Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger

On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz with a peak gravitational-wave strain of 1.0 × 10−21. It matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. The signal was observed with a matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203 000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1σ. The source lies at a luminosity distance of 410þ160 −180 Mpc corresponding to a redshift z ¼ 0.09þ0.03 −0.04 . In the source frame, the initial black hole masses are 36þ5 −4M⊙ and 29þ4 −4M⊙, and the final black hole mass is 62þ4 −4M⊙, with 3.0þ0.5 −0.5M⊙c2 radiated in gravitational waves. All uncertainties define 90% credible intervals. These observations demonstrate the existence of binary stellar-mass black hole systems. This is the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of a binary black hole merger

TIP family aquaporins play role in chloroplast osmoregulation and photosynthesis

SUMMARYPhotosynthetic oxygen evolution by photosystem II requires water supply into the chloroplast to reach the thylakoid lumen. A rapid water flow is also required into the chloroplast for optimal oxygen evolution and to overcome osmotic stress. The mechanisms governing water transport in chloroplasts are largely unexplored. Previous proteomics indicated the presence of three aquaporins from the tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) family, TIP1;1, TIP1;2 and TIP2;1, in chloroplast membranes of Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we revisited their location and studied their role in chloroplasts. Localization experiments indicated that TIP2;1 resides in the thylakoid, whereas TIP1;2 is present in both thylakoid and envelope membranes. Mutants lacking TIP1;2 and/or TIP2;1 did not display a macroscopic phenotype when grown under standard conditions. The mutant chloroplasts and thylakoids underwent less volume changes than the corresponding wild type preparations upon osmotic treatment and in the light. Significantly reduced rates of photosynthetic electron transport were obtained in the mutant leaves, with implications on the CO2 fixation rates. However, electron transport rates did not significantly differ between mutants and wild type when isolated thylakoids were examined. Less acidification of the thylakoid lumen was measured in mutants thylakoids, resulting in a slower induction of delta pH-dependent photoprotective mechanisms. These results identify TIP1;2 and TIP2;1 as chloroplast proteins and highlight their importance for osmoregulation and optimal photosynthesis. A third aquaporin, TIP1;1, is present in the chloroplast envelope, and may play role in photosynthesis under excessive light conditions, as based on the weak photosynthetic phenotype of its mutant.</jats:p