{"id":28682,"date":"2023-06-16T20:30:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T18:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=143265"},"modified":"2023-06-16T20:38:27","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T18:38:27","slug":"a-mysterious-force-keeps-destroying-the-universes-lithium-and-scientists-dont-know-why","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/a-mysterious-force-keeps-destroying-the-universes-lithium-and-scientists-dont-know-why\/","title":{"rendered":"A mysterious force keeps destroying the Universe\u2019s lithium. And scientists don\u2019t know why"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lithium is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal used in the manufacture of aircraft and batteries, but it’s surprisingly rare. <\/p>

By Dr Alastair Gunn\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 16 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Presently, astronomers are unsure why lithium is as rare as it is in the\u00a0Universe. The \u2018standard\u2019 model of the Big Bang<\/a>, using what we know of nuclear physics, can accurately predict the abundances of the chemical elements<\/a> that were formed between about 100 to 1,000 seconds after the Big Bang.<\/p>\n

However, although the standard model precisely predicts the primordial hydrogen and helium abundances, it overpredicts the measured primordial abundance of lithium by a factor of three to four. So, either the predictions are inaccurate (and the measurements are correct), or the predictions are accurate (and the measurements are wrong).<\/p>\n

The lithium problem<\/h2>\n

Scientists have investigated possible solutions to this so-called \u2018lithium problem\u2019. One possibility is that there is something missing in our understanding of nuclear physics \u2013 leading us to overestimate the lithium abundance. However, recent research seems to completely discount this possibility.<\/p>\n

Perhaps we don\u2019t fully understand the processes going on inside stars\u00a0\u2013\u00a0processes which could be destroying lithium out of sight. Although astronomers know that cooler stars have deep convection zones<\/a> which can drag lithium to the star\u2019s core and destroy it, and that binary stars<\/a>, or those with planetary systems, can also alter the primordial abundance of lithium, these processes do not seem to be enough to account for the discrepancy.<\/p>\n

So, where is the lithium?<\/h2>\n

However, some scientists still maintain that there must be other, unknown ways to destroy lithium in the\u00a0Universe.<\/p>\n

Another possible solution to the lithium problem is that there is entirely new physics of which we are unaware. Perhaps mysterious dark matter<\/a> had an unappreciated effect on the production of elements in the very early\u00a0Universe. Or perhaps the fundamental constants on which physics is based have not remained constant throughout cosmic time.<\/p>\n

There are numerous such theories being considered to solve the problem. But, at present, the odd rarity of lithium in the\u00a0Universe is a complete mystery.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n