Ancient Stardust Reveals Secrets of Exploded Star, Offers Glimpse into Early Solar System
By archyde news Team | Published April 29, 2025
A speck of stardust, a cosmic messenger traveling billions of years, has been discovered within an Antarctic meteorite, offering scientists a rare peek into the life and death of a distant star and the nascent stages of our solar system.
The grain, designated LAP-149, is a mere 1/25,000 of an inch across. Its revelation, detailed in a 2019 study published in Nature Astronomy, provides invaluable insights into the explosive events that shape the universe and the origins of the celestial neighborhood we call home.
Unlocking Stellar History Through Microscopic Relics
Scientists are using this tiny grain to reconstruct events that occurred long before our sun existed.
“As we find them preserved inside of meteorites and because we can age-date meteorites using radioisotopes, we certainly know they must be older than the meteorite itself,” said Zega, a researcher involved in the study. This underscores the grain’s exceptional journey through interstellar space before its eventual capture within the meteorite.
A Perilous Voyage Across the Cosmos
The survival of LAP-149 is a testament to its resilience. Exposed to the extreme conditions of space for approximately 4.5 billion years, it faced constant threats, including the possibility of destruction within collapsing nebulas or disintegration by stellar explosions.
That it endured and was ultimately preserved within a meteorite is nothing short of remarkable. This resilient grain offers a unique chance to probe the very beginnings of star birth and the conditions preceding the dawn of our solar system.
Meteorites: Time Capsules from the Early Solar System
Meteorites, the cosmic debris that occasionally grace our planet, serve as invaluable archives of the early solar system. considered primitive relics, these fragments retain materials virtually unchanged since the formation of the Sun and planets.
According to Zega, these meteorites represent “leftovers from after the Sun and planets formed,” making them among the oldest materials available for study on Earth.
Nova Explosions: Forging Stardust
Scientists believe LAP-149 originated during a nova, a cataclysmic event triggered by the interaction between a white dwarf star and a red giant star. In this scenario, the white dwarf, having weary its nuclear fuel, siphons material from its red giant companion. This process culminates in a massive explosion, scattering stardust across the cosmos.
This ejected stardust, including the grain that became LAP-149, then embarked on an eons-long voyage through space, eventually becoming embedded in the meteorite that ultimately landed on Earth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A: LAP-149 is a microscopic grain of stardust found inside a meteorite that landed in Antarctica.
A: Scientists estimate LAP-149 to be approximately 4.5 billion years old, predating our solar system.
A: It provides insights into the formation of stars, the conditions in the early universe, and the origins of our solar system.
A: LAP-149 was found inside a meteorite discovered in Antarctica.
