Young star's plasma ejections provide glimpses of Sun’s history

Depiction of a coronal mass ejection from EK Draconis (Image: NAOJ)

The sun is frequently ejecting huge masses of plasma, called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), into space. Astronomers discovered a young star "EK Draconis" and found evidence that such stars eject large amounts of plasma. This discovery reshapes knowledge of early stellar behaviour and planetary evolution processes.

Cosmic weather disturbing nearby worlds

Scientists witnessed a plasma blast racing from EK Draconis outward. The event surprised researchers with its sheer scale and dual structure. This research was conducted by international team of researchers with Kosuke Namekata.

Observations from Hubble Telescope captured a multi-temperature coronal mass ejection (CME) from the star EK Draconis. The hot plasma component reached about 100,000 K and ejected at 300–550 km/s, while a cooler component (≈10,000 K) followed with a slower speed of roughly 70 km/s.

When and where?

The research was conducted in Kyoto University. The study was sought to test whether young sun-like stars produce solar-like CMEs. The work has been published in Nature Astronomy. EK Draconis is still in its youthful phase. The observations relied on coordinated global scientific networks.

How did research was conducted? 

Hubble recorded ultraviolet emissions from ejected plasma. Ground telescopes tracked cooler gas moving slower. The scientists measured temperature using light-colour analysis. Unique patterns confirmed two components erupting together. The multi-instrument approach strengthened final results clearly.

Why did this research happen? 

Young stars bombard planets with powerful storms. These eruptions can strip atmospheres from forming worlds. Our early Earth endured similar fierce solar tempests. Stellar weather shapes chances for life developing anywhere. Understanding young stars helps locate habitable planets.

What it means for future? 

The discovery unlocks clues about solar history. It helps rewrite models of early planetary evolution. It brings exoplanet habitability closer to understanding. Each eruption teaches survival conditions for young planets. Future missions may consider stellar aggression carefully. Life requires stars calming down over time.