Starship Asterisk*

Stars born in the generation before our Sun, Population II stars, the stars that created most of the heavy elements around us today, are seen to have some, although less, elements heavier than H and He.

Yet low-mass Milky Way star SDSS J102915+172927, among others, appears to have less metals than ever predicted for any stars, including at least 50 times less lithium than came out of the Big Bang.

Whoever wrote this, if English is their first language

somewhat off topic comment

when there's units

Well, as a non-native English speaker it seems to me that there might be a difference between "fewer metals" and "less metals". "Fewer metals" might mean that the spectrum of a star shows evidence of only, say, three elements apart from hydrogen and helium. "Less metals" might mean that the elements apart from hydrogen and helium exist in extremely low amounts.

his first language

somewhat off-topic comment

when there are units

APOD Robot wrote:... Furthermore, even the elusive never-seen first stars in the universe, so-called Population III stars, are predicted to have a large mass and a small but set amount of heavy elements. ...

Guest wrote:
I am enjoying this English Lesson of the Day!

• --------------------------------------------------------
  . As You Like It Act 2, Scene 7
  
  JAQUES: What is he of basest function
  . That says his bravery is not of my cost,
  . Thinking that I mean him, but therein suits
  . His folly to the METTLE of my speech?
  . There then; how then? what then? Let me see wherein
  . My tongue hath wrong'd him: if it do him right,
  . Then he hath wrong'd himself; if he be free,
  . Why then my taxing like a wild-goose flies,
  . Unclaim'd of any man.
  --------------------------------------------------------
  . Othello, The Moor of Venice Act 4, Scene 2
  
  IAGO: Why, now I see there's METTLE in thee, and even from
  . this instant to build on thee a better opinion than ever before.
  --------------------------------------------------------
  . Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 2
  
  BRUTUS: What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!
  . He was quick METTLE when he went to school.
  --------------------------------------------------------
  . King Henry IV, Part i Act 2, Scene 4
  
  FALSTAFF: Well, that rascal hath good METTLE in him; he will not run.
  ...................................................
  . Act 5, Scene 4
  
  PRINCE HENRY: O, this boy Lends METTLE to us all!
  --------------------------------------------------------
  . King Henry IV, Part ii Act 5, Scene 3
  
  FALSTAFF: I did not think Master Silence had been a man of this METTLE.
  --------------------------------------------------------
  . King Henry V Act 4, Scene 8
  
  FLUELLEN: By this day and this light, the fellow has METTLE enough in his belly.
  --------------------------------------------------------
  . Much Ado About Nothing Act 5, Scene 1
  
  CLAUDIO: What, courage, man! What though care killed a cat,
  . thou hast METTLE enough in thee to kill care.
  --------------------------------------------------------
  . Measure for Measure Act 3, Scene 2
  
  LUCIO: I will pray, Pompey, to increase your bondage: If
  . you take it not patiently, why, your METTLE is the more.
  --------------------------------------------------------
  . A Lover's Complaint Stanza 16
  
  'Well could he ride, and often men would say
  'That horse his METTLE from his rider takes
  --------------------------------------------------------

owlice wrote:English Adept, that's quite a crabby post you have there. BTW:

Whoever wrote this, if English is their first language

his first language

somewhat off topic comment

somewhat off-topic comment

when there's units

when there are units

Can we be done with the English lessons now? Good. Now back to business: What a cool APOD! The video is interesting, well worth the three minutes it takes to watch.

reedkantor wrote:
thats "fewer"metals, not "less metals." grammar is important when writing...know the difference between the use of "fewer" and "less."

orin stepanek wrote:
I would think to destroy the lithium; the star must of been in a state of fission instead of fusion!
That doesn't seem to work for me!

Lithium citrate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_%28medication%29 wrote:
<<Lithium possesses a very important antisuicidal effect not shown
in other stabilizing medications such as antiseizures drugs.>>

English Adept wrote:Whoever wrote this, if English is their first language, should be ashamed. The first sentence should read "...are seen to have some, although fewer, elements..." The second should be "...appears to have fewer metals..."

reedkantor wrote:thats "fewer"metals, not "less metals." grammar is important when writing...know the difference between the use of "fewer" and "less." muchas gracias.

Axel wrote:... it [is] less of one thing and fewer of a number of things.

Ann wrote:Well, as a non-native English speaker it seems to me that there might be a difference between "fewer metals" and "less metals". "Fewer metals" might mean that the spectrum of a star shows evidence of only, say, three elements apart from hydrogen and helium. "Less metals" might mean that the elements apart from hydrogen and helium exist in extremely low amounts.

English Adept wrote:Ann, that's not how it works. It's two different forms of the same meaning (fewer versus less). If the second meaning you suggest was intended, it should be stated as "lower amounts of metals", or something similar.

mst66186 wrote:

APOD Robot wrote:... Furthermore, even the elusive never-seen first stars in the universe, so-called Population III stars, are predicted to have a large mass and a small but set amount of heavy elements. ...

Ummm... from following the links it seems that our sun would be a generation III star and these elusive never-seen first stars should be Population I?