https://www.express.co.uk/news/scie...is-universe-physics-news-astronomy-space-2019
A star know as “Methuselah star”, or scientifically called HD 140283, is situated about 200 million lightyears away and has stumped experts.
Analysis of the star showed that it contained very little iron content, which would suggest that it formed during a period when the iron element was not abundant in the Universe.
This in turn led to the discovery the star is 14.5 billion years old, some 0.7 billion years older than the Universe.
Experts met at a conference in California in July in an attempt to solve the mystery, but so far questions have just led to more questions – and it could lead to a “scientific revolution”.
Big Bang theory wrong? Star older than Universe discovered - threat of ‘scientific crisis’ (Image: GETTY)
“Methuselah star”, or scientifically called HD 140283 (Image: NASA)
British physicist Robert Matthews wrote for UAE-based media outlet The National: “It’s a riddle of cosmic proportions: How can the universe contain stars older than itself?
“That’s the conundrum now facing astronomers trying to establish the age of the universe — and its resolution could spark a scientific revolution.
“Astronomers now know it contains very little iron — which means it must have been formed before this element became common in the universe.
“And that implies HD 140283 must be almost as old as the universe itself.”
A star know as “Methuselah star”, or scientifically called HD 140283, is situated about 200 million lightyears away and has stumped experts.
Analysis of the star showed that it contained very little iron content, which would suggest that it formed during a period when the iron element was not abundant in the Universe.
This in turn led to the discovery the star is 14.5 billion years old, some 0.7 billion years older than the Universe.
Experts met at a conference in California in July in an attempt to solve the mystery, but so far questions have just led to more questions – and it could lead to a “scientific revolution”.
Big Bang theory wrong? Star older than Universe discovered - threat of ‘scientific crisis’ (Image: GETTY)
“Methuselah star”, or scientifically called HD 140283 (Image: NASA)
British physicist Robert Matthews wrote for UAE-based media outlet The National: “It’s a riddle of cosmic proportions: How can the universe contain stars older than itself?
“That’s the conundrum now facing astronomers trying to establish the age of the universe — and its resolution could spark a scientific revolution.
“Astronomers now know it contains very little iron — which means it must have been formed before this element became common in the universe.
“And that implies HD 140283 must be almost as old as the universe itself.”
