Unraveling the Binarity of B-type Supergiants in the Small Magellanic Cloud
A new study by Britavskiy et al. examines the binary nature of early B-type supergiants (BSGs) in the Small Magellanic Cloud using data from the Binarity at LOw Metallicity (BLOeM) survey. Analyzing 262 stars, the team found that about 40% are likely binaries, with a sharp drop in binarity for stars cooler than 18,000 K. The findings suggest that mergers play a key role in BSG evolution, and that binary fractions remain consistent across different metallicity environments. Future observations will further clarify how these massive stars evolve.
Unveiling the Hubble Constant: A New Approach with Blue Supernovae
SNe Ia are used as standard candles for measuring distances in the universe, but dust in galaxies can cause their light to appear dimmer, leading to errors in calculations like the Hubble constant (H₀). Gall and her team suggest focusing on blue SNe Ia, which are less affected by dust and therefore offer a more accurate measure of brightness. This approach helps avoid the complications of dust extinction corrections, potentially leading to a more reliable measurement of H₀.