In astronomy, an iron star is a hypothetical type of star that could occur in the universe in 101500 years. The premise behind iron stars states that cold fusion occurring via quantum tunnelling would cause the light nuclei in ordinary matter to fuse into iron-56 nuclei. Fission and alpha-particle emission would then make heavy nuclei decay into iron, converting stellar-mass objects to cold spheres of iron. The formation of these stars is only a possibility if the proton does not decay.
Famous quotes containing the words iron and/or star:
“Persistence can grind an iron beam down into a needle.”
—Chinese proverb.
“The sun descending in the west,
The evening star does shine;
The birds are silent in their nest,
And I must seek for mine.”
—William Blake (1757–1827)
Related Phrases
Related Words