Physicists at the Australian National University and the University of Oslo reproduced how stars make carbon through a fleeting partnership of helium atoms known as the Hoyle state in two separate measurements. They found that carbon—the building block of life—is produced 34 percent faster than previously thought.
New evaluation of thermonuclear reaction rates now includes the associated rate uncertainties that are used in astrophysical models to i) estimate final uncertainties on nucleosynthesis yields and ii) identify those reactions that require further experimental investigation. Sometimes direct cross section measurements are possible, but more generally the use of indirect methods is compulsory in view of the very low cross sections. Non-thermal processes are often overlooked but are also important for nuclear astrophysics, e.g. in gamma-ray emission from solar flares or in the interaction of cosmic rays with matter, and also motivate laboratory experiments. Finally, we show that beyond the historical motivations of nuclear astrophysics, understanding i) the energy sources that drive stellar evolution and ii) the origin of the elements can also be used to give new insights into physics beyond the standard model.
"Nobody had looked at this particular measurement since 1976. Everyone assumed it was well known."
The carbon creation finding has significant implications for our understanding of the origins of the universe. Carbon is one of the most abundant elements in the universe and plays a crucial role in the formation of stars and planets. This new discovery sheds light on the processes that lead to the creation of carbon in the early universe.
The finding was made by a team of scientists using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope in Chile. They observed a distant galaxy and detected large amounts of carbon monoxide, which is a key precursor to the creation of carbon.
This finding supports the current understanding of the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe began with a hot, dense state and has been expanding and cooling ever since. The detection of carbon in a distant galaxy provides evidence for the formation of carbon in the early universe, supporting the idea that elements were created in the aftermath of the Big Bang.
This discovery adds to our understanding of the chemical composition of the universe. Carbon is a fundamental building block of life and is essential for the formation of organic molecules. This finding suggests that the conditions necessary for life to arise may be more common in the universe than previously thought.
Scientists will continue to use ALMA and other telescopes to study the chemical makeup of distant galaxies and further investigate the processes that lead to the creation of carbon. This discovery opens up new avenues for research and could potentially lead to a better understanding of the origins of life in the universe.