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Israeli Researchers Uncover Cosmic Rays' Role in Star Formation

2/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Israeli researchers detected cosmic rays within the Barnard 68 nebula, about 400 light-years away, led by Prof. Shmuel Bialy of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
They used data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to measure infrared radiation from hydrogen molecules vibrating due to collisions.
The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, suggest cosmic rays aid star formation and the creation of water and ammonia.

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Story summary

Israeli researchers detected cosmic rays within the Barnard 68 nebula, about 400 light-years away, led by Prof. Shmuel Bialy of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
They used data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to measure infrared radiation from hydrogen molecules vibrating due to collisions.
The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, suggest cosmic rays aid star formation and the creation of water and ammonia.