Scientists discover the Sun contains 55% more silver than expected

Researchers at Uppsala University recently updated the chemical profile of our Sun. A new analysis reveals the star contains 55 percent more silver than previous estimates indicated. This discovery helps scientists resolve a long-standing discrepancy between the Sun's composition and the chemical makeup of ancient meteorites.

Astronomers determine the abundance of heavy elements in the Sun by examining sunlight through spectroscopy. Atoms in the solar atmosphere absorb light at specific wavelengths, which creates a unique set of spectral lines. These lines function like a fingerprint for each element. Previous research relied on simplified models that failed to capture the complexity of the solar atmosphere accurately.

The team developed an advanced model that accounts for the interaction between light and silver atoms with higher precision. This approach includes non-equilibrium effects where the light itself influences the atoms responsible for the absorption lines. By applying this method, the team calculated a significantly higher concentration of silver than earlier studies suggested.

This finding is important because the Sun serves as a primary reference point for stellar astrophysics. Because both the Sun and primitive meteorites originated from the same cloud of gas and dust 4.6 billion years ago, their chemical compositions should align. The new data brings these two markers into much closer agreement. Understanding the distribution of silver and other heavy elements allows researchers to trace the chemical history of the Milky Way galaxy. The team intends to apply this spectroscopic method to other stars to map the formation and dispersal of heavy elements across space.