4 News Puzzling neutron star identified as the youngest ever BY ALEXANDRIA ELDRIDGE CUP ALBERTA AND NORTHERN BUREAU CHIEF EDMONTON (CUP) - A University of Alberta researcher is part of a team that has identified the youngest neutron star ever dis- covered out of the remnants of a supernova. The finding will give insight into the struc- ture of stellar explosions and the development of neutron stars from a young stage. When a heavy star explodes — a phenom- enon called a supernova — either a black hole is produced or the star's core can collapse into a tiny remnant called a neutron star. When the Cassiopeia A supernova oc- curred about 300 years ago, it left behind what appeared to be a neutron star, though the remnant was only first viewed in 1999 by a powerful X-Ray telescope. While it was at first presumed to be a neutron star, astron- omers found that it did not display character- istics typical of that type of remnant. ‘The strange properties, it turns out, are be- cause of the neutron star's young age. Craig Heinke, a professor of physics at the University of Alberta, is one of the research- ers behind the findings. He explained that neutron stars are mostly packed neutrons, with a matter-based atmosphere about 10 centimetres thick; this atmosphere modifies the amount of radiation that reaches earth. In all other neutron stars that astronomers have studied, this atmosphere has been composed of hydrogen. “You expect to have hydrogen on top, and [other researchers] tried fitting it with a hy- drogen atmosphere model, but [the size] was not large enough to make it consistent with neutron star,’ Heinke said. Many researchers tried other explanations or considered the possibility that it was not a neutron star at all, but no other theories fit. At this point, Heinke and his colleague Wynn Ho, a researcher from the Southamp- ton University School of Mathematics in the UK., decided to try and fit the neutron star to other atmospheric models. “The carbon atmosphere was both a good fit, and it predicted the size of the neutron star to 20 or 22 kilometres, so suddenly everything fell into place. This could be a neu- tron star; it just has to have a surface layer of carbon,” Heinke said. This led the researchers to consider why this neutron star would have a carbon-based atmosphere rather than the usual hydrogen atmosphere. “We think that in the early few hundred years of the neutron star's life, the surface of the neutron star is so hot that it’s actually able to [fuse] hydrogen and helium to carbon,’ Heinke said. The theory predicts that as the neutron star ages, it cools off and its atmosphere changes to hydrogen. “Material is still gently raining down onto the neutron star; the neutron stars accumu- late a layer of hydrogen that is no longer able to burn off,’ Heinke explained. Heinke said that this discovery is significant, because it gives them understanding into the development of neutron star’s atmosphere, but it also helps explain the composition of the supernova that exploded and is still rain- ing down matter on the neutron star. “There has to be enough hydrogen in there to be able to rain down onto the neutron star and produce a hydrogen atmosphere over time, and wed like a better understanding of what the interiors of supernovas are like — these being the things that produce all the elements that make up the universe,’ Heinke said, The physicist also said that the discovery could help researchers learn more about the interior of neutron stars by comparing them to other objects with carbon atmospheres. “There's what you call a quark soup, and that’s a hypothesized state of matter which has never been seen. It’s possible that that makes up part of the interior of neutron stars,’ Heinke said. Sonia Milbradt, president of the Under- graduate Physics Society (UPS) at the Uni- versity of Alberta, said that the discovery is just as exciting for students as it is for scien- tists. “T think it’s really exciting because it adds to the prestige of our department,’ she said. “Tt helps us to realize that there is important research going on in the department so it in- creases department pride.” Heinke and Wynne’ findigns were pub- lished in the journal Nature earlier this month, Students for a Green University & goBEYOND present: GREEN TIPS Tips to help you live more environmentally friendly everyday Did you know that during the peak of winter, the typical British Columbian driver will idle their vehicle for eight minutes? This burns the same amount of fuel needed to drive about 13 kilometres. If ONE driver avoided idling for 8 minutes a day, this would reduce the amount of fuel used by 68 litres per year, save $71.07 annually, and reduce 165 kilograms of GHG emissions per year. Idling a vehicle causes corroding of exhaust systems and problems with your spark plugs. A trip te the mechanic's in the peak of winter isn’t ideally fun, especially when you have places to go. Wear a heavier jacket, a toque, gloves and scarf if the interior of the vehicle is cold. It is, after all, wintertime. 20 below zero is a natural tendency, especially in Northern BC. Natural Resources Canada recommends a MAXIMUM of idling your vehicle for 30 seconds, to get the fluids moving, If you have kids, dress them up warmly (snow pants, jacket, gloves, toque, scart, etc The vehicle does warm up after driving for five minutes, so Pp 5 idling isn’t necessary. As nice as it may be to jump in toa warm car belore taking off for 10 minutes of driving, think about the negative impacts to the environment. What fun would it be if you could have a warm vehicle but you had nowhere to drive them? November 25, 2009 + Over the Edge Snapshots on Campus PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ARIA HANNOLYN CHENG ~B November 19th & 20th were UNBC’s Health & Wellness Days. Booths and Services ranging from getting your cholesterol levels checked, to massages, to H1N1 info was available. oe Stee f : , bee iz After Vaccinating peopled considered “High Risk’, the BC Ministry of Health opened up the H1IN1 vaccination eligibility to everybody else on the morning of November 19th, An H1N1 Vaccination Clinic was set up on the 19th and 20th next to the Bentley Centre. You don’t have to speed to lose control. wagen Golf was going The driver of this Volks’ itions- too fast for the road conditio! ious injury: ately, the driver escaped serio Fortun A d for the weather PIPEALTH FAIR ICBC Roadsense has a smashed-up Volkswagen Golf sitting infront of the school to give a clear warning to drivers to drive slowly and stay vigilant in this super-icy weather, Or here's a thought: TAKE THE BUS! Yes it takes a little longer, but it’s safer, more environmentally friendly, AND you won't have to deal with the road! adjust your spe? conditions.