Space is a vast and mysterious environment, full of intriguing cosmic phenomena. In it, the central star of our solar system, the Sun, shines with impressive intensity, providing light and heat to sustain life on Earth. But an intriguing question arises: if there is no oxygen in space, why doesn’t the Sun go out?
For a long time, it was believed that the Sun was a “ball of fire”. However, some scientists have collaborated on studies to define what this immense, hot ball of light was. However, if this were really the case, the Sun would need an important component: oxygen.
Unraveling the mystery behind the Sun
Studies by several physicists helped to get to the bottom of the issue that intrigued society. The explanation was nuclear fusion, in which atoms come together under certain conditions.
This theory was first proposed in 1930, and thus paved the way for other studies that seek to explain how the Sun has been heating for millions of years, without there being any source to feed it.
According to science, the Sun is heated and shines due to the fusion process in its core. It occurs through the transformation of hydrogen atoms into helium, releasing an enormous amount of energy.
In the Sun’s core, high temperatures and pressures create ideal conditions for hydrogen atoms to fuse together to form helium atoms. This process releases an incredible amount of energy in the form of light and heat. This energy is what makes the Sun shine brightly and heat our solar system, without the need for oxygen.
This nuclear fusion reaction is maintained by the balance between the Sun’s gravitational force, which compresses and heats the core, and the force of chemical reactions that try to expand it. This battle between pressure and gravity keeps the Sun stable and sustains the constant release of energy, in the form of light and heat, throughout its life.
“This reaction allows large amounts of energy to be released in the form of light and more heat, which is why the convective zone, that is, the outer part of the Sun, is kept at around 6000°C, that is, 600 times the temperature of water when it boils.
Thus, the radiation that comes from the Sun in all its wavelengths reaches the entire solar system. Let’s not forget that our star is 99.7% [da massa] of the solar system”explains Javier Feu, professor of astronomy and physics.
