Dr. Robert Clayton came to SMU Wednesday evening to discuss the sun’s role in the creation of the universe.
The Enrico Fermi distinguished professor Emeritus of the University of Chicago delivered a state of the art lecture in the field of Isotope Geochemistry.
Clayton theorizes that the creation of our solar system took place closer to the sun than originally thought. His current work in the field of isotopes attempts to answer how the planets got pushed so far away. His theory suggests that the sun was more active than originally thought. His primary source of research lies within what Clayton refers to as “stardust” or grains of dust originated from stars.
Dr. Crayton Yapp of the SMU Geology department said, “If there were a definition of a Isotope Geophysicist, he would be it. He’s a very busy man and yet he feels that getting this information out to the public and other university students is significant. It truly is a hallmark of his character.”
As the 2004 Recipient of the National Medal of Science by the White House, colleagues consider him the definitive word on isotopic geochemistry.
The science community has three conventional and generally agreed upon theories about the sun’s role in our universe. Clayton, however, disagrees in the areas of chemistry, original location and the sun’s actual role. The proposed idea says that there was actually much more photolysis in the sun, as opposed to the idea that the chemical make-up was initially an equilibrium.
Theorists have also agreed that the location where the earth was formed in reference to the sun was several astronomical units. Clayton believes it was actually .05 A.U., supporting his claim of the sun’s original activity being extremely active. In addition, the sun’s primary role has been considered gravity and heat sourcing. Clayton proposes that the role actually lies in the ultra-violet rays provided.
In addition, Hubble Space Telescope demonstrated that star changes are taking place within a matter of a few years as opposed to millions.
The study of isotopes is the most powerful and standard way to distinguish pre-solar material. Because of the isotopes and carbon dating we know for sure that the universe dates 4,567,000 years old. Through the advances of isotopic research, scientists are able to determine what kind of star the stellar material came from and what sort of event actually took place.
“Right now, we’re bringing pieces of the sun into the lab from the Genesis spacecraft,” said Clayton. Clayton expects to have new information on his studies in a matter of days.
By studying stardust and meteorites Clayton provides primitive solar discoveries from grains of meteorite sand.
Meredith Faber an SMU student said, “Well It’s an outgrowth of astrophysics and I think its really interesting that we can determine the origin of a single extraterrestrial grain.”
