#Galactic traveler;;Lumine

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Astronomers detect ancient lonely quasars with murky origins

The quasars appear to have few cosmic neighbors, raising questions about how they first emerged more than 13 billion years ago.

A quasar is the extremely bright core of a galaxy that hosts an active supermassive black hole at its center. As the black hole draws in surrounding gas and dust, it blasts out an enormous amount of energy, making quasars some of the brightest objects in the universe. Quasars have been observed as early as a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, and it’s been a mystery as to how these objects could have grown so bright and massive in such a short amount of cosmic time.

Scientists have proposed that the earliest quasars sprang from overly dense regions of primordial matter, which would also have produced many smaller galaxies in the quasars’ environment. But in a new MIT-led study, astronomers observed some ancient quasars that appear to be surprisingly alone in the early universe. 

The astronomers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to peer back in time, more than 13 billion years, to study the cosmic surroundings of five known ancient quasars. They found a surprising variety in their neighborhoods, or “quasar fields.” While some quasars reside in very crowded fields with more than 50 neighboring galaxies, as all models predict, the remaining quasars appear to drift in voids, with only a few stray galaxies in their vicinity.

These lonely quasars are challenging physicists’ understanding of how such luminous objects could have formed so early on in the universe, without a significant source of surrounding matter to fuel their black hole growth.

“Contrary to previous belief, we find on average, these quasars are not necessarily in those highest-density regions of the early universe. Some of them seem to be sitting in the middle of nowhere,” says Anna-Christina Eilers, assistant professor of physics at MIT. “It’s difficult to explain how these quasars could have grown so big if they appear to have nothing to feed from.”

There is a possibility that these quasars may not be as solitary as they appear, but are instead surrounded by galaxies that are heavily shrouded in dust and therefore hidden from view. Eilers and her colleagues hope to tune their observations to try and see through any such cosmic dust, in order to understand how quasars grew so big, so fast, in the early universe. 

Eilers and her colleagues report their findings in a paper appearing today in the Astrophysical Journal. The MIT co-authors include postdocs Rohan Naidu and Minghao Yue; Robert Simcoe, the Francis Friedman Professor of Physics and director of MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research; and collaborators from institutions including Leiden University, the University of California at Santa Barbara, ETH Zurich, and elsewhere.

Galactic neighbors

The five newly observed quasars are among the oldest quasars observed to date. More than 13 billion years old, the objects are thought to have formed between 600 to 700 million years after the Big Bang. The supermassive black holes powering the quasars are a billion times more massive than the sun, and more than a trillion times brighter. Due to their extreme luminosity, the light from each quasar is able to travel over the age of the universe, far enough to reach JWST’s highly sensitive detectors today. 

“It’s just phenomenal that we now have a telescope that can capture light from 13 billion years ago in so much detail,” Eilers says. “For the first time, JWST enabled us to look at the environment of these quasars, where they grew up, and what their neighborhood was like.”

The team analyzed images of the five ancient quasars taken by JWST between August 2022 and June 2023. The observations of each quasar comprised multiple “mosaic” images, or partial views of the quasar’s field, which the team effectively stitched together to produce a complete picture of each quasar’s surrounding neighborhood. 

The telescope also took measurements of light in multiple wavelengths across each quasar’s field, which the team then processed to determine whether a given object in the field was light from a neighboring galaxy, and how far a galaxy is from the much more luminous central quasar. 

“We found that the only difference between these five quasars is that their environments look so different,” Eilers says. “For instance, one quasar has almost 50 galaxies around it, while another has just two. And both quasars are within the same size, volume, brightness, and time of the universe. That was really surprising to see.”

Growth spurts

The disparity in quasar fields introduces a kink in the standard picture of black hole growth and galaxy formation. According to physicists’ best understanding of how the first objects in the universe emerged, a cosmic web of dark matter should have set the course. Dark matter is an as-yet unknown form of matter that has no other interactions with its surroundings other than through gravity. 

Shortly after the Big Bang, the early universe is thought to have formed filaments of dark matter that acted as a sort of gravitational road, attracting gas and dust along its tendrils. In overly dense regions of this web, matter would have accumulated to form more massive objects. And the brightest, most massive early objects, such as quasars, would have formed in the web’s highest-density regions, which would have also churned out many more, smaller galaxies. 

“The cosmic web of dark matter is a solid prediction of our cosmological model of the Universe, and it can be described in detail using numerical simulations,” says co-author says Elia Pizzati, a graduate student at Leiden University. “By comparing our observations to these simulations, we can determine where in the cosmic web quasars are located.” 

Scientists estimate that quasars would have had to grow continuously with very high accretion rates in order to reach the extreme mass and luminosities at the times that astronomers have observed them, fewer than 1 billion years after the Big Bang. 

“The main question we’re trying to answer is, how do these billion-solar-mass black holes form at a time when the universe is still really, really young? It’s still in its infancy,” Eilers says. 

The team’s findings may raise more questions than answers. The “lonely” quasars appear to live in relatively empty regions of space. If physicists’ cosmological models are correct, these barren regions signify very little dark matter, or starting material for brewing up stars and galaxies. How, then, did extremely bright and massive quasars come to be? 

“Our results show that there’s still a significant piece of the puzzle missing of how these supermassive black holes grow,” Eilers says. “If there’s not enough material around for some quasars to be able to grow continuously, that means there must be some other way that they can grow, that we have yet to figure out.”

IMAGE: This image, taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, shows an ancient quasar (circled in red) with fewer than expected neighboring galaxies (bright blobs), challenging physicists’ understanding of how the first quasars and supermassive black holes formed. Credit Christina Eilers/EIGER team

[mindblowingscience]

If we could travel far beyond our galaxy, and look back upon the Milky Way, it would be a glorious sight. Luminous spirals stretching from a central core, with dust and nebulae scattered along the spiral edges. When you think about a galaxy, you probably imagine a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way, but spirals make up only about 60% of the galaxies we see. That's because spiral galaxies only form when smaller galaxies collide and merge over time. Or so we thought, as a new study posted to the arXiv preprint server suggests that isn't the case. The standard model of galaxies is that they evolve over time. Galaxies formed from vast clouds of primordial hydrogen and helium, and so likely had a fairly amorphous structure at the beginning. Given the density of the early universe, galactic collisions and mergers were common, which gave galaxies their rotations and caused them to form disks and spirals. All of this takes time, so we would expect spiral galaxies to be fairly common in the local universe, but rare in the early universe.

Continue Reading.

[illuminatedquill]

Sabine Wren

Tale As Old As Time

Story Summary: On a cool evening night on Peridea, Sabine and Ahsoka discuss the stories they wish to leave as their legacy.

Evening was falling; a cool breeze whispered through the Noti encampment to herald the coming dark.

Preparations had already been made to move the next morning. Sabine had come to appreciate the constant movement of the strange crab-like beings that had welcomed them into their company. It gave her a sense of purpose; something to focus on in the meantime while her master figured out their next move.

Huddled around the campfire, her belly full after a good dinner consisting of some spicy stew, Sabine listened to the chatter of the Noti around her and gazed into the luminous night sky above.

“It still amazes me, no matter how much I look at it,” said a familiar voice. Sabine turned to find her master, Ahsoka Tano, walking up to the campfire, Huyang close behind.

Sabine agreed. Many evenings on Lothal had provided her with a wondrous view of the stars but Peridea had it beat by a large margin.

Ahsoka sat down next to her Padawan with a slight huff. After a moment, the older Jedi asked, “Would you like to hear a story, Sabine?”

Sabine blinked. “Aren’t I a little too old for bedtime stories?”

“One is never too old,” Ahsoka chided, “to hear a good story, my Padawan.”

Huyang offered, “I have plenty to offer in that department, Lady Wren.”

Sabine considered that. “What kind of stories?” she asked.

“Tales of the Jedi, and their numerous exploits across the galaxy,” said Huyang.

Sabine’s eyebrows raised in astonishment. “I thought the Empire wiped out all stories of the Jedi. Or replaced it with their own propaganda.”

“Oh, they tried,” replied Ahsoka. “To their credit, they did do a thorough job of it. Most of the modern galactic citizens don’t know much about the Jedi at all, despite the purge happening fairly recently in our lifetime.”

She smiled a little. “But they couldn’t erase all of it. The Jedi existed for a millennium before the Empire. Their stories are written in the very fabric of the galaxy.”

“Are there stories about you, Master?”

Ahsoka laughed. “Oh, I’m sure. I traveled a fair amount back in my youth.”

Sabine looked to Huyang with a grin. “Are there any funny ones about her, Huyang?”

Huyang pondered for a moment before replying. “There is one where she had to pretend to be someone’s fiancée. It was with a boy named Lux, I believe-”

Ahsoka, embarrassment coloring her tone, interrupted him. “Okay, maybe not that one.”

Sabine’s grin turned mischievous. “Oh, did you have a crush on him, my master?”

Ahsoka crossed her arms and sighed. “It was complicated. Happened during the Clone Wars.”

“Oh.” Sabine dropped her teasing. “What happened to him?”

Ahsoka seemed to withdraw into herself. “I’m not sure. I heard rumors of his death during the Rebellion.”

Sabine felt a gentle sadness and regret pulsing out from her master. She decided to drop the subject.

“What kind of story would you like to be remembered for, Lady Tano?” asked Huyang.

Ahsoka blinked at the droid. “That’s quite the question, Huyang.”

“You’re a hero,” suggested Sabine. “You’ve helped so many. So maybe a heroic story.”

“Jedi don’t do this to be remembered, Sabine,” reminded Ahsoka. “We do it because it’s right.”

The older Jedi stared into the fire. “I’m not sure I want to be remembered at all,” she confessed. “I haven’t always done the right thing.”

Sabine said, “But you’ve always done the best you can. I’ve never seen you settle for anything less.”

It felt weird defending Ahsoka against herself. She had rarely seen her master be so unsure before.

Ahsoka smiled appreciatively at Sabine. “That’s true.”

She looked at Huyang. “I suppose that’s the story I’d like to be known for: someone who tried her best to help out.”

“Very appropriate,” observed Huyang. “I’ll keep that in mind for future reference, Lady Tano.”

The droid turned to Sabine. “And you, Lady Wren? When the time comes, what kind of story would you like to leave behind?”

Sabine blew out a breath. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “It’s still being written.”

“A good answer,” said Ahsoka. “You’ll have plenty of time to decide.”

“I would suggest a comedy,” offered Huyang.

Annoyed, Sabine flicked a pebble at the droid. It dinged on his metallic exterior, satisfyingly.

Ahsoka laughed. “Go ahead with a story, Huyang. There’s a funny one with Master Yoda, if I recall? When he spent time with the Wookies.”

“Ah, yes,” said Huyang, approvingly. “That is a good story.”

Ahsoka settled into a more comfortable position. Sabine followed suit, leaning in with interest.

“A long time ago,” started Huyang, “in a galaxy, far, far away . . .”

When the story was over, Ahsoka stood and stretched her back. “You’ll take first watch?” she asked Sabine.

Sabine nodded. “Sleep well, Ahsoka. Same to you, Huyang.”

Huyang replied, “As a reminder: I am droid, and therefore do not require sleep.”

She rolled her eyes. “I will throw a bigger rock at you next time,” Sabine promised.

After they left, Sabine took a stick and poked at the campfire. The Noti had retired to their huts; she was alone with her thoughts.

She leaned back and gazed into the star-lit night sky over her head.

When the time comes, what kind of story would you like to leave behind?

Sabine thought of her life so far; what had been lost and sacrificed.

Her mistakes and failures.

Should it be a tragedy? A cautionary tale for others?

As she brooded, the fire began to die out. Reaching out for another log to feed it, she paused.

“I don’t want to be a tragedy,” she said out loud.

She tossed the log into the campfire and it roared back to life. Sabine watched the glowing embers rise on the night breeze, drifting into the night sky like fiery petals.

She thought of home. Not Mandalore - but Lothal. Her loth-cat, Murley.

Kanan. Hera. Jacen. Zeb. Chopper.

My family. The names repeated in her head, over and over, like some sacred prayer.

And, of course, whenever it was darkest for her, she thought of him.

Sabine looked back into the fire, feeling it’s warmth flow into her.

Ezra filled her mind and, like the campfire, beat back the darkness. It was his constant gift to her; making the dark small.

When the time comes, what kind of story would you like to leave behind?

Sabine smiled. She had her answer.

Whispering, Sabine says it to herself, as though she was uttering a private, secret wish.

“A love story.”

[astronomyforastrologers]

Scorpio’s Lighthouse ~ 20 Oct 2023

Scorpio’s Lighthouse ~ 20 Oct 2023, Philip Sedgwick

Today Ceres in Scorpio aligns with APR220 (approximately 14 Scorpio 04 as of 2023), a unique black hole system. Also known as IC1127 or 616H, this black hole from which no light can escape, weirdly and ironically, stands out as the brightest object in our local universe. The result of a collision of two galaxies, the resulting singularity became ultra-luminous as it heats up the galactic atmosphere.

Consider this black hole a beacon - lighthouse like. The primary utility of this object seeks to guide galactic travelers away from pot holes and road blocks such that in the real world, they navigate well around objects that might induce a stumble. And this black hole combines information and insights into an organized and useful melting pot that becomes a solid philosophy. Imagine functioning in the real world in ways that dart and shift like a graceful super star athlete on the pitch.

Why so much insight from this black hole? In addition to marking the focal point of the black hole, this degree is the virtual intersection of the Galactic and Super-Galactic Centers. This intersection creates several interesting buttons to click in the multiple choice section of life. First, when it comes to information gathering, take only those insights and prompts that succinctly and effortless guide you on your path. Anything that does not further, you can leave behind. Second, work out any subconscious interference to your consciously declared agenda. Avoid the urge to bet against yourself or attempt to manipulate circumstances with double negatives intending to cancel out and conjure up a positive. State clearly and emphatically those conditions you consciously seek, confident that personal fears are recognized and neutralized.

Right now, while the world is as it is, what to do to invoke the best of the patterns?

Ceres advocates for passion. Sure, both sides in any conflict passionately (and sometimes blindly) pursue causes with full conviction and unrelenting determination. Remember that Jupiter intercedes in these matters, and works with Mercury and others to negotiate outcomes that work for the greater good. Ultimately, Jupiter’s outcomes, though self-serving, provide more than liveable conditions for all. He stands on the bridge of the ship and reminds the individual on the helm to be aware that the rocky crag shoreline is where it is and to steer clear, while remaining aware of the wind and tidal forces. His final caution notes that those things at which a person stares, they tend to steer toward. So, create fine foci for pursuit.

On 30 October Mercury in Scorpio aligns with APR220, “Trick or Treat,” is quite apt for this transit. The idea is that with proper reward, no shenanigans are necessary. Is it a bribe? Trickery? Sleight of hand? Nope. The ideal manifestation declares affirmatively what is wanted and when received a proper “thank you” fits the bill. When the Universe provides guidance that declares an optimal course ahead, give thanks. Express gratitude. And perhaps adopt the doctrine of thanking in advance or engaging in well-intentioned propitiation.

02 November Mars in Scorpio crosses the degree of APR220, without crossing the black hole attitudinally. Here, one may confront the cosmic plan that states: Here’s what must be done to get from here to there in good fashion. Sometimes, some of the plotted points rub sensitivities and reactions the wrong way. The point is, these factors are known to be “must do.” Emotionally wrap around necessities despite personal preferences, and structure a plan so that those essential “not so enthused about” steps become most easily transacted. Mars suggests taking on any life unpleasantness during times of high (not frantic or reactive) energy. Then, ease back, settle into the fun stuff and enjoy the ride. Similar to the other “M” planet to APR220, take time to notice and savor accomplishments and tasks well accomplished. Such personally applied accolades serve the next direct contact to this black hole.

The next direct contact to APR220 occurs on 06 November with Sun conjoining. It is time for conscious realization of “You Are Here.” It is time to acknowledge all the things that got you here and that without those events and interactions, you would not be here. It is time for selecting life options that serve your greatest desires. It is time for being the energy you wish to manifest. This is not “fake it ‘til you make it.” This “be it,” realize it, then be it some more.

Also, Mercury quincunxes Eris and the north lunar node in Aries at the same time the Sun is with APR220. This suggests realizing and fully communicating your best fit in the world, with your real world plan and within your cosmic agenda. For those with whom you interact on a regular basis, it is important to clearly listen to their articulations describing their self-centered reality and to accept that as a nonnegotiable consideration.

When realizing that those “with” you possess tracks not perfectly aligned with yours, the matter becomes that of defining how to cooperatively engage with those others for the benefit of all. Also at this time Venus in the mature degrees of Virgo undisputedly moves into orb of the Super-Galactic Center (ZS) in Libra. While not yet in the sign of ZS, this marks the remove-the-wheat-from-the-chaff tasks. Life becomes an energetic matter of noticing where one feels attracted to engage and where one feels repelled to either not engage or disengage. With Venus to this supermassive black hole system and the Sun to APR, the matter at hand is to find ones perfect energetic place with others and to share similar tracks. Seek a personal Goldilocks Zone of having just the right amount... not too much... not too little... alignment and interaction with all the perfectly guiding persons and forces in life.

Given the strangeness of the times, considering the life distractions at hand personally and globally, take time to spot the helpful navigational sources in life, gratefully comply with directive assistance and make the most out of the unabated creative flow and pursuit of passion that fills the air.

More soon.

One Stop Shopping Order Form Astrological Textso

Meteoric the Movie on Vimeo ZAP! on Vimeo

[rutilated-quarz]

Round 2 of my OC sexyman poll! There were a couple of 50/50s in the first round, so the next round of those will be 1v1v1s. Links to the rounds will be added as they go up!

Ennui vs Flux

Synchronicity vs Lumin vs Electra

The Alchemist vs Null Pointer

Neo vs Ren vs Quarz

More info about the characters under the cut.

Ennui

[profile link here]

Originally a D&D-inspired OC, now just a general OC

Lich that was so so shit at magic when he was alive but now that he's dead he's actually sort of decent at it

Worldhopper - he travels between universes, using a jury-rigged super powerful explosion spell to catapult himself into a different universe by destroying the one he's currently in.

He only cares about one person, and that's his demonic boyfriend Alu. Anyone else can get fucked, as far as he's concerned.

Flux

[profile link here]

General OC in the same world as some of my and my friend's kinsonas

Her species infects the brain of other species, appearing as a sort of ghost or hallucination until they mature enough to become physical, bursting out of the host's body and killing them in the process. They usally give their host immense bloodlust and taste for raw meat. [mmm flux hungy feed her tasty prion diseases]

On that note, the most lame and cringefail of her entire species. She's supposed to get her host to kill and stuff like that, but she mostly just annoys and makes fun of him.

Synchronicity

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC

One of the fair folk, lives in the deep forest and would quite like not to be disturbed.

Finds great fun in tormenting whatever non-fae might cross their path

Thought NitroLock_ was fun to 'play with', so when they got his name, they kept him around to do some work for them.

Kind of sadistic, sometimes. Usually. Most of the time.

Has stolen peoples blood to use for sympathetic magic before

Lumin

[profile link here]

Originally designed as a general oc, but quickly adapted into a Cosmosdex (Tegyp) OC.

Almost never wears a shirt under his open suit jacket, unless he's pretty much forced to.

Kind of an alcoholic. Tries to pretend he's a fun partyboy, but he just gets all miserable.

Very into modifying robots. He claims he improves them, but he's fucked up a perfectly good Cupid unit is what he's done. Look at it, it's got anxiety.

Electra

[profile link here]

Sonic OC, builds and codes robots for a living.

She has built a robot that she considers her son, so she could technically be a MILF, if you're into that.

Mega autism and hyperfixated on engineering. Would love to infodump about whatever her current project may be, and gets super attached to everything she builds.

The Alchemist

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC, an AU of Ruti.

Basically what would've happened if Ruti grew up with other magic users who could've taught him how to use his magic.

It speaks primarily Standard Galactic.

Never calls people by their names, instead using a title/other noun ["shopkeeper" or "friend" or "thief", etc.] because names have immense power in a language as soaked with magic as Standard Galactic is, and that habit carries over into other languages.

Makes potions. Definitely legally.

"ruti" "the cooler ruti"

Null Pointer

[profile link here]

BNHA/MHA OC, but liable to become a general OC any day now.

he/she girlboything

Has the ability to lag herself out of reality for a bit; from an outside perspective, this looks like freezing in place and loosing all collision before abruptly teleporting.

Also has the ability to hack any sufficiently complex technology, as long as line-of-sight is maintained.

His mascot [the little demon dude shown next to him] shows up on the screen of any technology he hacks. Just to be cocky about it.

Generally very cocky and aggressive while fighting/sparring, or just in general.

She has 97 mental illnesses and is banned from most public spaces

Ren

[profile link here]

OC for Monkey Wrench [by Zeurel on Youtube]

Big bear of a man [in the gay sense]

Mechanic/weaponsmith/arms dealer

Former mercenary. Would take out entire ship crews by sneaking on under the guise of a mechanic and "fixing" their ship [rigging it to blow as soon as he got to safety.]

Neo

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC, specifically for Empires SMP Season 2

Has ice magic powers, and lives in an Ice Spikes biome.

Its moral compass is a fucking roulette wheel

Tries to be nice, but has a very skewed idea of what "nice" and "good" is.

Would probably keep you as a pet if you asked

Quarz

[profile link here]

General OC

Shapeshifter, and he uses this power for evil. [Shapeshifts into whoever he's talking to in order to psych them out, though he claims it's to "level the playing field".]

Sort of a sardonic personality, often deriding others and putting himself above them. He does it to distract himself from feeling shitty about himself, but you could never get him to admit that.

Loves to inflict terrible events and circumstances on others [my ocs. or sometimes my blorbo du jour]. It is his favorite activity

[wuorija]

Celebrating Digital winter: Crafting Your Galactic Avatar with iFoto's PFP Maker

As the days grow shorter and the nights stretch into infinity, a subtle move occurs in the fabric of our digital universe. Across the cybernetic landscapes of social media platforms, a festival spirit stirs, carried on the binary winds of innovation and tradition. It is here, in this realm of zeroes and ones, where the magic of Christmas alights like a constellation of stars, each one an individual beacon of holiday cheer. How does one participate in this luminous digital pageant? Enter the world of iFoto's PFP Maker.

Imagine stepping into a chamber where the ordinary changes into the extraordinary, a place where the mundane becomes a canvas for your festive imagination. This is no mere snap of a camera, but a conversion—a metamorphosis where your everyday visage moves seamlessly into a avatar resonant with the Christmas season. The PFP Maker is the alchemist in this tale, turning the leaden weight of your run-of-the-mill photograph into the gold of thematic splendor.

As the snowflakes drift down through the night sky, each one a unique design, so too can your profile picture be a singular expression of the holidays. iFoto's PFP Maker asks: why settle for the expected when the tools for invention lie at your fingertips? The universe of customization is vast, and within it, every choice you make can tell a story. What story will your avatar share?

The PFP Maker operates as both guide and sorcerer, offering an array of themes and filters. It's like casting a spell, only instead of ancient incantations, you tap and swipe. The touch of a finger, the whisper of a wish, and voilà! You are transported to a world where your digital self mirrors the joy of the season. This tool doesn't just change your appearance—it evolves it, aligning you with the grand tapestry of the winter festivities that unfold around us.

But let's ponder the significance of this transformation. In an era where identity is increasingly digital, what does it mean to alter one's online persona for the holidays? It's about joining a collective narrative, a shared human experience. By slipping into a Santa hat or donning a pair of reindeer antlers through the PFP Maker, you signal to the world that you are part of the Christmas story. It's a subtle nod, an acknowledgment of the bonds we form through shared celebration.

Customization is the true spirit of the holidays, isn't it? We decorate our homes, wrap gifts in unique patterns, and craft personalized cards. So why wouldn't we personalize our digital presence as well? With iFoto's PFP Maker, the choice isn't just between a festive image and a plain one; it's between participating actively or observing passively. It's the difference between a silent night and one filled with laughter and song.

Moreover, this transformation is not just about individual expression; it's about connection. As your new avatar travels through the vast social media cosmos, it carries a piece of you to every corner, every friend, every encounter. It bridges distances, reminding loved ones that even though miles may separate us, the spirit of Christmas unites us. With iFoto's PFP Maker, you send a message across the stars, saying, "I am here. I am part of this.

Consider the act of changing your profile picture as a digital version of the ancient tradition of wearing festive attire. It's a way of showing respect for the occasion, of getting into the spirit. When you update your profile with a Christmas-themed avatar, you're donning digital decorations, partaking in a ritual as old as time yet as fresh as the latest innovation.

As the festive season sweeps across our digital landscapes, consider yourself an artist and iFoto's PFP Maker your brush and palette. The canvas is your social media profile, a space waiting to reflect the light and joy of the holidays. So, as you stand on the threshold of this digital winter wonderland, what story will you tell with your avatar? What joy will you share? The PFP Maker is ready, waiting to weave your digital tale into the grand narrative of Christmas cheer.

[thisismycorneroftheinternet]

Two panels from Chapter 2 of my comic

This has been 3 years ago at this point, but I'm still so proud of mainly the court scene on that chapter. There's so much detail that has to do with worldbuilding. The luminous floor tiles and pillars that are meant to have pulses of light are all fed by the power grid of the Universal Empire's central castle-planet, which in turn is fed by the pulsating jet of a luminous, massive active galactic nucleus (a black hole with an accretion disk that generates massive amounts of light and expels so much matter and photons as jets due to the interactions of the forces near the event horizon, that it shines brighter than the galaxy that it inhabits) which the planet orbits. This same power grid feeds an extensive portal system connected to the outer doors of the castle, which are indicated with intricate murals of the locations those portals lead to, and the servants of the Universal Empire can access and use to take shortcuts and travel to and from the Empire's heart planet to even its edges.

The parts of the flooring and the throne the Empress sits on is all carved from a dead star's black diamond core, which is a thing that can happen, stars that die as white dwarfs and eventually cool down have so much carbon in high pressure that it forms a diamond, which would be black because of the presence of all other elements. The different aliens that I show on the scene are all from different subjugated civilizations under the Universal Empire, some who are also Warriors under the other carriers of elemental talismans. The yellow owl-like alien present here is Lady Aeolus, the Air Messenger, a shape-shifting space harpy who can travel through the vacuum of space, who comes from a planet called Pteria that has a highly tiered cast society based on their size and diet, and has heavy parallels to not only greco-roman aesthetic but a lot of its values, but mixed with avian instinct turned culture.

Also that's the Sorceress, on the right, as portrayed in the Empire's fearful prediction if she keeps on taking down the Talisman carriers and ends up acquiring a power equal to the power of the Empress, a world-destroying, spacetime shifting power. She was part of the Earth King's court and species (the Earth King being literally a sentient planet with a whole civilization of cervid-like bipedal aliens who serve him) until she fell under the influence of chaotic demons and now wants to seek the destruction of it all.

IDK, there's so much more that I still want to write about on my comic, but yeah, those little scenes and snippets have so much that I've been thinking about for years.

drawn on GIMP. All the characters in this comic series are mine. If you're seeking commissions from me, here's my page. Also, support me on Ko-fi here! Lastly, check out my Neocities website to see more of my work.

[sunaleisocial]

Astronomers detect ancient lonely quasars with murky origins

New Post has been published on https://sunalei.org/news/astronomers-detect-ancient-lonely-quasars-with-murky-origins/

Astronomers detect ancient lonely quasars with murky origins

A quasar is the extremely bright core of a galaxy that hosts an active supermassive black hole at its center. As the black hole draws in surrounding gas and dust, it blasts out an enormous amount of energy, making quasars some of the brightest objects in the universe. Quasars have been observed as early as a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, and it’s been a mystery as to how these objects could have grown so bright and massive in such a short amount of cosmic time.

Scientists have proposed that the earliest quasars sprang from overly dense regions of primordial matter, which would also have produced many smaller galaxies in the quasars’ environment. But in a new MIT-led study, astronomers observed some ancient quasars that appear to be surprisingly alone in the early universe.

The astronomers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to peer back in time, more than 13 billion years, to study the cosmic surroundings of five known ancient quasars. They found a surprising variety in their neighborhoods, or “quasar fields.” While some quasars reside in very crowded fields with more than 50 neighboring galaxies, as all models predict, the remaining quasars appear to drift in voids, with only a few stray galaxies in their vicinity.

These lonely quasars are challenging physicists’ understanding of how such luminous objects could have formed so early on in the universe, without a significant source of surrounding matter to fuel their black hole growth.

“Contrary to previous belief, we find on average, these quasars are not necessarily in those highest-density regions of the early universe. Some of them seem to be sitting in the middle of nowhere,” says Anna-Christina Eilers, assistant professor of physics at MIT. “It’s difficult to explain how these quasars could have grown so big if they appear to have nothing to feed from.”

There is a possibility that these quasars may not be as solitary as they appear, but are instead surrounded by galaxies that are heavily shrouded in dust and therefore hidden from view. Eilers and her colleagues hope to tune their observations to try and see through any such cosmic dust, in order to understand how quasars grew so big, so fast, in the early universe.

Eilers and her colleagues report their findings in a paper appearing today in the Astrophysical Journal. The MIT co-authors include postdocs Rohan Naidu and Minghao Yue; Robert Simcoe, the Francis Friedman Professor of Physics and director of MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research; and collaborators from institutions including Leiden University, the University of California at Santa Barbara, ETH Zurich, and elsewhere.

Galactic neighbors

The five newly observed quasars are among the oldest quasars observed to date. More than 13 billion years old, the objects are thought to have formed between 600 to 700 million years after the Big Bang. The supermassive black holes powering the quasars are a billion times more massive than the sun, and more than a trillion times brighter. Due to their extreme luminosity, the light from each quasar is able to travel over the age of the universe, far enough to reach JWST’s highly sensitive detectors today.

“It’s just phenomenal that we now have a telescope that can capture light from 13 billion years ago in so much detail,” Eilers says. “For the first time, JWST enabled us to look at the environment of these quasars, where they grew up, and what their neighborhood was like.”

The team analyzed images of the five ancient quasars taken by JWST between August 2022 and June 2023. The observations of each quasar comprised multiple “mosaic” images, or partial views of the quasar’s field, which the team effectively stitched together to produce a complete picture of each quasar’s surrounding neighborhood.

The telescope also took measurements of light in multiple wavelengths across each quasar’s field, which the team then processed to determine whether a given object in the field was light from a neighboring galaxy, and how far a galaxy is from the much more luminous central quasar.

“We found that the only difference between these five quasars is that their environments look so different,” Eilers says. “For instance, one quasar has almost 50 galaxies around it, while another has just two. And both quasars are within the same size, volume, brightness, and time of the universe. That was really surprising to see.”

Growth spurts

The disparity in quasar fields introduces a kink in the standard picture of black hole growth and galaxy formation. According to physicists’ best understanding of how the first objects in the universe emerged, a cosmic web of dark matter should have set the course. Dark matter is an as-yet unknown form of matter that has no other interactions with its surroundings other than through gravity.

Shortly after the Big Bang, the early universe is thought to have formed filaments of dark matter that acted as a sort of gravitational road, attracting gas and dust along its tendrils. In overly dense regions of this web, matter would have accumulated to form more massive objects. And the brightest, most massive early objects, such as quasars, would have formed in the web’s highest-density regions, which would have also churned out many more, smaller galaxies.

“The cosmic web of dark matter is a solid prediction of our cosmological model of the Universe, and it can be described in detail using numerical simulations,” says co-author Elia Pizzati, a graduate student at Leiden University. “By comparing our observations to these simulations, we can determine where in the cosmic web quasars are located.”

Scientists estimate that quasars would have had to grow continuously with very high accretion rates in order to reach the extreme mass and luminosities at the times that astronomers have observed them, fewer than 1 billion years after the Big Bang.

“The main question we’re trying to answer is, how do these billion-solar-mass black holes form at a time when the universe is still really, really young? It’s still in its infancy,” Eilers says.

The team’s findings may raise more questions than answers. The “lonely” quasars appear to live in relatively empty regions of space. If physicists’ cosmological models are correct, these barren regions signify very little dark matter, or starting material for brewing up stars and galaxies. How, then, did extremely bright and massive quasars come to be?

“Our results show that there’s still a significant piece of the puzzle missing of how these supermassive black holes grow,” Eilers says. “If there’s not enough material around for some quasars to be able to grow continuously, that means there must be some other way that they can grow, that we have yet to figure out.”

This research was supported, in part, by the European Research Council. 

[jcmarchi]

Astronomers detect ancient lonely quasars with murky origins

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/astronomers-detect-ancient-lonely-quasars-with-murky-origins/

Astronomers detect ancient lonely quasars with murky origins

A quasar is the extremely bright core of a galaxy that hosts an active supermassive black hole at its center. As the black hole draws in surrounding gas and dust, it blasts out an enormous amount of energy, making quasars some of the brightest objects in the universe. Quasars have been observed as early as a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, and it’s been a mystery as to how these objects could have grown so bright and massive in such a short amount of cosmic time.

Scientists have proposed that the earliest quasars sprang from overly dense regions of primordial matter, which would also have produced many smaller galaxies in the quasars’ environment. But in a new MIT-led study, astronomers observed some ancient quasars that appear to be surprisingly alone in the early universe.

The astronomers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to peer back in time, more than 13 billion years, to study the cosmic surroundings of five known ancient quasars. They found a surprising variety in their neighborhoods, or “quasar fields.” While some quasars reside in very crowded fields with more than 50 neighboring galaxies, as all models predict, the remaining quasars appear to drift in voids, with only a few stray galaxies in their vicinity.

These lonely quasars are challenging physicists’ understanding of how such luminous objects could have formed so early on in the universe, without a significant source of surrounding matter to fuel their black hole growth.

“Contrary to previous belief, we find on average, these quasars are not necessarily in those highest-density regions of the early universe. Some of them seem to be sitting in the middle of nowhere,” says Anna-Christina Eilers, assistant professor of physics at MIT. “It’s difficult to explain how these quasars could have grown so big if they appear to have nothing to feed from.”

There is a possibility that these quasars may not be as solitary as they appear, but are instead surrounded by galaxies that are heavily shrouded in dust and therefore hidden from view. Eilers and her colleagues hope to tune their observations to try and see through any such cosmic dust, in order to understand how quasars grew so big, so fast, in the early universe.

Eilers and her colleagues report their findings in a paper appearing today in the Astrophysical Journal. The MIT co-authors include postdocs Rohan Naidu and Minghao Yue; Robert Simcoe, the Francis Friedman Professor of Physics and director of MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research; and collaborators from institutions including Leiden University, the University of California at Santa Barbara, ETH Zurich, and elsewhere.

Galactic neighbors

The five newly observed quasars are among the oldest quasars observed to date. More than 13 billion years old, the objects are thought to have formed between 600 to 700 million years after the Big Bang. The supermassive black holes powering the quasars are a billion times more massive than the sun, and more than a trillion times brighter. Due to their extreme luminosity, the light from each quasar is able to travel over the age of the universe, far enough to reach JWST’s highly sensitive detectors today.

“It’s just phenomenal that we now have a telescope that can capture light from 13 billion years ago in so much detail,” Eilers says. “For the first time, JWST enabled us to look at the environment of these quasars, where they grew up, and what their neighborhood was like.”

The team analyzed images of the five ancient quasars taken by JWST between August 2022 and June 2023. The observations of each quasar comprised multiple “mosaic” images, or partial views of the quasar’s field, which the team effectively stitched together to produce a complete picture of each quasar’s surrounding neighborhood.

The telescope also took measurements of light in multiple wavelengths across each quasar’s field, which the team then processed to determine whether a given object in the field was light from a neighboring galaxy, and how far a galaxy is from the much more luminous central quasar.

“We found that the only difference between these five quasars is that their environments look so different,” Eilers says. “For instance, one quasar has almost 50 galaxies around it, while another has just two. And both quasars are within the same size, volume, brightness, and time of the universe. That was really surprising to see.”

Growth spurts

The disparity in quasar fields introduces a kink in the standard picture of black hole growth and galaxy formation. According to physicists’ best understanding of how the first objects in the universe emerged, a cosmic web of dark matter should have set the course. Dark matter is an as-yet unknown form of matter that has no other interactions with its surroundings other than through gravity.

Shortly after the Big Bang, the early universe is thought to have formed filaments of dark matter that acted as a sort of gravitational road, attracting gas and dust along its tendrils. In overly dense regions of this web, matter would have accumulated to form more massive objects. And the brightest, most massive early objects, such as quasars, would have formed in the web’s highest-density regions, which would have also churned out many more, smaller galaxies.

“The cosmic web of dark matter is a solid prediction of our cosmological model of the Universe, and it can be described in detail using numerical simulations,” says co-author Elia Pizzati, a graduate student at Leiden University. “By comparing our observations to these simulations, we can determine where in the cosmic web quasars are located.”

Scientists estimate that quasars would have had to grow continuously with very high accretion rates in order to reach the extreme mass and luminosities at the times that astronomers have observed them, fewer than 1 billion years after the Big Bang.

“The main question we’re trying to answer is, how do these billion-solar-mass black holes form at a time when the universe is still really, really young? It’s still in its infancy,” Eilers says.

The team’s findings may raise more questions than answers. The “lonely” quasars appear to live in relatively empty regions of space. If physicists’ cosmological models are correct, these barren regions signify very little dark matter, or starting material for brewing up stars and galaxies. How, then, did extremely bright and massive quasars come to be?

“Our results show that there’s still a significant piece of the puzzle missing of how these supermassive black holes grow,” Eilers says. “If there’s not enough material around for some quasars to be able to grow continuously, that means there must be some other way that they can grow, that we have yet to figure out.”

This research was supported, in part, by the European Research Council. 

[sciencestyled]

Aurora’s Whimsical Guide to Celestial Lights: A Galactic Tale

Once upon a starlit eve, in the enchanting expanse of the cosmos, there resided Aurora, the whimsical goddess of dawn. With a twinkle in her eye and a swirl of her celestial gown, she embarked on a spirited endeavor to illuminate the wonders of Earth’s auroras - both Northern and Southern Lights - with her trademark mix of humor and wisdom.

“Greetings, my stargazing sprites and space-time travelers!” Aurora chimed, her voice echoing through the galaxies. “I, the ever-effervescent Aurora, am thrilled to guide you through the marvels of our universe’s most spectacular night shows – the auroras. Let's uncover the mysteries of these night-sky delights with a touch of humor and a rainbow of scientific facts!”

Aurora began by painting a vivid picture of the night sky transforming into an astonishing light display. “Imagine the heavens suddenly bursting into a canvas of shimmering colors, like an artist liberally splashing neon hues across a dark, velvety sky. That, my dear friends, is the aurora - a celestial spectacle that has puzzled mortals since time immemorial.”

She revealed the science behind these mesmerizing lights. “These aren’t just atmospheric decorations, oh no! They’re the result of our dear Earth, the charming blue marble, colliding with particles from our Sun – that great, fiery star. These solar particles, thrown out like cosmic confetti, meet Earth’s gases, leading to a show of dazzling lights. It’s nature’s own neon billboard, inviting us to gaze in wonder.”

Aurora then took her audience on a tour of the two types of auroras: the Aurora Borealis, a luminous tiara gracing the northern hemisphere, and the Aurora Australis, a swirling, colorful skirt around the southern pole. “Both are like nature’s disco balls, turning the sky into a photon-filled dance club,” she quipped.

The goddess elaborated on the colors of these lights. “It’s all about atmospheric gases meeting solar particles. Oxygen gives us greens and reds, while nitrogen, the bashful cousin of oxygen, bestows blues and purples. A veritable rainbow in the sky!”

Aurora didn’t forget to honor the Earth’s magnetic field, the unsung hero of this phenomenon. “This invisible shield is our cosmic bouncer, directing solar particles towards the poles, crafting these splendid lights. Without it, our nights would be far less magical.”

Thus, Aurora, with her captivating storytelling, unraveled the mysteries of the auroras. She transformed complex science into an enchanting narrative, drawing her audience into a world where celestial phenomena danced hand-in-hand with myth and legend.

“And so,” Aurora concluded with a graceful bow, “our auroral journey comes to an end. Remember, every time you witness the auroras, you’re seeing a cosmic ballet choreographed by the universe itself. Until our next celestial rendezvous, keep your eyes on the skies and your hearts filled with wonder!”

And with that, the goddess of dawn dissolved into the first light of day, leaving behind a trail of stardust and an audience forever enchanted by the mysteries of the auroras.

[julierysava]

Voyage of the Starborne Seeker

In the galactic tapestry of the cosmos, where constellations told tales of forgotten realms, Captain Nylomy commanded the starship Celestial Seeker. Her journey through the cosmic ocean was not just a mission; it was a quest for the mysteries which lay beyond the shimmering veil of stars.

The Celestial Seeker, adorned with the scars of interstellar travels, carried a crew as diverse as the galaxies themselves. Among them was Navigator Aric Voss, a keen mind with eyes held the reflections of distant quasars. His nimble fingers danced across holographic star charts, guiding the ship through the celestial symphony.

One fateful day, the Seeker detected anomalous readings from the Nebula of Eternity—a cosmic enigma which whispered promises of untold knowledge. Captain Nylomy, fueled by an insatiable curiosity, set a course for the heart of the nebula.

As the ship ventured deeper, the fabric of space itself seemed to ripple, revealing a corridor to a dimension untouched by mortal hands. The crew, a mosaic of races from far-flung stars, hesitated before this cosmic gateway.

Captain Nylomy, a beacon of determination, led her crew into the unknown. The corridor, a ribbon of iridescence, unfolded like a cosmic road. They emerged on the other side in the Astral Atrium—a celestial nexus suspended amidst the kaleidoscopic nebulae.

Here, they encountered the Luminal Scribes, ethereal beings who chronicled the eons in celestial scripts. The leader, a being of pure light named Marooy, beckoned Nylomy to partake in the weaving of cosmic tales.

Each crew member found a connection with the Astral Atrium. Aric communed with celestial mathematicians, exchanging algorithms that transcended mortal comprehension. Engineer Kaela discovered the harmonies of cosmic energies, tuning the ship's engines to resonate with the music of the spheres.

Captain Nylomy, with hands bathed in starlight, wove her story into the fabric of the universe. The Luminal Scribes, in turn, gifted the Seeker with a stardust-infused crystal—an artifact of cosmic wisdom.

As the Celestial Seeker departed the Astral Atrium, the crew carried with them the echoes of celestial knowledge. Captain Nylomy, now a guardian of cosmic lore, charted a course for unexplored galaxies, her eyes reflecting the luminous trails of newfound wisdom.

And so, under the boundless canopy of stars, the Starborne Seeker continued its voyage—a vessel of dreams, sailing through the cosmic sea in pursuit of the next chapter in the endless saga of the universe.

[spacenutspod]

Fast Radio Bursts are an astrophysical enigma. They are intense bursts of radio energy lasting anywhere from a fraction of a millisecond to a few seconds, typically with a frequency of around 1,400 MHz, and we still don’t know what causes them. They were first detected in 2007 but were initially so rare and short-lived that it was difficult to confirm they weren’t terrestrial in origin. With the inauguration of the CHIME telescope and other wide-field radio observatories, we started observing lots of them, which confirmed they were both astrophysical and mostly coming from outside our galaxy. Now one has been observed from a galaxy 8 billion light years away, and it could help us solve a cosmological mystery. The dominant theory for Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) is that they are caused by magnetars. Neutron stars with an extremely strong magnetic field. Just as the Sun’s magnetic field can trigger solar flares, magnetars could experience magnetic flares that emit flashes of radio light. We know they are extragalactic because they occur all over the sky, not just along the galactic plane of the Milky Way. Measuring their distance is a bit more tricky. Distribution of FRBs seen by CHIME. Credit: CHIME/FRB Collaboration Since FRBs emit a radio pulse at a uniform frequency, we can use what is known as a Dispersion Measure (DM) to determine distance. When the radio pulse passes through ionized intergalactic gas, higher frequencies pass through it a bit faster than lower frequencies. This is similar to the way visible light is refracted by a piece of glass. Violet is refracted the most and red the least because violet light takes a bit longer to pass through the glass than red light. What this means is that rather than seeing the FRB light all at once, we see the lower frequencies a bit later than the higher ones. The more distant the FRB, the more intergalactic plasma it passes through to reach us, and the greater the dispersion. Of course, to use this for distance, you’d need to know the distribution of intergalactic plasma. If there are clumps of plasma between close galaxies, the FRB would have a dispersion measure similar to that of distant galaxies with little intergalactic plasma between them. Unfortunately, we don’t have a good mapping of intergalactic plasma. It’s a missing part of the “total mass” of the Universe. We know it’s there, we just aren’t sure how much of it is there. This new discovery could help change that. Known as FRB 20220610A, it was observed by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope in 2022. The ASKAP data was precise enough that astronomers could pinpoint its location in the sky accurately enough to pin its origin to a particular galaxy. The team then used follow-up observations by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile to confirm it likely came from a small cluster of merging galaxies. The VLT observations then determined the redshift of the cluster to find the distance. Macquart relation between DM and redshift for FRBs. Credit: Ryder, et al The light of the FRB 20220610A traveled 8 billion light years to reach us, making it the most distant fast radio burst ever observed, and likely at the distance limit for FRBs we can currently detect. But more importantly, knowing its distance, we can compare this to the dispersion measure to calculate the amount of ionized gas between galaxies. The idea for using FRBs to map intergalactic gas was first proposed by Australian astronomer Jean-Pierre Macquart, which is why this comparison is sometimes known as the Macquart relation. If we can pinpoint lots more fast radio bursts, we will be able to build a distribution map of intergalactic gas. From that we can get a handle on the overall mass between galaxies and help pinpoint the total mass of the cosmos. Basically using one mystery to solve another, which is a pretty cool trick. Reference: Ryder, S. D., et al. “A luminous fast radio burst that probes the Universe at redshift 1.” Science 382.6668 (2023): 294-299. The post A Fast Radio Burst Took 8 Billion Years to Reach Us appeared first on Universe Today.

[walkfromhome]

1. The speed of light is a limitation of physical space-time but not of higher dimensions. 

2. History is recorded in time, which our science still does not fully understand.  Time is the measure of the duration of a movement, a change or event.  Without time nothing happens. It is what separates events as space separates objects.

It appears to be dualistic: digitized according to quantum physics and a continuous flow or plenum integrated with space as space-time in relativity physics, something like the particle-wave nature of matter.

We will find there is a dual nature to everything in physical reality.  Everything is based on frequency, an oscillation in time and space. Time and space make up the fabric of reality in lower dimensions as consciousness and love are the fabric of reality in higher dimensions.

Quantum physics has discovered that reality is non-local, that is, that the cause of an event may happen in the future not the past. Quantum fluctuations produce tiny geometries in time—

time has a geometrical nature that governs motion.

In relativity time varies with the velocity of the observers so that for one who is approaching the speed of light time appears to slow and finally stops. It is much different from our time on earth, thus with a different history. 

To confound the picture even more, some of our space visitors are time travelers, returning to their past or into their future in order to change their present, again along a specific timeline.

Torsion fields produced by quantum spin and motion depend on “time density”, thin or thick, the amount of change per unit of time which in turn is related to entropy, the tendency of order to disappear over time in a closed system. 2nd law of thermodynamics. If anything, history demonstrates the opposite effect of increasing order or complexity over time, negentropy, suggesting that while the universe is a bounded thus finite system that energy is constantly moving in and out of it from the primordial void.  This occurs through blackholes.  The Key is balance in the duality system not stasis.

3. According to extraterrestrial wisdom, our planet is actually 7.5 billion years old. Earth was conceived in Orion, in the star, Rigel, and then transplanted to our Solar system where it was born out of the sun as a plasma sphere which is still at the center of the earth.  The formation of the earth combines the push of the electric charge of plasma with the gravitational pull of an accretion disk of matter leaving large cavities inside the earth. At this point the planet was not quite formed. It looked like a luminous blue-green orb, not quite spherical.  The first beings arrived here in nonphysical bodies, set up the original planetary grid system which encoded the original plan, life blueprints and experience scenarios.  They were called the “Gardeners,” the ones who gardened the planet, and they were reptilian.  Also among the first to arrive in the solar system were the original Founders, or what our secret space program calls the “Builder Race”, who built huge domed structures on other planets and moons.

With the fall of the Empire the plan for earth was modified.  It was to become a grand experiment in spiritual evolution, blazing a fast track return to Source while redeeming the fallen light and rebalancing the karma of the Galactic Wars.  The whole Orion drama would be replayed again…and again on earth.  As a planet of unsurpassed beauty in the galaxy, earth holds a special place in the experiment in spiritual evolution that could change the entire universe.  A call for volunteers went out again and the first wave of souls arrived, 144,000.  They would become the humanity of earth.  The Creator made a covenant with them for their service, the conditions of agreement or a sort of rules of the game to be played.

The objective of the experiment would be to explore a new path of ascension, of evolution through multi-dimensional reality on our universal path of return.  The idea was to ascend to the 5th dimension, the mental planes, passing through, not to, the astral emotional planes as is standard. The lessons of the experience in the astral planes, however, would still have to be learned but while in the 3rd physical dimension, making its sojourn that much more difficult.  Humans would also attempt to awaken and redeem the fallen dark ones, which could only be accomplished from within.  According to free-will it could not be imposed from without, interfering with the free-will of the dark. Due to free-will the dark may ultimately choose not to turn to the Light and will be taken to another realm to continue their evolution.  Likewise certain humans will awaken and assist those other beings who come to achieve enlightenment.

(Source)

[stellcluceats]

@wxrld-xf-cxts - Continued from the ask. 

He paused, unsure why the words hit him like being smacked directly across the face. Jealous? Is that what he sounded like?

Oh...gods...

"I assure you that I'm not..." He answered, lying through his teeth, and forced a smile. "Definitely not. After all, why would I be?"

;;~ Lumine smiles before chuckling a little amused by the fact Childe was acting like this. With this she pointed a finger to his chest with a smirk.�� “Mhm and are you sure you aren't, because your expression on your face says something different.” 

“So why don’t you tell me what your really thinking right now.. are you Jealous that I was spending time around Lord Ayato for a commission and not you??”

[vilithshaven]

What would happen to Teyvat when the Creator die? I want to know your interpretation of it because that La Signora and Dottore was amazing work.

La Signora Pt. 2

Warnings: character death, end of the world scenario

Fun Fact! Ever since writing the Signora idea down and publishing it on the blog, I've had an idea on what would happen after.

I originally wanted to write a oneshot like I did with Dottore's part 2, but I'm still a bit down from the exhaustion and headache yesterday, so I'm going with the same style as I did for the first part.

Hope you enjoy <3

-Lilith

Tagging people who might like this: @nicebonescomrade; @gunterdon; @potatodumbass; @thai

There are no big changes to the world. The animals and Hilichurls are more ruthless and less happy, as if someone's presence from the world was suddenly missing. They used to dance and sing and chirp and bark happily all around Teyvat. But suddenly it all stopped. All the acolytes who are a different race (so, Kokomi, Klee, Sucrose, the lot) and the Abyss also feel it. They all know: something bad had happened to their Creator.

However, none of them feel the changes as bad as Signora. To her, it seems as if the air pressure around her increased; she struggles to breathe, no matter where she goes. Rocks and roots that weren't there before constantly trip her on her way to the Shogun. Birds would fly low in the sky to hit her and boars ran to her instead of away as they usually would. As soon as she reaches Inazuma, she thinks she's safe, but the heaviness in her limbs increases and makes it almost impossible for her to get away from the dogs and cats hissing and growling at her. She is sure they would attack her if it wasn't for the liquid fire running through her veins.

La Signora is glad once she stands in front of the stairs leading up to Tenshukaku, the residence of the Electro Archon. She is just in time for their meeting, too. Her plan to take the Gnosis is flawless; even a delay of a minute would be a hindrance for it.

She glares at the guards at the entrance and takes a step forward; only to crumble to the ground as pain bloomed in her chest. A white light surrounds her body and the pain spread, her mouth opening in a mute scream.

The sudden surge of power and light from the Harbinger alerted not only the Shogun, who had been staring at the black liquid flowing out of cracks in her beloved Creator's statue in the temple she'd built in Tenshukaku. But also Lumine, who'd been on her way to go face to face with the Inazuma's Archon. It is an aura so painfully familiar that she hastens her pace, running through the city with no care for the Shogunate guards shouting at her.

Both the Shogun and Lumine come to a halt on opposite sides of the Harbinger, who is clawing at the ground and trying to shake off whatever it is that surrounds her.

"What...have you done?", Lumine asks in horror, although her heart already knows the answer. The cracked statues of the Creator in the city and their citizens crying out in fervor. The pressure in the air, so vastly different from its usual static.

La Signora gasps, a mad grin growing on her face. She barely hears the Traveller through the ringing in her ears. "Got rid...of a pest."

"Is that what you call your god these days?"

The voice that comes out of nowhere is neither female nor male. Neither light nor darkness. It echoes around them, multiplying until a chorus rings in their ears. The Shogunate guards are the first to kneel or bow down. Lumine falls to her knees next. The Shogun, too, finds herself losing control of her body, muscles seizing up and forcing her to stand still.

More light appears hovering in the air above Signora as it slowly forms a body. It has no distinct features, the outlines rough and moving as if it couldn't decide what it wants to be. It is painful for their eyes and all but Lumine and the Shogun avert them, the last two too entranced by the galactic eyes staring back at them.

"Is it...is it really you, Your Grace?", the female Traveller speaks up, lips shaking. Her heart beats at an erratic pace, eager to burst out of her chest and be handed over to the diving being in front of her. The one who had guided her to Inazuma all along, their warm presence a blessing and a light in the darkest of times. And here you are, finally.

The displeasure evident in those otherworldly eyes fades a bit as you turn to her. She is sure she would have been graced with a smile if you had possessed a face. "My dearest Lumine, it is so good to see you", you coo, floating down to her. You take her face in your hands and watch as she all but melts into you. "I wish we had met earlier, when I still possessed that human body."

"Human...body? But...no. Don't tell me..."

The Shogun's voice brings you out of your moment of peace and your gaze darkens. You glare at the puppet. "I do not wish to speak to a Puppet", you hiss. A light arrow shoots through the Shogun's body and disperses as Ei is forced out of her Planes. She didn't even have a second to react, it all had happened so fast. She blinks several times, confused as she takes in her surroundings. "This is not..."

"No, it isn't your Planes of Euthymia. It's the real Inazuma as you can see." Your voice is cold and the chorus of it grows stronger. Ei whinces, a hand coming up to rub at her head. She stops mid-motion, mouth falling open as she finally understands what she is seeing. "Your...Your Grace? Oh. Oh no, I'm so sorry."

She continues mumbling apologies and useless explanations for why she hadn't come out earlier as she quickly gets onto her knees and bows low, her forehead touching the ground. You are about to chastise her yet again, but Lumine's hands come up to cover your own as she snuggles her face into your touch, a happy sigh escaping her lips. Your chuckle rings through the air. More Inazumans are coming up the hill to Tenshukaku, curious to see what is going on. And one by one, they, too, kneel to you.

A long time ago you would have been pleased by this clear sign of devotion. However those times have long since passed and your recent adventures, or rather...their recent actions had soured your mood greatly.

You let go of Lumine and float back to the Harbinger, determined to do what you've come here for. The Harbinger who still struggles against your holy light holding her down and bringing her pain. "There's only one punishment befitting of you...and that is death. You realized who I am, even saw your true purpose...yet you still killed me."

Gasps could be heard from the crowd at your back and Lumine's anger fuels your own.

Signora growled at you, even as her mask slips off her face and reveals the burning marks she'd received after infusing herself with liquid fire. "And even now I don't regret it. You want to kill me? Then do it! You made my life hell. Killing you and ridding you off this world was the least I could do."

Her audacity almost makes you laugh.

"Oh, you think you'll be granted a simple death? No no, that wouldn't do. Not at all." The stars in your eyes start moving until they show the Harbinger the face of her loved one. "After your death, your soul will be stuck in an ever-lasting limbo. You'll be forced to watch your loved one die, over and over again. But not only that. He'll shun you. He'll hate you...he'll be the embodiment of your own hate towards me. A fitting punishment, is it not?", you mused.

And true to your words, you do what you've foretold her. Signora didn't even get a chance to redeem herself. A single flick of your hand, no words spoken, and her body turned to ashes in front of them.

"And now that this is done...Ei."

"Yes, Your Grace?" Eager to please, as always, Ei looks up at you with adoring eyes. It seems she is unaware of the deeds of her puppet and her citizens. It's a shame.

"Why have you forsaken me?"

The silence is palpable. Only Lumine understands. Lumine, your first vessel. The one you've watched for a long time, even if she wasn't created by you. Lumine who knew from the beginning that there never was an Imposter. It was you all along.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. I...I do not understand", Ei stutters. A shiver runs down her spine at the foreboding feeling in her chest.

You turn away from her and to your beloved Traveller, motioning her to explain. And she gladly does.

"The Imposter all of Teyvat has been looking for and hunting down...it was our Creator all along", she says, her eyes firm and sad. Sad for you because your own creation did such horrible things to you.

"I still don't understand. Imposter? Your death? A hunt?"

You hum in affirmation, still not turning to the Electro Archon. "You can't even see what your own puppet has been doing...I really should have never given you the title of Archon."

The Inazumans could only watch as the Electro Archon is stripped of her powers and title. Purple mixes with white, turning your body violet for a moment before it fades.

The next time you speak, your voice is heard all around Teyvat. Even the Abyss hears you speak, for your voice is the wind, the people of Teyvat. It is everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

"I gave you a chance to welcome me as a human being just like you. No memories, no powers. Just a human me. And what did you do? You proclaimed me an Imposter. You hunted me down like a wild animal. You hurt me, tortured me, brought me close to death several times. From today on, for a whole year, calamities will wash over Teyvat. Stronger and more disastrous than ever. Not even your Archons will be able to safe you anymore. Should you survive, you may try and regain my favor and love. Should you be dead...well, I'm sure that the Abyss, or as you once called it Khaenri'ah is sure to take your place. For they will be the only ones safe. They showed me care and welcomed me. They knew me even like that. And so they get to watch as this world becomes a living hell."

And you stand true to your words. Kaeya, Albedo, Dainsleif and the Twins. All those and some more who had shown you mercy watch from the former island of Khaenri'ah as your power slowly destroys the world you've created.

Maybe they should have been sad.

But you stay with them during that whole year and give them your attention and love, and they fully indulge in it, deaf to the screams and cries of the other regions.

Their Creator has chosen them to live on. And so they will make sure that nothing like this ever happens again, should you grant them with your human presence. They'll be your true acolytes and your knights, now and for all of eternity.

Even the Twins, the only ones in Teyvat who weren't created by you, honor you and pray to you. They cease their travelling to stay by your side.

Sometimes the Followers of the Star wonder how it is that the world wasn't destroyed with your death and you are aware of those questions lingering in their head.

As if you, the God of all gods, were stupid enough to bind the existence of your creation to a weak and fragile physical body. Oh lovelies, no.

For as long as your transcendental soul exists, your creations shall, too.

An eternal paradise, if your wrath isn't evoked again. Maybe next time, none shall live to see the future.

[tofu-loverx]

Crystal heart ll chapter 3

chapter 1 / chapter 2 / chapter 4 / chapter 5 / chapter 6 / chapter 7 / chapter 8 / chapter 9 / chapter 10

Note: English is not my native language, so sorry for any spelling errors.

Warnings: nothing.

"Your blessing, you have a visitor... he's in the throne room..."

The guard is breathing hard as he tries hard to deliver the news to you.

"A visitor!?...Who is he!?"

Your angry expression disappeared and was replaced by a surprised expression.

"Yes, I think his name was... Aether..."

The guard raises his hand towards his chin as a sign of thinking.

"what!! Why did he come?! How did he know I was here!?"

The tone of your voice carries a slight worry and fear in its folds.

" I don't know, but from what I heard, he caught him trying to sneak into the palace..."

"what!? where is he now??"

Your tone of voice rose in shock at the news and grabbed the guard by the collar of his shirt tightly.

"Your grace, I told you he's in the throne room..."

The guard flinched at your behavior and his voice trembled.

"ohh.. right..."

You undo his collar and run straight toward the throne room, forgetting about Scara who was standing next to you the whole time.

"Your blessing!!"

Scaramouche calls out your greatness but your ears, don't pick up his voice cause your mind only thinks of the traveler.

The sound of your heels galloping echoes over the silent palace corridors, your long galactic dress hampering your movement, and you think of the worst-case scenario that might happen to a traveler in the presence of Archok cryo. Your beloved character, through whose eyes you have seen the beauty of many places in Teyvat, the poor brother who is looking for his kidnapped sister.

Finally, you reach the hall and the door opens, which made you nervous, you enter and become the focus of everyone's attention, your thick aura covering the place and your eyes falling on a slender body in handcuffs, a yellow-haired head with a long braid and orbs the color of sunbeams. And a ginger head standing next to it.

"Aether..."

With your soft voice saying his name and a sigh of relief from your pink lips as all your fears fade and before you collapse on the cold ground Scaramouche catches you.

Tsaritsa stands from its icy throne and rushes forward to you.

"Your blessing!!"

Her voice was worried about you and your semi-collapsed look that her eyes focused on with concern, everything in her was worried about you.

However, you ignore it and go to Aether...

You stand in front of his kneeling form and his eyes look at your great form, his eyes sparkle with your presence and a smile on his face.

"Your blessing..."

You say with a smile on your face: "How did you know I was here?"

"I followed your aura!!"

His smile was from ear to ear and his cheeks had a slight glow

"Aura of my existence?? how?"

Your questioning tone and your attitude that wants answers makes Aether respond enthusiastically.

"You have always been by my side since I came to Teyvat!! I have always felt you watching me as I go on my travels... You have always helped me defeat powerful monsters, since my sister Lumine was kidnapped I felt sad and empty but your presence made me forget my suffering and my sadness. but..."

Aether lowered his head and continued his words with a sad smile.

"Sometimes I don't feel like you're watching me, maybe because you are the creator of Teyvat and you have more important business than watching me...hhh

So recently your existence completely disappeared for a while and then came back stronger than ever but it was also weird, I didn't feel like you were watching me like you always did, I felt like you were by my side but I couldn't see you or touch you. The feeling was getting stronger in one direction and weakening and disappearing in another and accordingly I followed you."

He ended his words with a shy laugh.

At the beginning of his speech, you did not know what exactly he was talking about, but by the end of the speech I knew that he was talking about your life before entering the game world and his feeling that you were not watching him was due to you closing the game and living your daily life...

You said softly: "So then..."

You are now certain that Aether is not your enemy, and from the expressions on his face that inspired excessive worship, that he would not dare to harm you or even think about the matter...

According to Aether, the others knew that you were observing him before your descent to Teyvat and that you always helped him, but they also did not deny that you were helping them too, according to what they believe.

Now you turn to Archon cryo and say with marked anger:" What would you have done with him, Tsaritsa?"

Tsaritsa says with a calm and respectful expression so as not to get angry, but you notice the redness of her cheeks when she pronounces her name: "I would not have dared to do anything .. without knowing your grace .."

You look at her for a while and then say with a smile: "Well ... and you better not do it, because you will not bear the consequences."

"Of course your grace."

Tsaritsa bows respectfully to you as she answers you.

You redirect your eyes to Tartaglia and point your hand at the ether to free him, he has understood your signal and cut the ropes with a blow of his hydro sword.

Aether is liberated and you open your arms and look at him like a invitation and a gentle smile on your face, hesitating moments before he approaches you, but he finally muster up the courage and embrace you.

Sorry for all the trouble I caused you.

You speak while caressing his head on your warm chest, feeling the warmth of his body.

The ether says while he is in ecstasy: You do not have to apologize, Your grace..

You almost swears that the attention directed to Aether is enough to kill him with jealousy, envy and cravings in his place.

You say: "Can you tell me what is going on in the cities abroad?"

Aether raises his head and turns to look at you and talk.

"Of course your grace , in the days when I passed through the cities they set up sleepless feasts to celebrate the deliverance of the trickster..."

Your eyes are darkened and anger blinds you, and you say:" They celebrate my death..."

Little by little the ground you are standing on freezes and sparks suddenly appear and disappear.

Aether and everyone in the room were so frightened and suffocated due to your powerful aura, that it made some of the guards cough up blood and others faint.

"Your... blessing..."

The sound of Aether slowly fades away from the suffocation and releases you from your anger.

Your aura dissipates and becomes lighter to make breathing easier.

"Sigh, I'm sorry, I think I lost my temper a little..."

You rub your temples gently and your tone of voice is a mixture of anger and shyness.

"You don't have to be blessed... You have the right to be angry..."

Tsaritsa coughs, trying to speak almost constantly.

"Sigh... You're right"

Bring back your usual smile and keep saying.

"I'm going to Liyeu... by myself"

Everyone: "What!!"

Tsaritsa worried: "But your grace, what if these savages hurt you again!!"

Tartalia with a nervous laugh: "That's right, your grace, let me at least accompany you, I will be your knight!!"

Scaramoushe with a very worried expression: "Let me accompany you, I am your blessings!! I will be better than this idiot!!"

Aether: ...

A laugh escapes you and says: "Hahahh, don't worry, I'll wear different, simple clothes and a mask to hide my identity and... I'll be accompanied by Aether so I'll be one hundred percent safe."

The features of Aether changed 180 degrees into happy ones, if it had a tail, it would swing right and left from the intensity of happiness. As for the rest, its features do not bode well at all.

"Come on don't be like that, you'll have a turn soon..."

Try to comfort them as much as possible with a joking tone to create a pleasant atmosphere.

You say:" OK, okay?"

Everyone: "Agree..."

"Ok then I'll go change my clothes and leave"

You turn around happily.

Tsaritsa is calling: "Your grace, wait!! Are you leaving today?"

You are a lake: "Hmm yes, why?"

Tsaritsa: "Ah, don't worry, bye."

Give her a nod and leave the throne room.

****

You wore simple clothes of your choice despite your maid's insistence on choosing them for you in a way that suits you more, but you refused so as not to attract attention.

Your outfit consisted of a short white kimono decorated with indigo bells, long sleeves and ruffles, white thigh high stockings with simple geta shoes and don't forget a mask that hides your venerable identity.

"So, what do you think of my new clothes?"

You say to the maid while looking at your new look in the mirror.

"Whatever you wear will suit your grace."

A small smile formed on her face as she spoke.

"Well...I was expecting this answer from you..."

You say with frustrated features.

"Anyway, Atheer is waiting for me outside, so let's not be late."

You jump to the door and opens it happily.

"Yes your grace."

The maid follows your childish form.

You head towards the exit of the palace and your eyes catch the gentle look of Aether waiting for you at the door.

You walk towards him and say: "Did you wait long?"

He turns towards the voice and says happily: "Your blessing!! No, I didn't wait long."

"Well , shall we go?"

You release a nice smile and walk in front of him.

Aether happily: "Of course!."

You was surprised that Archon Cryo wasn't there and followeds her to say goodbye to you, but you didn't care too much.

Maid: "Your grace!! The mask! ."

You turned around and raised the maid in confusion, but as soon as You saw the mask, I remembered that you did not carry it with you.

"Oh right, I almost forgot, thank you."

You give her a smile and hold the mask, but you don't move, you just look at her and surprise her with a hug.

"I will miss you and your behaviour."

Your eyes fill with tears, but you try not to cry, and the maid is crying for you.

"Be careful your grace."

"Of course, I will be back soon..."

You separates the hug and puts on the mask while turning to Aether and leaving.

****

All the way you were calm and the ether was watching your path very carefully to avoid danger, you were heading to Archon Geo city first as you wish. Aether had expected that the journey would be tiring and harsh, and that you would have to go camping at night, or stay in the Wangshu Inn, but why the surprise?, and the Teyvat maker himself walked with him.

You were not attacked by monsters, and he did not have to search for food in case of hunger, and the road was not as bumpy and tiring as usual, in the normal case you would have arrived in two days or more, but oh, you arrived in less than a day.

The city gate of Liyue greeted you in the bustle of festivities, children played and ran in the streets, men performed entertaining and danced performances, and the streets were decorated with orange, red and yellow lamps.

You walked into the crowd, holding Aether's hand to avoid parting, and saw a familiar person.

"Morax!"

You said angrily and tightened your grip on the hand of Aether unconsciously.

Aether turned to see why you were angry and saw Zhongli sitting at one of the tables watching the shows.

Aether whispered in your ear:" Your grace, please calm down! ...Zhongli might sense your aura!!"

His words calmed you down a little, but not enough.

"Sigh...let's go on..."

"Yes your grace."

You turned to Aether and said in annoyance:" Call me by my name in public."

"But... your grace..."

His tone is hesitant and confused.

"Do you want me to be discovered?"

Although he cannot see your features, your disturbed voice draws your disturbed and gentle face in his mind.

"Okey, your grace,... I mean ...(y/n)..."

His cheeks turned red and he covered his face with both hands as he spoke.

"So better!"

Suddenly the crowd started to get more excited and the dancing became more lively, and this split you up in the crowd.

Aether extends his hand and shouts: (Y/N)!!

You also reach out your hand hard and shout: "Aether!!"

You are among the energetic residents of Liyue, and if your mask now falls, your death here and now, you saunter through the crowds hoping to find aether again and meet him, and fall down with excessive movement.

Whenever you try to stand while holding the mask for fear of falling, the crowd keeps moving and pushes you to the ground, until you were carried by strong arms and the smell of incense stuck to his clothes and his calm eyes that looked at your little body and pulled him out of the crowd.

"put me down!!"

You yelled at him and kept moving to leave you until he put you on one of the restaurant tables outside.

As soon as he put you on the chair, you stood up nervously and walked saying: "Thanks for nothing..."

Zhongli didn't like your rudeness and wondered if he had done something wrong to you before and forgot.

"It's not polite to be rude to someone who just saved you."

You stopped and turned around.

"It is also not polite to harm an innocent person."

Your tone is laden with all the bad memories Morax, Barbaros and Raiden Shogun left you, the characters you used to love and stayed up nights trying to get.

Morax's eyes narrowed: "What do you mean?"

You turned to leave while you said:" Look in the past and you will find the answer."

Everything that happened to you and all the bad days that passed you are from the past despite the saying (forgive the past and set it free), but your soul will not die in peace until you take revenge on the evil of revenge on everyone who hurt you.

Because the past is the strength of the dead and the present is made by the living The future is drawn by the greats, and you are the greatest of the greats.

Before you let Zhongli, he's grab your wrist.

Morax said with apparent anger:" Who are you!?"

Yelling at him with even greater anger: "None of your business, let me go!!"

Zhongli remains silent and stares at you despite the mask, but you feel him as if he is staring into your soul, his hand getting close to the mask to reveal your identity.

You are afraid of what will happen if the mask is removed and you are afraid that those bad memories will come back.

Your heart is beating fast and strong, and your body is starting to tremble. These behaviors are not from Morax's manners, so why?? ...

With only inches left to hold the mask, you closed your eyes in fear and prayed for your powers to be activated at this moment, even though you might risk drawing attention.

"Hey, Zhongli, what are you doing with this cute girl?"

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