Hubble Uncovers the Secret of Blue Straggler Stars that Defy Aging

Mysterious No More: Astronomers Used The Hubble To Solve The Blue Straggler Problem

How do blue stragglers defy the aging that turns their mates red? Blue stragglers are found in ancient star clusters, where they outshine stars the same age, looking far bluer and younger than their true age. Astrophysicists have tried to understand blue stragglers for decades. New research using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is finally revealing how these ageless stars come to be and why they thrive in quieter cosmic neighbourhoods.

Hubble uncovers the secret of blue straggler stars that defy aging

Some stars appear to defy time itself. Nestled within ancient star clusters, they shine bluer and brighter than their neighbors, looking far younger than their true age. Known as blue straggler stars, these stellar oddities have puzzled astronomers for more than 70 years. Now, new results using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope are finally revealing how these "forever young" stars come to be and why they thrive in quieter cosmic neighborhoods.

Hubble Space Telescope reveals why some stars refuse to grow old

In the most extensive ultraviolet study of blue stragglers ever performed, an international research team used NASA's and ESA's Hubble observatory to survey 48 globular clusters scattered across the Milky Way.Read Entire Article