Study of dust from cosmic dance of a white dwarf and companion star could unravel mysteries behind start of life

Source: The post is based on the article “Study of dust from cosmic dance of a white dwarf and companion star could unravel mysteries behind start of life” published in PIB on 23rd August 2022.

What is the News?

Scientists from SN Bose Centre for Basic Science(SNBCBS) studied the thick dust formed around the novae called Nova V1280 Scorpii. The study of this cosmic dust could unravel the mysteries behind the start of life.

What are Novae and Supernova?

A nova is an explosion from the surface of a white dwarf star in a binary star system. A nova occurs when the white dwarf, which is the dense core of a once-normal star, steals gas from its nearby companion star. When enough gas builds up on the surface of the white dwarf it triggers an explosion. 

A supernova is a violent stellar explosion that can shine as brightly as an entire galaxy of billions of normal stars. 

What is Cosmic Dust?

Cosmic dust is also called extraterrestrial dust or space dust. It is dust which exists in outer space or has fallen on Earth.

Cosmic dust was once solely an annoyance to astronomers, as it obscures objects they wished to observe. 

When infrared astronomy began, the dust particles were observed to be significant and vital components of astrophysical processes. Their analysis can reveal information about phenomena like the formation of the Solar System

For example, cosmic dust can drive the mass loss when a star is nearing the end of its life, play a part in the early stages of star formation, and form planets.