Science and Technology
In news: According to the study published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, scientists have detected barium in the upper atmosphere of two giant exoplanets for the first time.
- European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope located in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile was used in the process.
About:
- The scientists confirmed the presence of hydrogen, lithium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, nickel and iron, in addition to barium.
- Additionally, the team found elements such as cobalt, strontium and titanium
- Discovery of barium is surprising because heavy elements like barium are expected to quickly fall into the lower layers of the atmosphere, given these exoplanets have high gravity.
- Barium, two and half times heavier than iron, is the heaviest-ever detected element.
About the Exoplanets:
- These exoplanets are two ultra-hot Jupiters — WASP-76b and WASP-121b — which orbit their host stars WASP 76 and WASP 121.
- The former is about 640 light-years away from the Earth and the latter around 900 light-years away.
- Ultra-hot Jupiters are a class of hot gaseous planets that matches the size of Jupiter. But they have short orbital periods, unlike Jupiter.
- Both WASP-76b and WASP-121b complete one orbit in two days.
- Surface temperatures in these bodies reach as high as 1,000 degrees Celsius.
- These bodies have unique features owing to their high temperatures. For instance, WASP-76b experiences iron rain.
About Barium:
- Barium is a chemical element with the symbol Ba and atomic number 56.
- The element is used in metallurgy, and its compounds are used in pyrotechnics, petroleum production, and radiology.
- Soluble barium compounds are poisonous. In low doses, barium ions act as a muscle stimulant, and higher doses affect the nervous system, causing cardiac irregularities, tremors, weakness, anxiety, shortness of breath, and paralysis.
- Because of its high chemical reactivity, barium is never found in nature as a free element.
- Barium salts are used in fireworks to generate green lights.
Source: Down to Earth
Previous Year Question
Q.1) Which one of the following sets of elements was primarily responsible for the origin of life on the Earth? (2012)
- Hydrogen, Oxygen, Sodium
- Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen
- Oxygen, Calcium, Phosphorous
- Carbon, Hydrogen, Potassium
