Post by sherlew99 on Apr 2, 2016 23:51:50 GMT -6
Interesting Engineering
Super Dense Star Atmosphere Made of 99.99% Oxygen
Featured April 2, 2016
When stars, much smaller than our sun, reach the end of their lifespan, they shed their outermost layers and become white dwarfs. The material in a white dwarf no longer undergoes fusion reactions, so the star lacks a source of energy. As a result, it cannot support itself by the heat generated by fusion against gravitational collapse, but is supported only by electron degeneracy pressure, causing it to be extremely dense. It is common for astronomers to observe lighter elements such as helium and hydrogen rising to the surface of white dwarfs.
But astronomers have just discovered a white dwarf whose outer atmosphere is greater than 99.99% pure oxygen.
Super Dense Star Atmosphere Made of 99.99% Oxygen
Featured April 2, 2016
Leah Stephens
When stars, much smaller than our sun, reach the end of their lifespan, they shed their outermost layers and become white dwarfs. The material in a white dwarf no longer undergoes fusion reactions, so the star lacks a source of energy. As a result, it cannot support itself by the heat generated by fusion against gravitational collapse, but is supported only by electron degeneracy pressure, causing it to be extremely dense. It is common for astronomers to observe lighter elements such as helium and hydrogen rising to the surface of white dwarfs.
But astronomers have just discovered a white dwarf whose outer atmosphere is greater than 99.99% pure oxygen.
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