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.