Mysterious flaring X-ray objects discovered in nearby galaxies
Astronomy Now – Oct. 25
Astronomers have found a pair of extraordinary cosmic objects that dramatically burst in X-rays. This discovery, obtained with NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton observatory, may represent a new class of explosive events found in space. The mysterious X-ray sources flare up and become about a hundred times brighter in less than a minute, before returning to original X-ray levels after about an hour. At their peak, these objects qualify as ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) that give off hundreds to thousands of times more X-rays than typical binary systems where a star is orbiting a black hole or neutron star.
Sci-News – Oct. 25
Adapted athletic movie to premiere
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 25
The University of Alabama Adapted Athletics program will celebrate the debut of “This is How We Roll,” a documentary series about its men’s and women’s basketball teams, during a red carpet premiere Wednesday at the Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave. The 10-episode series chronicles the 2014-15 men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams, the latter of which went 24-3 and won the national championship. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UA and the College of Continuing Studies UA are sponsoring the event, which will include a screening of the first two 30-minute episodes. The premiere will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available at champions.ua.edu.
Alabama sorority dedicates homecoming to raising $17k for suicide prevention
USA Today College – Oct. 25
A University of Alabama sorority said goodbye to a longstanding homecoming tradition this year in favor of helping a higher cause. Each year, the school’s Kappa Alpha Theta chapter sets aside about $2,500 from its budget to create a “pomp” (a decoration made from tissue paper) to display on campus during the week-long celebration. It’s a tradition that’s popular at a number of large state universities, like University of Missouri and Oklahoma State.
Better Relations Day should set an example
Crimson White – Oct. 25
Yesterday, the University hosted the 68th annual Better Relations Day between The University of Alabama and Auburn University. Led by the two respective student government associations, representatives from across both campuses met to network, exchange ideas and take cheesy pictures with Big Al and Aubie. This year featured a leadership panel with two former UA SGA presidents and a keynote speech from U.S. Senator Richard Shelby; the latest installment in this annual tradition also, for the first time, included a service component as a way to utilize the day to give back more to the community and state. SGA Vice President for External Affairs Braden Morell and Director of Better Relations Day Rebecca Arrington did an exemplary job planning this year’s event, but the service project benefitting Alabama VA Hospitals should be especially commended.
Creepy-crawlies at Alabama Museum of Natural History (gallery)
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 25
A Tuscaloosa News photo gallery.