Credit: NAOJNew research identifies ONe novae as essential sources of phosphorus, vital for life, with peak production aligning with the early Solar System.Astronomers have actually proposed a new theory to discuss the origin of phosphorus, one of the aspects essential for life on Earth. A ONe nova happens when matter builds up on the surface area of an oxygen-neon-magnesium-rich white dwarf star and is heated to the point to ignite explosive run-away nuclear fusion.The model predicts that a big amount of phosphorus will be launched in a ONe nova and that the number of novae will depend on the chemical structure, particularly the iron content, of the stars. The scientists approximate that the rate of ONe novae peaked around 8 billion years back, meaning that phosphorus would have been easily offered when the Solar System started to form around 4.6 billion years ago.The model anticipates that ONe novae will produce a chlorine improvement comparable to the phosphorus enhancement.
