Finding AGN at high(er) redshifts
This paper describes a new diagnostic that separates galaxies from AGN at much higher redshifts than the traditional BPT diagram.
A New Class of Quasar?
In this paper, the authors describe a new class of quasar which pushes the boundaries of our current understanding of black hole physiology.
A zoo of dusty ellipticals provides evidence for merging galaxies
With the help of citizen science through Galaxy Zoo, this paper’s authors collect a large sample of dusty elliptical galaxies, which allows them to investigate the connection between gas-rich mergers, starbursts, and AGN activity.
How rare is extraterrestrial life, exactly?
In this paper, the authors attempt to use Bayesian statistics to estimate the frequency of extraterrestrial life (and derive a fairly inconclusive result).
Cold Flows and the First Quasars
Using a new simulation called MassiveBlack, the authors of today’s astrobite manage to grow black holes massive enough (and quickly enough) to be consistent with the recently discovered z ~ 7 quasar.