the current metrics for selecting patients for APBI may need to be redefined such that more women may be candidates for less radiation over a shorter time via APBI."

Originally posted here:

Extended outcomes from APBI show tumor control, breast cosmesis and minimal late toxicity

Published:Sunday, January 26, 2014

Updated:Sunday, January 26, 2014 23:01

JON KULAKOFSKY/The Daily Campus

Harvard professor Julia Lee addresses colloquium participants at the University of Connecticut on Friday. The topic of the colloquium was Experimental Astrophysics: From Black Hole Winds to Cosmic Dust.

In a spirited talk on Friday Jan. 24, professor Julia Lee, CFA, from Harvard University, gave a rundown of new exciting possibilities coming from the studies of cosmic dust and the answers they provide about the ways the universe works in her lecture Experimental Astrophysics: From Black Hole Winds to Cosmic Dust.

Black holes, the physicists beautiful nightmare, are enigmas not only because of their distance, but because their very natures make it impossible to study them directly. She said during her visit that to retrieve any information back from the edge of a gravity field that can consume even light is no small feat. However, new breakthroughs in X-ray spectroscopy have made it possible for new, cutting-edge research of astronomical significance.

She spoke of the near and long-term dusty future to be explored, closing with the statement that there is a lot of work to be done in the lab in order to further our understanding of interstellar space, black holes, and cosmic dust. She said she has helped to solve a 90-year-old mystery surrounding interstellar bands, and has been able to provide much cosmically interesting information.

When asked how she became involved at UConn, Lee said she knows a few UConn faculty members. She lauded UConns experimental expertise, particularly in reference to its laser facilities, and says she is open to prospects of future collaboration with the school.

Lee also expressed her excitement in anticipation of the Astro-H launch, from which there will be opportunity for much data gathering.

Astro-H is an orbiting observatory in development in Japan, to be launched in 2015. It will be equipped with a Soft X-ray Spectrometer, or SXS, an unparalleled, highly sensitive X-ray spectroscopic system, which was developed in part by NASA.

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UConn physics department hosts cosmic colloquium

Every student has stories of their professors unique personalities but one has been to the moon and back, at least metaphorically.

A Penn State alumnus and currently an instructional designer for the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nahks TrEhnl is the artistic astronomer or the astronomic artist, whatever you want to call him.

He has finally found a way to mix his pallet with his two favorite interests, only to arrive back at Penn State, where he first realized his passion for them.

Long ago in time and space

TrEhnl got into space, robots and aliens some 30 years ago like many kids his age.

He grew up during the Voyager probe era with the mindset: Soon we'll get to see even more incredible things no one has ever seen before.

TrEhnl owned many astronomy books at the time, but one in particular had an effect on him that would solidify his interest in astrobiology to this day.

One of these had a particularly profound effect on me, containing a passage something to the effect of . . . and just think what if, on a planet around that star you see in your telescope, there's another creature with its own telescope, looking back at you? TrEhnl said via email. My interests in astrobiology, life elsewhere in the universe, and all that lit up big time, and its just stuck ever since.

When he was young, TrEhnl said he found a relief in Star Trek and the idea of life on other planets as he moved around the country every few years.

His fathers job with the United Way allowed him to travel to Tennessee, Mississippi , Georgia , Iowa and Texas before staying in Pennsylvania for the second half of high school.

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Penn State alumnus turns art into science and vice versa

Tharaka Sadayai me (Star Party Sri Lanka Theme Song )
This video is about Star Party which is the most awaiting astronomy observation camp in sri lanka. This event consists a whole night night sky observation co...

By: Kasun Jayalath

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Tharaka Sadayai me (Star Party Sri Lanka Theme Song ) - Video

When two Michigan-based astrophotographers combined their skills to capture the Pleiades star cluster, the results are nothing short of stunning.

The popular star cluster M45, known better as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters, dazzles in this beautiful collaborative effort, imaged on two different nights during some challenging winter weather.

Night sky photographer Terry Hancock of Downunder Observatory in Fremont, Mich., used a QHY11S monochrome CCD cooled to -20C camera, Takahashi Epsilon-180ED @ F2.8 telescope and Paramount GT-1100S German Equatorial Mount to capture the luminance on Dec. 28.

Observer Robert Fields of Irving Observatory n Howell Township, Mich., captured the RBG colors on Nov. 13 using a STL 11000 monochrome CCD camera, Takahashi FSQ 106 @ F5.0 telescope and Astro-Physics AP900 German Equatorial Mount. [Amazing Night Sky Photos by Stargazers: January 2014]

"While we continue with awful weather here in Michigan, it just makes sense to collaborate and this time using different telescopes and cameras but with a similar field of view," Hancock wrote SPACE.com in an email.

Star Quiz: Test Your Stellar Smarts

Though they look serene and silent from our vantage on Earth, stars are actually roiling balls of violent plasma. Test your stellar smarts with this quiz.

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Star Quiz: Test Your Stellar Smarts

Though they look serene and silent from our vantage on Earth, stars are actually roiling balls of violent plasma. Test your stellar smarts with this quiz.

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Starry Night: The Seven Sisters Shine Brilliantly in New Pleiades Photo

Introduction to MGEO - Garrett Ito and Greg Ravizza
Jay Fidell and his guests Garrett Ito and Greg Ravizza discuss astro-physics and astrobiology study at UH Manoa.

By: Jay Fidell

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Introduction to MGEO - Garrett Ito and Greg Ravizza - Video

Stargazing Live has again proved a big hit for the BBC and sparked renewed interest in the thrilling sights to be found in the night sky. SIMON PARKIN looks at how to take the next steps into amateur astronomy in Norfolk

His first glimpse through a telescope at the age of 10 sparked a passion that this week again saw Mark Thompson bring the stars into the nations front rooms as part of the BBC2 Stargazing Live.

I remember it vividly, said Mark, also the One Shows astronomer and president of the Norwich Astronomical Society. I looked through the big telescope and saw Saturn, looking exactly like it did in books. Creamy brown with the trademark rings, it looked as if it was just hanging in this huge, black, velvety sky.

I dont think Ive ever seen Saturn looking better, although Ive definitely seen it more clearly since. It was incredible. I was hooked from that moment on and Ive never looked back.

Stargazing Live, which is back on our screens for a foruth series this week, aims to encourage us to forgo the comfy sofa in favour of gazing skywards to take in the glorious sight of the star-filled night sky.

The programmes, fronted by Wonders of the Solar System presenter Professor Brian Cox and comedian Dara OBriain, best known for his comedy skills but also the science-mad holder of a physics degree, also featured Mark co-presenting from various locations on to topics including how to unravel the mysteries of the universe, how best to observe the moons of Jupiter and how to use a telescope.

This year the programme has also featured live shots of stars from Kelling Heath Holiday Park, near Holt.

The three-programme event has again been a big hit attracting more than four million viewers and proving that if you present it in the right way the general public does have an interest in science and with the dark winter nights there is no better time to continue that interest.

There are a number of events happening in Norfolk (see panel right) that seek to follow up on the interest generated and encourage us to take the next step from watching on our sofa to getting out into the dark to see for ourselves.

How often have you gazed into the velvety night sky and wished you knew which constellation was which, how to spot a planet or even how to find the North Star? says Mark. A lot of people think astronomy, the universe, is a big scary subject but people can understand quite a lot of it. Its a great leveller and I think this is one of the appeals of it.

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8 ways to take up stargazing in 2014

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What: The 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Head & Neck Society (AHNS), will explore the heterogeneous group of tumors in head and neck cancers, and the various complexities and factors in providing treatment. The multidisciplinary approach includes surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy in addition to novel molecular biologic therapies that show promise in improving outcomes.

The two-and-a-half day scientific meeting will include interactive educational sessions focused on topics such as supportive care, directed therapy, new surgical and radiotherapeutic techniques, as well as 12 oral abstract presentations of the most current, cutting-edge science of relevance to the head and neck cancer community. A total of 189 abstracts will be presented including 177 posters. Keynote speakers include: Jennifer Grandis, MD, University of Pittsburgh, The Molecular Road to Defining and Targeting High-risk Head and Neck Patients Julia H. Rowland, PhD, National Cancer Institute, Cancer Survivorship: Research Opportunities on the Path to Where We Want to Be

When: Thursday, February 20 Saturday, February 22, 2014

Where: JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort and Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona

Press Registration: Credentialed journalists from accredited news organizations are invited to attend and report on the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

Press Policies and Registration Form

Press Office: There will be a dedicated Press Office at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort and Spa.

Press Office Hours: Thursday, February 20: 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Friday, February 21: 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

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Media Registration Open for 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium

METRO VANCOUVER -- Burnaby will be home to a new $4.4-million observatory capable of tracking distant galaxies, Simon Fraser University announced Thursday.

The university said the Trottier Observatory, which should be completed at the main SFU campus by August, will be dedicated to engaging children and youth in science.

The observatory, and the newly opened Trottier Studio for Innovative Science Education, are being funded by the Trottier Foundation, headed by Montreal philanthropists Lorne and Louise Trottier.

Lorne's brother Howard Trottier is a professor of physics and astronomy at SFU. He has a passion for astro-photography, and said early Thursday that he felt like a kid again, recalling the first time he gazed up at the stars with his first telescope when he was in Grade 6.

Plans for the observatory have been in the works for more than seven years, but Trottier said it has been worth the wait.

"For me, it's a thrilling experience," said Trottier, founder of SFU's Starry Nights program which brings together students and other amateur astronomers to gaze at the stars from the top of Burnaby Mountain. It also hosts free, daytime telescope and astronomy workshops for grade-school kids.

"The observatory will be an anchor for a science plaza in a location where thousands of people will walk by it," said Trottier of the location at the east end of campus near Strand Hall. The studio is housed in the chemistry wing of the Shrum Science Building.

University classes in astronomy are expected for both science and non-science majors, although there will also be workshops for elementary and high school students, as well as tours for home-schooled youth, he said.

"This is more for amateur astronomers than for professionals, but amateurs do very serious work these days."

As well, would-be astronomers from across Canada will also be able to "look" through the telescope, because the observatory will provide a digital feed that can be remotely accessed by schools and community centres.

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SFU announces plans for $4.4 million observatory on Burnaby campus

Financial Times Magazine named Physics Assistant Professor Carla Frhlich as a rising physics star late last year.

The recognition comes from her 2007 discovery of the neutrino p-process and her receipt of the 2013 Early Career Research Award given by the Department of Energy, according to the magazine. This award provides Frhlich with $750,000 over the course of five years to continue her research in nuclear astrophysics, Frhlich said.

The neutrino p-process that Frhlich discovered explains how supernovae, or exploding stars, synthesize heavier elements on the periodic table, she said. The discovery resulted from her Ph.d. project at the University of Basel in Switzerland, where she graduated in 2007.

Elements heavier than iron have a lot of open questions in regards to how and where they are synthesized, Frhlich said. Researchers like Frhlich study chemical elements formed in stars and their explosions in order to better understand where these heavier elements originate.

Because supernovae are dying, massive stars, they produce a lot of fundamental subatomic particles known as neutrinos, Frhlich said. Though neutrinos have no charge, they can engage in nuclear reactions to form heavier elements in combination with the stars abundance of protons. This is catalyzed by the stars high temperatures and densities.

During an explosion, these elements blast into space and can be used to form new stars and galaxies, Frhlich said.

Before Frhlichs research it was believed neutrons outnumbered the protons in supernovae, according to Frhlich.

Frhlich said that in her research grant application she wrote about her desire to learn more about the details of the neutrino p-process as well as how other elements are made. She also wants to study stars in other phases of their life.

Ultimately she aims to solve the remaining questions of where and how elements form through a collaborative approach between the areas of nuclear physics, observational astronomy and astrophysics, which uses computer simulations, Frhlich said.

My approach combines accomplishments in all of these fields to answer where and how the chemical elements were made, Frhlich said.

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Astrophyicist Carla Fröhlich recognized as rising star

06.01.2014 - (idw) Max-Planck-Institut fr Radioastronomie

Previous studies of millisecond pulsars have explained their origin via mass transfer in binary systems. The discovery of a millisecond pulsar in a triple system challenges current consensus. Thomas Tauris (Bonn) and Ed van den Heuvel (Amsterdam) have developed a semi-analytical model, which can resolve the puzzling formation of this exotic triple system. Through theoretical calculations on the base of stellar evolution, they have demonstrated a plausible model which brings new insight to our knowledge of stellar interactions in multiple star systems. Their study can also help explain an increasing number of observed binary millisecond pulsars which seem to require a triple system origin. Pulsars are among the most extreme celestial bodies known. They have radii of only 10 kilometres, but at the same time a mass exceeding that of our Sun. Pulsars are formed as the remnants of violent supernova explosions of massive stars. The fastest rotating neutron stars are known as millisecond pulsars. They are thought to be strongly magnetized, old neutron stars which have been spun up to high rotational frequencies by accumulation of mass and angular momentum from a companion star in a binary system. Today we know of about 200 such pulsars with spin periods between 1.4 and 10 milliseconds. These are located in both the Galactic Disk and in Globular Clusters.

Since the first binary pulsar was detected in 1974, theoretical astrophysicists have investigated mass transfer between stars and other binary interactions in order to explain their origin. A surprising new discovery has now revealed a millisecond pulsar in a triple system with two white dwarf companions, posing a unique challenge to stellar physicists to explain its formation.

"This is a truly amazing system with three degenerate objects. It has survived three phases of mass transfer and a supernova explosion, and yet it remained dynamically stable", says Thomas Tauris, theoretical astrophysicist and first author of the present study. "Pulsars have previously been found with planets and in recent years my observational colleagues have discovered a number of peculiar binary pulsars which seem to require a triple system origin. But this new millisecond pulsar is the first to be detected with two white dwarfs".

The new triple millisecond pulsar J0337+1715 was discovered recently by a joint American-European collaboration led by Scott Ransom from National Radio Astronomy Observatory (USA). The system is located in the constellation of Taurus at a distance of about 4000 light-years. It is in the Galactic disk, and not inside a globular cluster. Therefore, its existence cannot be explained simply as a result of dynamical encounter events in a dense stellar environment. During the last 6 months, Thomas Tauris and Ed van den Heuvel have developed a semi-analytical model to explain its existence. One of the key results obtained from their investigation is that the observed parameters reflect that both white dwarfs were indeed produced in the present system.

Triple systems often become dynamically unstable during their evolution leading to expulsion of one of the three stars. A major challenge was to find a solution that remained dynamically stable throughout the entire evolution, including the stage of the supernova explosion. "An interesting result of our new investigation is that the system evolved through a common envelope stage where both white dwarf progenitor stars were dragged into the envelope of the massive star due to frictional forces, causing their orbits to shrink by a large factor, thereby enabling survival of its subsequent explosion", says Ed van den Heuvel.

--------------------

This work has profited from a recent effort to bridge the Fundamental Physics in Radio Astronomy group at the Max-Planck-Institut fr Radioastronomie (MPIfR), led by Michael Kramer, with the Stellar Physics group at the Argelander-Institut fr Astronomie (AIfA) at University of Bonn, led by Norbert Langer. Michael Kramer and his colleagues are using the 100-m Effelsberg Radio Telescope to participate in several ongoing searches and discoveries of millisecond pulsars, while the stellar physicists at AIfA are modelling their formation and evolution.

Thomas Tauris has been working at the AIfA and MPIfR as a visiting research professor since 2010. Some of his recent work on the recycling of millisecond pulsars has been published jointly with Norbert Langer, Michael Kramer and other colleagues in Bonn. Together they host twice per year an international one-day workshop in Bonn, called Formation and Evolution of Neutron stars.

Original Paper:

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An Exotic Millisecond Pulsar Trio

You are at university. Do you like stars, and stuff?

We revisit old ruminations on career paths cause it is topical

Another rehashed blast from the past.

Should you do astronomy as an undergrad? (the following is in part shamelessly cribbed from a colleagues previous freshman seminar for our majors):

Do you like stars and stuff?

If not, you probably should look for an alternative to astronomy, on the general principle that at this stage of life you should at least try to do things you actually like. If you do, good for you. Now, do you have the aptitude?

Professional astrophysics/astronomy is not about looking at stars per se (except at occasional star parties, for outreach or as a sideline hobby although a fair fraction but by no means all astronomers are enthusiastic amateur astronomers). Nor will you need to learn about constellations, or speculate about the meaning of it all, or the origin of the universe, or other sophomoric philosophical issues (except over occasional beer sessions except for the constellations bit).

What you will need to do, is at least 75-80% of a physics major (and preferably all of it, physics double majors are a common path, as is just doing an all physics or math/physics path, and adding astro later). Thats four years of 2 classes per semester, calculus based physics. You will also need at least 3 years of university level calculus (by which I mean calculus/differential equations etc), and if you find yourself taking as little math as possible, then your career options will rapidly shut down and you might want to rethink. Some computer science or electronic engineering wouldnt hurt, though most of the practical computing you need you will be expected to pick up through self-study. So, you would need, for example, to be able to look at HTML sample code, or a how to web page, or in a pinch a book, and figure out in few hours or days how to do adequate HTML coding, as a minimum. Most astrophysics types are expected to know one major compiled language (C++ most common, but Fortran is clearly the superior choice), several macro/mark-up/interpreted languages (like TeX/LaTeX, IDL, Perl or Python (tres trendy)) and higher level languages as needed.

Most people find this to be hard work. You should be ready for hard work.

Do you like to read? Cause youll be doing a lot of it. Books, papers, web pages, class notes; and, whether they admit it or not science fiction (ok, not all astro types are sci fi fans, just most of them: secretly, open Trekkies, whatever). What do I mean by lots? (For an undergrad.) Mean output of a professional astronomer is 3-4 papers per year. Each paper has 30-40 cites to the literature on average. You have to have read those, all of them! Now, if you work in a single sub-field (which is not uncommon) therell be a lot of overlap between cites in successive papers, but youll also have to read 2-3 papers for each one you cite. And, you need to keep up with the literature, there are new papers coming out every day So, were talking 1-200 papers to read per year.

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So, you want to be an astrophysicist? Part 1 redux. [Dynamics of Cats]

April 28, 2010

Over the past several decades, a handful of familiar stars in nearby galaxies have exploded in supernovae. Most of these stars were red supergiants, which matches the theoretical expectation that most supernovae occur when the core of a red supergiant star collapses. By chance, however, the nearest recent supernova was a rarity: an exploding blue supergiant. This was the supernova SN 1987A, and it is the best studied of all supernovae explosions, having occurred in Large Magellanic Cloud, which is a neighboring galaxy to our own Milky Way Galaxy.

The basic theory behind core-collapse supernovae is that a massive star exhausts the thermonuclear fuel at its core; without a source of energy to compensate for the energy radiated away by the star, the core is unable to resist the force of gravity, and it collapses. The sudden release of gravitational potential energy as the core collapses to a neutron star blows the outer layers of the star away. These expanding layers emit the light we see in the supernovae. SN 1987A confirmed part of this theory when the neutrinos released during the collapse of the star's core were detected by underground neutrino detectors. Why the star was a blue supergiant rather than a red supergiant, however, is something of a puzzle. The page added with this issue discusses the many unusual characteristics of SN 1987A, and how these features are tied to the type of the star that exploded.

Next Issue: The next issue of this web site will present a page on the theories for the blue supergiant that created SN 1987A.

SN 1987A. In February of 1987, astronomers saw the closest supernova of modern times; it was in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring dwarf galaxy. This supernova, named SN 1987A, is incontrovertible proof that the collapse of the core of a massive star can produce a supernova. Not only were neutrinos detected from this explosion, as one expects in the birth of a neutron star from the collapse of a stellar core, but also the star that exploded was observed many times before the supernova and found to be massive. The surprise is that the star was a blue supergiant rather than the expected red supergiant. Other striking features of this supernova are its unusual chemical composition, its high expansion velocity, its low luminosity, and the unusual shape of its nebula. Some of these features are tied to the star being a blue supergiant, while others are clues to why the star was in a blue supergiant state when it exploded. (continue)

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The Astrophysics Spectator: Home Page

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 27:

The Trivandrum Observatory, one of the oldest in the country and a sought-after destination of astro buffs in the past, is all set to regain its glory with the induction of two advanced telescopes.

The Observatory, now under the Physics Department of Kerala University, will get two advanced reflecting telescopes soon as part of the revival project.

University sources said the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum (KSSTM), under the state government, had already been asked to procure and install new telescopes at the 176-year-old observatory.

A top KSSTM official said they were planning to install a 14-inch and 11-inch telescopes and a proposal in this regard had been submitted to the University.

The Observatory here has a great legacy and tradition. But, many people do not know even about its existence today.

The renovation project, especially the installation of the new telescope, is expected to make a change in this, KSSTM Director Jerald Prakash told PTI.

At present, the observatory has two telescopes of 3.5 inch and 5 inch and both of them are not fit for use, he said.

With sanction obtained from the university, the KSSTM would import the components of the telescopes and their mounts and assemble here, he said.

After getting confirmation from the University, we will float a global tender for components for the telescopes. Since Indian companies are not providing sophisticated telescopic components, we will have to depend on their foreign counterparts most probably, he said.

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Trivandrum Observatory to regain glory

Astrophysics

People have gazed at the stars, given them names, and observed their changes for thousands of years. NASA joined the ancient pursuit of knowledge of our universe comparatively recently.

Goals The science goals of Astrophysics are breathtaking: we seek to understand the universe and our place in it. We are starting to investigate the very moment of creation of the universe and are close to learning the full history of stars and galaxies. We are discovering how planetary systems form and how environments hospitable for life develop. And we will search for the signature of life on other worlds, perhaps to learn that we are not alone.

NASAs goal in Astrophysics is to Discover how the universe works, explore how the universe began and developed into its present form, and search for Earth-like planets. Three broad scientific questions emanate from these goals.

Current Programs Astrophysics comprises of three focused and two cross-cutting programs. These focused programs provide an intellectual framework for advancing science and conducting strategic planning. They include:

Current Missions The Astrophysics current missions include three of the Great Observatories originally planned in the 1980s and launched over the past 20 years. The current suite of operational Great Observatories include the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO), and the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST). Additionally, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and Kepler medium-sized missions explore the high-energy end of the spectrum and search for earth-like planets respectively.

Innovative Explorer missions, such as the Swift Gamma-ray Explorer and NuSTAR, complement the Astrophysics strategic missions. Together these missions account for much of humanity's accumulated knowledge of the heavens. Many of these missions have achieved their prime science goals, but continue to produce spectacular results in their extended operations.

NASA-funded investigators also participate in observations, data analysis and developed instruments for the astrophysics missions of our international partners, including ESA's XMM-Newton, Herschel, and Planck missions, and JAXAs Suzaku.

Near Future The near future will be dominated by several missions. Currently in development with especially broad scientific utility are SOFIA and the James Webb Space Telescope. In early April 2013, Explorer mission TESS and Explorer Mission of Opportunity NICER were selected to move forward into formulation. Completing these missions and an instrument for JAXAs Astro-H, supporting the operational missions, and funding the research and analysis programs will consume most of the Astrophysics Division resources.

The Future Since the 2001 decadal survey, the way the universe is viewed has changed dramatically. More than 700 planets have been discovered orbiting distant suns. Black holes are now known to be present at the center of most galaxies, including the Milky Way galaxy. The age, size and shape of the universe have been mapped based on the primordial radiation left by the big bang. And it has been learned that most of the matter in the universe is dark and invisible, and the universe is not only expanding, but accelerating in an unexpected way.

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Astrophysics - NASA Science

Astrophysics (Greek: Astron - meaning "star", and Greek: physis - meaning "nature") is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior.[1] Among the objects studied are galaxies, stars, planets, extrasolar planets, the interstellar medium and the cosmic microwave background.[2][3] Their emissions are examined across all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the properties examined include luminosity, density, temperature, and chemical composition. Because astrophysics is a very broad subject, astrophysicists typically apply many disciplines of physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, nuclear and particle physics, and atomic and molecular physics. Areas which astrophysicists work in include resolving questions on what constitutes dark matter and conducting research on black holes.[4] In practice, modern astronomical research involves a substantial amount of physics. The name of a university's department ("astrophysics" or "astronomy") often has to do more with the department's history than with the contents of the programs. Astrophysics can be studied at the bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. levels in aerospace engineering, physics, or astronomy departments at many universities.

Although astronomy is as ancient as recorded history itself, it was long separated from the study of terrestrial physics. In the Aristotelian worldview, the celestial world tended towards perfection. Bodies in the sky appeared to be unchanging spheres moving with unchanging circular motion, while the earthly world was the realm of change in which natural motion was in a straight line and ended when the moving object reached its goal. Consequently, it was held that the celestial region was made of a fundamentally different kind of matter from that found in the terrestrial sphere; either Fire as maintained by Plato, or Aether as maintained by Aristotle.[5][6]

In the 17th century, natural philosophers such as Galileo, Descartes, and Newton began to maintain that the celestial and terrestrial regions were made of similar kinds of material and were subject to the same natural laws.

At the end of the 19th century, it was discovered that, when decomposing the light from the Sun, a multitude of spectral lines were observed (regions where there was less or no light). Laboratory experiments with hot gases showed that the same lines could be observed in the spectra of known gases, specific lines corresponding to unique chemical elements. In this way it was proved that the chemical elements found in the Sun and stars (chiefly hydrogen) were also found on Earth. Indeed, the element helium was first discovered in the spectrum of the Sun and only later found on Earth, hence its name. During the 20th century, spectroscopy (the study of these spectral lines) advanced, particularly as a result of the advent of quantum physics that was necessary to understand the astronomical and experimental observations.[7]

See also:

The majority of astrophysical observations are made using the electromagnetic spectrum.

Other than electromagnetic radiation, few things may be observed from the Earth that originate from great distances. A few gravitational wave observatories have been constructed, but gravitational waves are extremely difficult to detect. Neutrino observatories have also been built, primarily to study our Sun. Cosmic rays consisting of very high energy particles can be observed hitting the Earth's atmosphere.

Observations can also vary in their time scale. Most optical observations take minutes to hours, so phenomena that change faster than this cannot readily be observed. However, historical data on some objects is available, spanning centuries or millennia. On the other hand, radio observations may look at events on a millisecond timescale (millisecond pulsars) or combine years of data (pulsar deceleration studies). The information obtained from these different timescales is very different.

The study of our very own Sun has a special place in observational astrophysics. Due to the tremendous distance of all other stars, the Sun can be observed in a kind of detail unparalleled by any other star. Our understanding of our own sun serves as a guide to our understanding of other stars.

The topic of how stars change, or stellar evolution, is often modeled by placing the varieties of star types in their respective positions on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, which can be viewed as representing the state of a stellar object, from birth to destruction. The material composition of the astronomical objects can often be examined using:

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Astrophysics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Astrophysics Science Division (660) Home

Hubble Peers at a Cosmic Optical Illusion: Are these two space giants entangled in a fierce celestial battle -- galaxies entwined and merging to form one? It's easy it is to misinterpret the jumble of stars and get the wrong impression.

The Astrophysics Science Division conducts a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, and fundamental physics. Individual investigations address issues such as the nature of dark matter and dark energy, which planets outside our solar system may harbor life, and the nature of space, time, and matter at the edges of black holes.

Observing photons, particles, and gravitational waves enables researchers to probe astrophysical objects and processes. Researchers develop theoretical models, design experiments and hardware to test theories, interpret and evaluate the data, archive and disseminate the data, provide expert user support to the scientific community, and publish conclusions drawn from research. The Division also conducts education and public outreach programs about its projects and missions.

About the ASD

Master Calendar: Seminars & Colloquia

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Home Page - Astrophysics Science Division - 660

December 17, 2013

Image Caption: An artist's rendering of the Swift spacecraft with a gamma-ray burst going off in the background. Credit: Spectrum Astro and NASA E/PO, Sonoma State University, Aurore Simonnet

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports Your Universe Online

By analyzing data collected by NASAs Swift robotic spacecraft, astronomers from the University of Leicester have reportedly discovered the location of nearly 100,000 previously unknown cosmic X-ray sources.

The research team studied eight years worth of observations collected during the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission to compile a catalog of major celestial X-ray sources a list that includes more than 150,000 high-energy stars and galaxies and appears in the latest edition of The Astrophysical Journal.

In addition to providing the positions of almost a hundred thousand previously unknown X-ray sources, the team have also analyzed the X-ray variability and X-ray colors of the sources in order to help to understand the origin of their emission, and to help in the classification of rare and exotic objects, the university said in a statement Monday. All of the data, including light curves and spectra are available online.

The Swift satellite was originally launched back in November 2004, and since then it has been studying the immensely powerful stellar explosions, which date back to the earliest days of the universe. The study authors have called it one of the most productive observatories, ever since its launch.

Over the past eight years, Swift has helped revolutionize gamma ray burst (GRB) research thanks largely to its powerful X-ray telescope, which was built at the UK university. In addition to finding the afterglows of these gamma-ray bursts, the telescope can also detect several other types of x-ray sources located within its field of view.

In order to be able to respond quickly to the rapidly fading GRBs, Swift is uniquely agile and autonomous, able to point within a minute or so at a new target, the university said. Because of its science remit and this unusual ability, the Swift XRT has observed a much larger fraction of the sky than the larger European and US X-ray observatories. For this reason it has found a vast number of extra sources in spite of its much lower cost.

Most of the newly discovered X-ray sources are expected to signal the presence of super-massive black holes in the centers of large galaxies many millions of light-years from earth, but the catalogue also contains transient objects (short-lived bursts of X-ray emission) which may come from stellar flares or supernovae, the university said.

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Swift Data Reveals 100K New Cosmic X-Ray Source Locations