UC Astronomers Find New Black Holes
The development of new adaptive optics technology has allowed astronomers at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii to identify the locations of two supermassive black holes, situated between colliding galaxies approximately 300 million light-years away.
According to Clair Max, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, clouds of young star clusters surround the pair of black holes at the center of the galaxy merger.
Using infrared images, Max and her colleagues were able to align different wavelengths to pinpoint the exact location of the black holes. Because infrared wavelengths are less affected by dust than visible light, they could then easily observe bursts of star formations encircling the black holes’ nuclei.
Astronomers predict that the two black holes will eventually merge and produce powerful gravitational radiation, in 10 million to 100 million years.
Tomato Disease Alarms California Growers
Farmers in California have been warned that a new viral disease, known as the tomato yellow leaf curl, could potentially devastate the state’s tomato production.
The disease – spread by whiteflies, or leafhoppers – leads to plant defects such as stunted growth, small, crumpled and yellow leaves and premature loss of fruit.
“”Because this disease is potentially devastating for tomato production in California, it is critical to limit its spread,”” UC Davis plant pathology professor Robert Gilbertson said.
UCLA Economically Beneficial for City
A recent study has revealed that UCLA is the greater Los Angeles area’s seventh-largest employer, generating upwards of $9.34 billion in annual economic activity within the five-county region and $9.89 billion statewide.
Over the past year, the university employed 27,000 people, with wages totaling $1.95 billion. Additionally, 42,800 regional jobs were dependent on purchases made by UCLA students, faculty, staff and visitors, according to a study released by the nonprofit Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.
Among other findings, LAEDC also found that for every dollar state taxpayers invested in UCLA, the campus generated $15 in economic activity. Furthermore, state funding in 2005-06 constituted about 17 percent of UCLA’s operating budget – down from 22 percent three years ago.
“”Given the amount of money the state contributes to UCLA and the overall economic impact generated by the university, UCLA looks like a pretty spectacular investment for the state,”” said Gregory Freeman, LAEDC vice president of economic and policy consulting and lead author of the study.
