Register, wires, lots more: How to suspect a star has planets (and a creationist had this discovery already?)
Pah - another useless gas giant. Re-engage hyperdrive, Number One
In Nature yesterday European researchers reported evidence that stars with planets tend to have levels of lithium in their photospheres that is on the low side. Ergo, stellar spectra with low signatures for this common metal might be one way to pick those best suited to examine closely for planets.
At The Register in the UK science writer Lewis Page gives it a standard, overkill of a lede – saying astro boffins have a simple new method for hunting for alien civilizations or targets for colonization by us. Uh, right, is that what they did? But as is also usual in the UK press, the story settles down after its hyperbolic initial trajectory and gives the news with veteran skill. But most important to The Tracker it included the illus I’ve reproduced here, with its hilarious and penetrating caption.
This is not a brand new discovery, although the data may be the best yet. No stories appear – I may have missed something – to recognize this as a hypothesis that has been around for a bit. For one example showing that point, with an odd twist, see first item in Old Grist below.
Other Stories:
- Space.com – Andrea Thompson: 60-year-old solar mystery finally solved / Element lithium seems to play a key role in whether stars have planets ; Nice, didactic (but not pedantic) explanation how this work fits into the history of astrophysics.
- USA Today – Dan Vergano: Lithium-rich stars less likely to have planets ; Short, sweet.
- BBC - Lithium clue for planet-hunters ;
- Nat’l Geographic – John Roach : To Find New Planets, Look for the Lithium ; Hmm, should’ve said in the hed look away from the lithium; story itself looks just fine.
- Scientific American – John Matson: Planets May Affect Chemistry of Their Stars ;
- Science News – Ron Cowen: Chemical Fingerprint Found for Planet Hunting ;
Grist for the Mill: European Southern Observatory Press Release ;
Old and Striking Grist for the Mill:
The general idea is not new. For one example – one finds this reference, apparently from last year, pointing to the same conclusion by another researcher. Also of interest is that said author is Guillermo Gonzalez. Cognoscenti of science politics will recognize him as the astronomer who got in trouble and lost tenure a year or two ago at Iowa State University over, the U. said, his low publication rate but he said was persecution for his creationist beliefs. For all that, looks like Dr. Gonzales can do astronomy.
Another example showing this conclusion was already in the air.
- Charlie Petit
