Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a brown dwarf that shows signs of possessing an aurora.
The discovery suggests that there may be some internal process occurring within the brown dwarf supplying energy to its atmosphere.
Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a brown dwarf that shows signs of possessing an aurora. Auroras are caused by charged particles from the sun striking molecules in Earth's atmosphere and are usually seen at high latitudes because our planet's magnetosphere funnels these particles toward the poles. However, this discovery suggests that there may be some internal process occurring within the brown dwarf supplying energy to its atmosphere. The team believes that interstellar plasma could be striking W1935 or that it is not totally isolated and receiving an influx of particles from a nearby active moon.
The methane emissions from the brown dwarf, likely due to energy in its upper atmosphere and indicating it as an aurora akin to Earth's northern and southern lights, are glowing instead of absorbing light.
Auroras are caused by charged particles from the sun striking molecules in Earth's atmosphere and are usually seen at high latitudes because our planet's magnetosphere funnels these particles toward the poles.
The potential aurora over W1935 was indicated by infrared emissions from methane, which is a chemical compound that is often found on brown dwarfs.
With a lack of an external solar wind to cause the brown dwarf's likely aurora, there may be some internal process occurring within the brown dwarf supplying energy to its atmosphere.
The team believes that interstellar plasma could be striking W1935 or that it is not totally isolated and receiving an influx of particles from a nearby active moon.
Temperature inversions are prominent in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn too.
Accuracy
Astronomers witnessed mysterious light around a failed star in an unexpected celestial discovery using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
A team of astronomers found infrared emissions from methane coming from brown dwarf W1935 using the James Webb Space Telescope. This artist concept portrays W1935, which is located 47 light-years from Earth.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it presents the discovery of mysterious light around a failed star as an aurora-like phenomenon without providing any clear source for the energy. The author also states that there was no expected source for this emission and yet they found emissions from methane coming from brown dwarf W1935, which is located 47 light-years away. This contradicts their initial statement about not expecting to see such emissions.
The article presents the discovery of mysterious light around a failed star as an aurora-like phenomenon without providing any clear source for the energy.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that NASA has made history with the James Webb Space Telescope. The author also uses a dichotomous depiction of brown dwarfs as failed stars and auroras on Earth when describing W1935's emissions from methane. Additionally, there is an inflammatory rhetoric used in stating that it is baffling to the astronomers why W1935 warmed at higher altitudes.
The article states that NASA has made history with the James Webb Space Telescope.
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the discovery of mysterious light around a failed star using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The author mentions that there is no clear source for the energy emitted by methane in brown dwarf W1935, which is causing it to glow instead of absorbing light as expected. This suggests that there may be some form of internal heat or radiation within the object itself, which could potentially indicate a biased interpretation of data.
The author mentions that there is no clear source for the energy emitted by methane in brown dwarf W1935
The author uses language like 'glowing' and 'baffling', implying an unexpected or unusual phenomenon, which could potentially indicate a biased interpretation of data.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Megan Myers has a financial tie to NASA as she is an employee of the agency. She also has personal relationships with scientists who have studied brown dwarfs and methane emissions in space.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of NASA and James Webb Space Telescope as they are reporting for Fox News which is known to have conservative views on science and space exploration. The article also mentions methane emissions which could be related to political or ideological biases.
Fox News has been known for its conservative views on science and space exploration in the past.
The author reports that NASA's telescope picked up a mysterious light around a failed star, but does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest with the topic of NASA and James Webb Space Telescope. The article also mentions methane emissions which could be related to political or ideological biases.
Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope spotted evidence of a brown dwarf that shows signs of possessing an aurora.
Auroras are caused by charged particles from the sun striking molecules in Earth's atmosphere and are usually seen at high latitudes because our planet's magnetosphere funnels these particles toward the poles.
The potential aurora over W1935 was indicated by infrared emissions from methane, which is a chemical compound that is often found on brown dwarfs.
With a lack of an external solar wind to cause the brown dwarf's likely aurora, there may be some internal process occurring within the brown dwarf supplying energy to its atmosphere.
The team believes that interstellar plasma could be striking W1935 or that it is not totally isolated and receiving an influx of particles from a nearby active moon.
W2220 was found to have methane emissions absorbing light, while W1935 had methane emissions glowing.
The atmosphere of W1935 seems to be experiencing a temperature inversion that sees its atmosphere heating up at higher altitudes.
Temperature inversions are prominent in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn too.
Aurorae have been used to explain unusual qualities of brown dwarfs before, such as radio emissions from warmer examples of these failed stars.
The discovery represents the first time that a methane emission from a brown dwarf has been spotted, indicating an aurora.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it implies the existence of an aurora around a brown dwarf when there are no stars close to it that could be providing the charged particles to fire up such an aurora. The article also uses sensationalist language and makes claims about internal processes within the brown dwarf without any evidence or explanation.
The potential aurora over W1935 was indicated by infrared emissions from methane, spotted by JWST.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority by citing NASA and the James Webb Space Telescope as sources of information. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the discovery as a 'mysterious' aurora over a failed star. Additionally, there is no evidence presented in the article that supports or refutes any claims made about the potential internal process within W1935.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Robert Lea has a conflict of interest on the topic of James Webb Space Telescope and failed star as he is an employee at STScI which operates the telescope.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of failed stars (brown dwarfs) as they are discussing an artist's illustration and mention that the brown dwarf in question shows signs of possessing an aurora.
The James Webb Space Telescope found infrared emission from methane coming from the brown dwarf W1935.
W1935 is an isolated object in space with no nearby star to create an aurora.
Auroras on Earth are made when energetic particles from the Sun are captured by our planet's magnetic field and cascade down into our atmosphere near Earth's poles, colliding with gas molecules and creating eerie, dancing curtains of light.
Methane in emission is a common feature in gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn. The upper-atmosphere heating that powers this emission is linked to aurorae.
For isolated brown dwarfs like W1935, the absence of a stellar wind to contribute to the auroral process and explain the extra energy in the upper atmosphere required for methane emission is a mystery.
The team speculates that either unaccounted internal processes or external interactions with interstellar plasma or nearby active moons may help account for W1935's methane emission.
Accuracy
Aurorae on Earth are made when energetic particles from the Sun are captured by our planet's magnetic field and cascade down into our atmosphere near Earth's poles, colliding with gas molecules and creating eerie, dancing curtains of light.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title suggests that the discovery of auroral phenomena on a starless brown dwarf is an unexpected mystery when in fact it has been predicted by scientists for years due to their understanding of atmospheric heating processes. Secondly, the author claims that W1935 shows emission from methane which may be due to processes generating aurorae but fails to mention that this discovery contradicts previous predictions about the absorption feature observed towards other brown dwarfs with similar composition and brightness. Lastly, the article presents a detective story narrative when in fact it is not necessary or relevant to understanding the scientific implications of this discovery.
The article presents a detective story narrative when in fact it is not necessary or relevant to understanding the scientific implications of this discovery.
The author claims that W1935 shows emission from methane which may be due to processes generating aurorae but fails to mention that this discovery contradicts previous predictions about the absorption feature observed towards other brown dwarfs with similar composition and brightness.
The title suggests an unexpected mystery when in fact auroral phenomena on starless brown dwarfs have been predicted by scientists for years due to their understanding of atmospheric heating processes.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the discovery of auroral phenomena on a starless brown dwarf using the Webb Telescope. The author mentions that they expected to see methane absorption but instead saw glowing methane. Additionally, the article briefly touches on Jupiter and Saturn's similarities in their aurorae processes.
The discovery of auroral phenomena on a starless brown dwarf using the Webb Telescope is surprising because it was not expected to see such an effect.
