- Recently,several researchers have studied the isotopes found in meteorite which was discovered in 1962 in Efremovka,Kazakhstan.The study has revealed the nature of solar flares during the early days of formation of sun and solar system.
- The meteorite was found to have abundances of isotopes of lithium, beryllium and boron which should have been formed in the solar flares ejected by our sun in its infancy.
- The meteorite found in Efremovka is known to be one of the most pristine meteorites formed during early stages of solar system.The early elements formed during solar flare eruptions during early ages of sun (about 5 lakh years old) are calcium and aluminium.
- The study shows how meteorites ended up containing beryllium-10. Beryllium-10 is known to form due to fission of oxygen or carbon.The study of the Efremovka meteorite has revealed how beryllium-9 decayed into beryllium-7 which in turn fused to form beryllium-10 in the meteorites.
- So far it was believed that beryllium-10 formed only during a supernova event.Now the study has confirmed that the Solar flares of early sun had so much energy that it fused lighter elements into heavier ones.
- A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object such as a comet, asteroid or meteoroid which survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon.
- A supernova is the explosion of a star.It is the largest explosion that takes place in space.Supernovas are often seen in other galaxies.But supernovas are difficult to see in our own Milky Way galaxy because dust blocks our view.Further,supernova happens where there is a change in the core or center of a star.
- The solar flares are violent eruptions of sun that occur at intense magnetic fields at the corona(called sunspots).A solar flare can have as much energy as 100 trillion nuclear bombs.Such high energy can result in fusion of heavier elements.
