NASA, at www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-010&cid=release_2011-010 are saying the Planck Mission has mapped thousands of dusty coccoons where it is thought stars are forming as well as some huge clusters of galaxies. Planck, a European ESA project with contributions by NASA has the aim of detecting light left over from the Big Bang – or what lies between us and the cosmic microwave background. Planck observes the sky in variety of different wavelengths and the result has been a lot of new cosmic discoveries. See also www.nasa.gov/planck and www.esa.int/planck
At www.physorg.com/print213886430.html a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal reports on small scale dynamics on the Sun's photosphere as viewed by the Big Bear Solar Observatory, a new solar telescope. Tiny jet-like features originating in the dark lanes surrounding the granules that can be seen on the solar surface were found. It is thought these jet-like features will unlock the mystery of how the solar atmosphere is heated as they don't appear to be certainly tied into a strong magnetic field nor associated with what is described as the 'vertex' formed by converging flows. The solar chromosphere appears to be endlessly changing its appearance via small but energetic events at the solar surface. Scientists now think magnetic structures such as sun spots are an important element of space weather – and that, in turn, impacts on climate on earth.
Meanwhile, at www.dailygalaxy.com of January 10th we have the Poplawski hypothesis (see also www.newscientist.com and www.telegraph.co.uk which have the same story). He proposes that the universe in which we reside may be located in the wormhole of a black hole which itself is a larger universe. A universe, in effect, could exist inside every black hole.