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The Solar Oxygen Crisis

Astrophysicist writes "The Astrophysical Journal this week published an article about the abundance of oxygen in the Sun. Oxygen is the third most abundant atom in the universe, behind hydrogen and helium. Most of the hydrogen and helium was formed in the Big Bang, which means that oxygen is the element most frequently produced by nuclear fusion reactions in the interior of the stars. The solar abundance of oxygen, which is key in astrophysics because of its use as a calibration reference for other objects, was thought to be well established since the 80s. However, recent evidence indicates that it has been overestimated by almost a factor of two. A revision of the solar oxygen abundance would have a cascading effect on other important elements, such as carbon, nitrogen and neon, whose abundance is only known relative to that of oxygen. In addition to the impact on the chemical composition of many stars, models of solar interior may require some reworking in order to be consistent with the new data."

14 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Hard luck by casings · · Score: 4, Funny

    That amount of oxygen is just under the amount needed to create a stable atmosphere for human life on the sun.

    I guess there's always Mercury.

    1. Re:Hard luck by aurb · · Score: 4, Funny

      Not to mention real estate prices...

    2. Re:Hard luck by misleb · · Score: 3, Funny

      Even with enough oxygen, you'd need to worry about global warming with all those greenhouse gases such as plasmafied helium...

      -matthew

      --
      "THERE IS NO JUSTICE, THERE IS ONLY ME." -Death
    3. Re:Hard luck by sentientbeing · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm continually disappointed that we've never sent a manned mission to the Sun.
      Now, I know what you're thinking:
      'Duh. That's stupid. Its way too hot'

      Yes. But only if you go in the daytime

      --

      ------
      beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
    4. Re:Hard luck by AvitarX · · Score: 3, Funny

      10 - 20 percent efficient?

      --
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  2. Goodness by cimmer · · Score: 4, Funny

    This takes my breath away!

  3. I can finally feel good about myself! by All_One_Mind · · Score: 5, Funny

    and I thought my cascading errors were bad!

  4. Cue the /. Pseudo Scientists by WED+Fan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wait for it...3, 2, 1:

    We will now see a bunch of programmers and geeks try to display their scientific understandings and fail miserably. Usually because they read a chapter or 2 of Hawkings, or they know how to spell Fiene...Feinama...that really cool and funny fizicist...phyzi...fiscis...you know, someone who studies how the Universe works.

    I think we'd be better off sharing bio-diesel recipes and gossiping about our favorite TV series that are due for cancellation.

    --
    Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong fix.
    1. Re:Cue the /. Pseudo Scientists by PhxBlue · · Score: 5, Funny

      or they know how to spell Fiene...Feinama...that really cool and funny fizicist...phyzi...fiscis...you know, someone who studies how the Universe works.

      Fein, man, be a killjoy! :)

      --
      !#@%*)anks for hanging up the phone, dear.
    2. Re:Cue the /. Pseudo Scientists by bumptehjambox · · Score: 4, Funny
      :polishes glasses:

      The angle of the dangle is directionally proportionate to the heat of the meat and inversely proportionate to the sag of the bag. This is relevant, because the quintessential measure of man's cosmic purpose, and the understanding that comes of each discovery and revelation, is dwarfed by the new questions that then arise. In conclusion, one can conclude, that the effects on the world of physics are far-reaching but, in a closing statement, by nature, never insurmountable.

  5. Oh, is *that* all. by sycodon · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought it was gonna be something else Bush and Rove were at fault for.

    Headline:

    Sun has less Oxygen that thought, women and children hit hardest.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  6. Solar warming by kitzilla · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yet more evidence that Solar Warming is really happening. Before you know it, the solar polar ice caps will melt, covering the entire surface of the sun to a depth of 23 feet and extinguishing its flames. Then we're completely screwed.

    I can see why the article calls this a "crisis." Scoff at your own peril.

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  7. Re:Only a Abstract? by kestasjk · · Score: 4, Funny

    Less oxygen around than we thought.. What process rapidly consumes oxygen? Hydrogen&Oxygen fuel cells used in rockets. Who recently flew into space? Microsoft billionaire Simonyi. What is produced in the reaction? Water vapor. What does water vapor in the atmosphere do? Act as a greenhouse gas and cause global warming. What will be one of the effects of global warming? Many more third world refugees. Who benefits from there being more third world refugees? Providers of technology for the OLPC project. Which company recently became part of the project? Microsoft!


    .. So not worth it.

    --
    // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
  8. Re:Only a Abstract? by Jesus_666 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't worry, we'll just blame it on the USA. They didn't sign the Kyoto protocol and now look at the mess we've got.

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