A new study from scientists at the University of Warwick has provided a more positive perspective on white dwarf stars. The study investigated cases where suns in solar systems become white dwarfs and how this process can break down objects such as moons and asteroids.
When these objects come too close to the white dwarf, they are broken down and continue to collide and grind down until eventually falling into the white dwarf. This dust found in the dwarf can then be studied to determine the specific origin of the objects. Over 17 years, scientists studied three white dwarfs to recognize their behavior. One had a major event in 2010, another showed chaotic changes every few months, and one, which showed potential for variations, had none, indicating a high probability that each white dwarf behaves differently.
The study also looked into the future of our sun in the solar system. It has been determined that Earth is more likely to be swallowed by the sun as it expands before it becomes a white dwarf. However, debris in the galaxy such as asteroids between Mars and Jupiter and moons have a high chance of being objects that will one day be broken down by the future white dwarf.
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