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Impact of Stars Turning into White Dwarfs on Solar Systems
In a few billion years, the fate of our solar system will be drastically different. As our Sun exhausts its hydrogen fuel, it will expand into a red giant before ultimately shrinking down to a white dwarf. This transformation will have profound effects on the planets in our solar system, particularly those closer to the Sun.
Currently, our Sun is in the main sequence phase of its life cycle, where it is fusing hydrogen into helium to produce energy. But as it continues to burn through its hydrogen, it will eventually run out of fuel. This depletion will lead to a series of events that will culminate in the Sun becoming a red giant, expanding to about 256 times its current size.
During this phase, it is likely that Mercury and Venus will be consumed by the expanding Sun, unable to escape its gravitational pull. Earth’s fate is less certain, but it may also fall victim to the Sun’s expansion, losing its oceans and atmosphere in the process. The Sun will remain a red giant for approximately one billion years before transitioning into a white dwarf.
White dwarfs are incredibly dense objects that result from the remnants of stars like our Sun. As the Sun transitions into this phase, it will shed its outer layers and be reduced to a compact, Earth-sized core. This fate awaits not only our Sun but almost all stars that host planets.
Recent research published in The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society sheds light on the fate of planets orbiting white dwarfs. The study, led by Dr. Amornrat Aungwerojwit of Naresuan University in Thailand, explores the long-term variability in debris transiting white dwarfs.
The study reveals that planetary debris, including asteroids, moons, and even planets, can survive the transition from main sequence to red giant to white dwarf. Observational evidence, such as planetary debris polluting the photospheres of white dwarfs and compact debris disks around these stars, supports this conclusion.
As asteroids and moons are torn apart by the intense gravity of white dwarfs, they form dusty clouds and disks that orbit these stellar remnants. This chaotic environment is further evidenced by the irregular transits observed around white dwarfs, indicating constant interactions between debris.
Over a span of 17 years, researchers observed three white dwarfs exhibiting varying degrees of brightness changes, signifying ongoing dust production and disruptions of planetary bodies. Additionally, the presence of planetesimals and giant planets around white dwarfs suggests that not all planetary materials are destroyed during the transition.
While the fate of our own solar system remains uncertain, it is clear that the Sun’s transformation into a white dwarf will have profound effects on Earth and the other planets. Whether Earth can survive the Sun’s expansion remains to be seen, but it is likely to lose its atmosphere and oceans in the process.
As we gaze towards the future of our solar system, the ongoing research on white dwarfs and their planetary systems provides valuable insights into the complex and dynamic nature of stellar evolution.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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