Scientists puzzled by region outside solar system [View all]
Scientists puzzled by region outside solar system
By Alicia Chang
AP Science Writer / January 31, 2012
LOS ANGELES—A glimpse beyond our solar system reveals the neighborhood just outside the sun's influence is different and stranger than expected, scientists reported Tuesday.
One oddity is the amount of oxygen. There are more oxygen atoms floating freely in the solar system than in the immediate interstellar space, or the vast region between stars.
Scientists were unsure why, but they said it's possible some of the life-supporting element could be hidden in dust or ice.
"We discovered this big puzzle -- that the matter just outside of our solar system doesn't look like the material inside," said David McComas of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
More:
http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2012/01/31/space_outside_our_solar_system_looks_different/
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