The Goldilocks Zone of Europium: Exploring Planetary Habitability and R-Process Origins
The study by Carrasco et al. explores how europium, a proxy for uranium and thorium, affects planetary habitability by influencing magnetic field generation on rocky planets. They identify a "Goldilocks zone" of stellar metallicity, where planets are most likely to sustain stable magnetic dynamos critical for life. Additionally, the research links europium’s distribution to neutron star mergers, refining our understanding of r-process element production and its role in shaping habitable environments across the galaxy.
Tracing the Chemical Fingerprints of Early Stars through Elemental Patterns in the Milky Way
This study examines the chemical evolution of elements like carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and lithium in 52 metal-poor giant stars in the Milky Way’s halo to understand the early Galaxy’s chemical history. By analyzing patterns in “mixed” and “unmixed” stars, the researchers found that mixed stars show evidence of internal processes altering their elemental composition, while unmixed stars retain the chemical signature of the early Galaxy. Lithium detection in some stars supported this classification, and stellar rotation was identified as a crucial factor in explaining observed nitrogen levels.