Milky Way<\/a>, we have been able to investigate how fast the Ytterbium content increased in the galaxy. What we have succeeded in doing is adding relatively young stars to the study,\u201d explained Martin Montelius, astronomy researcher at Lund University at the time of the research, and now at the University of Groningen.<\/p>\nWhat have scientists discovered about this element?<\/h3>\n It has been speculated that Ytterbium was thrown into space by supernova explosions, stellar winds, and planetary nebulae. There, it accumulated in large space clouds from which new stars formed.<\/p>\n
By examining high-quality spectra of approximately 30 stars in the Sun’s vicinity, the researchers were able to provide important experimental support for the theory of the cosmic origin of Ytterbium. From this, it has been established that Ytterbium largely originates from supernova explosions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe instrument we used is a super-sensitive spectrometer that can detect infrared light in high resolution. It was used with two telescopes in the southern United States, one in Arizona and one in Texas,\u201d said Martin Montelius.<\/p>\n
Since the Ytterbium analysis was accomplished by utilising infrared light, it will now be possible to study large areas of the Milky Way that lie behind impenetrable dust. Infrared light can get through the dust in the same way that red light from a sunset can get through the Earth’s atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur study opens up the possibility of mapping extensive parts of the Milky Way that have previously been unexplored. This means that we will be able to compare the evolutionary history in different parts of the galaxy,\u201d concluded Rebecca Forsberg, doctoral student in astronomy at Lund University.<\/p>\n
This study has been published in Astronomy & Astrophysics<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A research team, led by Lund University in Sweden, has provided an important clue to the origin of the element \u2018Ytterbium\u2019 in the Milky Way, by showing that the element largely originates from supernova explosions. This research into Ytterbium is considered groundbreaking, as it also provides new opportunities for studying the evolution of our galaxy. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":18901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[771],"tags":[818,801,3478,24335,821,24308,3477],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Ytterbium: A mysterious element mapped by astronomers<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n