13-Billion-Year-Old Alien Worlds Discovered 302
astroengine writes "Two exoplanets have been discovered by scientists at the Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy orbiting the star HIP 11952. But according to conventional thinking, these worlds shouldn't exist. You see, HIP 11952 is a 'metal-poor star and planetary formation is hindered around stars with low metallicity (PDF). This isn't the only thing; as metal-poor stars were the first stars to form when the Universe was very young, these two worlds also formed around the same time. They are therefore the most ancient exoplanets discovered to date."
Astronomers are so funny (Score:0, Funny)
In fifty years everyone will look back and laugh at us for putting an age on an ageless thing.
Re:I'm confused (Score:5, Funny)
"Planets form around sun" certainly was news 13 billion years ago, it just took this long to reach Slashdot's front page.
Re:Astronomers are so funny (Score:5, Funny)
You are welcome.
Re:Astronomers are so funny (Score:5, Funny)
time is not an illusion at all, it is the increase in entropy of the structures of the visible universe, it is a non-conserved state function
So, does time run backward in your freezer, and faster than normal around it?
Re:maybe they dont exist (Score:5, Funny)
They're only 375 light years away.
Maybe the light took the scenic route.
Re: Ford Prefect (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Astronomers are so funny (Score:5, Funny)
Being stoned doesn't make you more insightful than anyone else. It just makes you stoned.
So we found planets older than dirt. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Astronomers are so funny (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Astronomers are so funny (Score:5, Funny)
no, the refrigerator does work moving heat to the outside in time with some of that energy thereafter unavailable to do work, increasing the overall entropy of the universe even though causing a local decrease of entropy inside
And that folks, is the definition of a refrigerator here on Slashdot! Still wonder why you don't have any gfs? Seriously though, this is why I love /.
Re:Astronomers are so funny (Score:4, Funny)
No. Pointless.