Discovery of the "Most Pristine" Star
Astronomers have discovered a surprisingly "pristine" red giant with the lowest concentration of heavy elements ever seen in a star, likely a direct descendant of one of the universe's first stars.
The unusual alien sun, found near the edge of the Milky Way, breaks a major rule of star formation due to its metal-poor composition.
Star Formation Process
All known stars are powered by nuclear fusion, where atoms of lighter elements are forced together under immense pressure, fusing into heavier elements and emitting large amounts of energy.
A common example is hydrogen fusing into helium, the most abundant elements in stars.
The star is so metal-poor that it could be a direct descendant of the universe's first stars.
Author's summary: Astronomers discover a pristine star near the Milky Way's edge.