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A study of the Ophiuchus star-forming complex has offered new insights into the conditions in which our own solar system was born.

The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

A region of active star formation in the constellation Ophiuchus is giving astronomers new insights into the conditions in which our own solar system was born.

In particular, the study showed how our solar system may have become enriched with short-lived radioactive elements.

Evidence of this enrichment process has been around since the 1970s when scientists studying certain mineral inclusions in meteorites concluded that they were pristine remnants of the infant solar system and contained the decay products of short-lived radionuclides.

These radioactive elements could have been blown onto the nascent solar system by a nearby exploding star (a supernova) or by the strong stellar winds from a type of massive star known as a Wolf-Rayet star.

The authors of the new study used multi-wavelength observations of the Ophiuchus star-forming region, including spectacular new infrared data, to reveal interactions between the clouds of star-forming gas and radionuclides produced in a nearby cluster of young stars.

Their findings indicated that supernovas in the star cluster are the most likely source of short-lived radionuclides in the star-forming clouds.

“Our solar system was most likely formed in a giant molecular cloud together with a young stellar cluster, and one or more supernova events from some massive stars in this cluster contaminated the gas which turned into the sun and its planetary system,” said co-author Douglas N. C. Lin, professor emeritus of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz.

“Although this scenario has been suggested in the past, the strength of this paper is to use multi-wavelength observations and a sophisticated statistical analysis to deduce a quantitative measurement of the model’s likelihood,” he added.

First author John Forbes at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics said data from space-based gamma-ray telescopes enable the detection of gamma rays emitted by the short-lived radionuclide aluminum-26.

“These are challenging observations. We can only convincingly detect it in two star-forming regions, and the best data are from the Ophiuchus complex,” he said.

The Ophiuchus cloud complex contains many dense protostellar cores in various stages of star formation and protoplanetary disk development, representing the earliest stages in the formation of a planetary system.

By combining imaging data in wavelengths ranging from millimetres to gamma rays, the researchers were able to visualise a flow of aluminum-26 from the nearby star cluster toward the Ophiuchus star-forming region.

“The enrichment process we’re seeing in Ophiuchus is consistent with what happened during the formation of the solar system 5 billion years ago,” Forbes said.

“Once we saw this nice example of how the process might happen, we set about trying to model the nearby star cluster that produced the radionuclides we see today in gamma rays,” he added.

Forbes developed a model that accounts for every massive star that could have existed in this region, including its mass, age, and probability of exploding as a supernova, and incorporates the potential yields of aluminum-26 from stellar winds and supernovas.

The model enabled him to determine the probabilities of different scenarios for the production of the aluminum-26 observed today.

“We now have enough information to say that there is a 59 per cent chance it is due to supernovas and a 68 per cent chance that it’s from multiple sources and not just one supernova,” Forbes said.

This type of statistical analysis assigns probabilities to scenarios that astronomers have been debating for the past 50 years, Lin noted.

“This is the new direction for astronomy, to quantify the likelihood,” he added.

The new findings also showed that the amount of short-lived radionuclides incorporated into newly forming star systems can vary widely.

“Many new star systems will be born with aluminum-26 abundances in line with our solar system, but the variation is huge – several orders of magnitude,” Forbes said.

“This matters for the early evolution of planetary systems since aluminum-26 is the main early heating source. More aluminum-26 probably means drier planets,” he added.

The infrared data, which enabled the team to peer through dusty clouds into the heart of the star-forming complex, was obtained by coauthor Joao Alves at the University of Vienna as part of the European Southern Observatory’s VISION survey of nearby stellar nurseries using the VISTA telescope in Chile.

“There is nothing special about Ophiuchus as a star formation region,” Alves said.

“It is just a typical configuration of gas and young massive stars, so our results should be representative of the enrichment of short-lived radioactive elements in star and planet formation across the Milky Way,” he concluded.

The team also used data from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Herschel Space Observatory, the ESA’s Planck satellite, and NASA’s Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.


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2,300-Year-Old Dwarf Statuette from Alexandria Reveals Ptolemaic Art Insights

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2,300-Year-Old Dwarf Statuette from Alexandria Reveals Ptolemaic Art Insights

A 2,300-year-old marble statuette discovered in Alexandria, Egypt, has offered new insights into how dwarves were perceived during the Ptolemaic period (332–150 B.C.). Depicting a muscular, nude dwarf in motion, the 4-inch sculpture reflects a combination of Egyptian and Greek artistic traditions. Despite missing its arms, legs, and part of the head, the craftsmanship of the piece indicates a highly skilled rendering of human anatomy. It is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Depictions of Dwarves in Ptolemaic Art

According to information from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as reported by Live Science, the statuette incorporates elements from Greek art, such as classical nudity and Hellenistic realism, blended with Egyptian cultural aesthetics. This synthesis points to the cultural exchange that characterised the Ptolemaic dynasty, a period when Egypt was ruled by Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great. The depiction of a dwarf engaged in dance suggests a significant societal role, unlike the exaggerated caricatures of dwarves often seen in Greek art.

Egyptian Perspectives on Dwarves

Historical records indicate that dwarves were highly regarded in ancient Egypt, often serving in the households of nobles and pharaohs. Their association with the god Bes, who was depicted as a short and muscular protector of families and women in childbirth, contributed to their societal acceptance. Bes, known as a dancer and tambourine player, symbolises strength and guardianship in Egyptian mythology. The statuette’s design, which likely depicted the dwarf with a percussion instrument, aligns with this cultural significance.

A Glimpse into Cultural Integration

The artifact demonstrates the integration of different human forms into Egyptian society during the Ptolemaic era. The Met has emphasised that such depictions reflect a broader tradition of valuing diverse body types, setting the Egyptian approach apart from other ancient civilisations. This statuette, though small in size, offers a profound understanding of cultural dynamics during a transformative period in history.

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Lunar Temperature Fluctuations: Understanding the Moon’s Extreme Conditions

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Lunar Temperature Fluctuations: Understanding the Moon's Extreme Conditions

The surface temperature of the moon experiences extreme variations, making it one of the harshest environments in the solar system. During lunar daylight, temperatures can soar to over 100 degrees Celsius, while in darkness, they can plummet to minus 100 degrees Celsius. These fluctuations are caused by the absence of an atmosphere, which on Earth moderates temperature extremes. Instead, the moon’s surface directly absorbs and radiates heat depending on exposure to sunlight.

Lunar Temperature Variations Explained

According to data provided by NASA and analysed by experts, such as John Monnier, a professor of astronomy at the University of Michigan, the moon’s soil, or regolith, significantly influences these temperature shifts. Regolith is a poor conductor of heat, causing rapid temperature changes on the surface while insulating the subsurface. As reported by Live Science, during Apollo missions, measurements indicated that temperatures beneath the surface were warmer by 40 to 45 kelvins compared to the lunar exterior.

Further research using NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), launched in 2009, revealed localised thermal anomalies. Findings in 2022 demonstrated that shaded areas within certain lunar pits maintained a consistent temperature of 17 degrees Celsius. These regions are considered promising for future human habitation.

The Moon’s Poles and Extreme Conditions

The lunar poles present unique thermal environments due to the sun’s low angle. Permanently shadowed craters, particularly at the south pole, may host temperatures as low as minus 248.15 degrees Celsius. These craters are shielded not only from direct sunlight but also from secondary heat sources, such as reflected solar radiation. Such locations could hold trapped ice particles, potentially vital for sustaining future lunar exploration missions.

Understanding the moon’s thermal dynamics is essential for designing equipment capable of withstanding its conditions and planning potential settlements. Scientists and engineers continue to study these extremes to ensure that future missions can navigate and thrive in the lunar environment.

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SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites to Expand Global Internet Coverage

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SpaceX Launches 24 Starlink Satellites to Expand Global Internet Coverage

The first Starlink mission of 2025 was successfully launched by SpaceX from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on January 6, 2025, at 2:13 a.m. IST. A Falcon 9 rocket carried 24 Starlink satellites into orbit, aiming to expand SpaceX’s vast satellite internet network. The launch marked another significant step in SpaceX’s efforts to enhance global connectivity through its growing constellation of satellites.

Details of the Mission

According to a report from space.com, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage completed a flawless return to Earth, landing on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions,” positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. This milestone represented the 17th launch and recovery for this particular booster. SpaceX confirmed that this booster has supported 10 prior Starlink missions and was used in the Crew-5 mission, which transported astronauts to the International Space Station.

The upper stage of the rocket is expected to deploy the 24 satellites into low Earth orbit approximately 65 minutes after liftoff. These satellites will join the more than 6,850 active Starlink spacecraft currently operating, as stated to space.com by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who tracks satellite constellations.

Starlink, developed by SpaceX, is the largest satellite network in history. Its purpose is to deliver high-speed internet access globally, including remote and underserved areas. With launches like this, the constellation continues to grow, reinforcing SpaceX’s position as a leader in satellite-based internet services. This launch follows a year of record-breaking achievements for SpaceX, which conducted numerous successful missions in 2024. The company remains focused on accelerating its deployment of satellites, with regular launches planned throughout 2025.

As SpaceX continues its Starlink initiative, its impact on global connectivity and advancements in reusable rocket technology remain noteworthy. The company’s commitment to innovation in space exploration is expected to shape the future of satellite communications.

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