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An unprecedented meteorite discovery challenges astrophysics models

  • April 27, 2024
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Scientists have discovered a meteorite particle with an unprecedented magnesium isotope ratio, indicating its origin in a hydrogen-burning supernova. The research discovered a rare dust particle that fell

An unprecedented meteorite discovery challenges astrophysics models

Scientists have discovered a meteorite particle with an unprecedented magnesium isotope ratio, indicating its origin in a hydrogen-burning supernova. The research discovered a rare dust particle that fell into an ancient extraterrestrial meteorite formed by a star other than our Sun. The discovery was made by the study’s lead author, Dr. It was conducted by Nicole Neville and colleagues during their PhD studies at Curtin University; He currently works at the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Institute in collaboration with NASA’s Johnson Space Center.


Meteorites and presolar grains

Meteorites consist primarily of materials formed in our solar system, but may also include small particles from stars born long before our sun. Clues that these particles, known as prosolar grains, are remnants of other stars can be found by analyzing the different types of elements within them.

Innovative analytical methods

Dr. Neville used a technique called atomic probe tomography to analyze the particle and reconstruct the chemistry at the atomic scale, accessing hidden information.

“These particles are like celestial time capsules and provide a snapshot of the life of their parent stars,” Dr Neville said. “Materials created in our solar system have predictable isotope ratios, that is, varieties of elements with different numbers of neutrons. The particle we analyzed has a magnesium isotope ratio that is different from anything else in our solar system.”

“The results were literally astonishing. The most extreme magnesium isotope ratio from previous studies of presolar grains was about 1200. The grain in our study has a value of 3025, the highest value ever found. “This extraordinarily high isotope ratio is only a recently discovered “The type of star can be explained by the formation of a hydrogen-burning supernova.”

Breakthroughs in astrophysics

Co-author Dr D., of the John de Leter Center at Curtin. David Saxe said that the research opens new ways for us to understand the universe and pushes the limits of both analytical methods and astrophysical models.

Dr. Saksi said, “The atomic probe gave us a level of detailed information that we could not access in previous studies.”

“A hydrogen-burning supernova is a type of star that was recently discovered around the time we analyzed the tiny dust particle. Using an atomic probe in this study provides a new level of detail, helping us understand how these stars form.”

Connection of laboratory results with cosmic events

Co-author Professor Phil Bland, from Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said new discoveries from studying rare particles in meteorites allow us to gain insight into cosmic events beyond our solar system.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to connect atomic-scale measurements in the laboratory to a newly discovered type of star.”

Source: Port Altele

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