Astronomers at the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research have made observations with the ESA’s XMM-Newton X-Ray observatory and have concluded that our Universe is 1.5 times richer in than previously expected.
Our body elements that include iron, oxygen and calcium are all released during the supernova explosions in the universe. These elements then become building blocks of new stars, planets and even life. But still answers to questions concerning the formation of these elements and the way they get distributed in the Universe are still being researched.
According to Jelle de Plaa, a researcher at SRON, these answers can be found in the cluster of galaxies.
According to him clusters are nothing but big cities of the Universe can came into being after the ‘Big-Bang‘.
These clusters are home to hundreds of galaxies and each galaxy contains billions of stars. These galaxies are further embedded in a gigantic cloud of hot gas that fills the cluster like smog. Supernova explosions in these galaxies lead to the formation of these elements.
Using XMM-Newton, De Plaa determined the abundance of oxygen, neon, silicon, sulphur, argon, calcium, iron and nickel in 22 clusters of galaxies. He also saw the total amounts of these elements that are formed as a result of 100 thousand million supernovae. When compared with the theoretical value the astronomer concluded that the universe is having 1.5 times the estimated value of Calcium.
He also concluded that these supernovae in clusters are a result of a so called ‘Dance of Death’ between two stars that are revolving around each other.
During this dance a small white dwarf takes out matter from its companion star. The matter that is released gets attached to the white dwarf and increases its mass. After reaching the critical mass, the core of this white dwarf cannot stand more weight and eventually gives way and explodes as a supernova.
According to the researcher more than 50% of the supernovae take place in this fashion. This too is much more than the 15% estimated value.
The results are a building block for all the researchers who are studying these supernova explosions.
May be one day we all can see the mysteries of the Universe lie in these supernova explosions.
Via: physorg
