[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/lt\/article\/modal\/7345\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n      3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n        \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n  \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EGalactic archaeology: astronomers are using stars as fossils to study the Milky Way \u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EUnderstanding the stellar population of our galaxy could reveal a great deal, not only about our own home but also about the universe as a whole. So-called galactic archaeology can reveal how galaxies take\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eshape, and\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;explain some of the interesting complexities of our own.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EOf course, given our location inside it, the Milky Way is also the best laboratory we have to study the intricacies of how galaxies evolve, move, and form. And by studying these billions of enigmatic points of light inside\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;our galaxy\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, a whole realm of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eunderstanding\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eis being\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eopened\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eup\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003ESupernovae\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EStars play a vital role in the life of a galaxy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EA small fraction\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eend\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;their lives as explosions called supernovae, and via these events\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;they release all the necessary heavier elements needed to make things like planets, asteroids, and even life itself.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003ESo\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;what can these events tell us about our galaxy?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EProfessor Dan\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMaoz\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;from the Tel Aviv University in Israel is the lead on a\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eproject called\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/833031\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003EEMERGE\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;that is seeking to answer questions like this. \u2018The idea behind EMERGE is to try to obtain as much information observationally as possible that\u2019s relevant to this question,\u2019 he said, \u2018meaning where, how, and when the various elements in the universe were produced, and how they were distributed in the stars in our galaxy.\u2019\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EStars\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;like our\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Es\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eun\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;contain a fossil-like record of all previous generations of stars that exploded as supernovae, allowing us almost to look back in time by studying current stars. \u2018And that\u2019s the idea, to see how from these fundamental enrichment processes by supernovae, the current picture of our galaxy emerged,\u2019 said Prof.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMaoz\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003ETo\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eaccess\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;this fossil-like record\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, the project is making use of the European Space Agency\u2019s (ESA) Gaia telescope. Launched in 2013 and positioned 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, this advanced space\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eobservatory is on a decade-long mission to survey more than two billion stars in our galaxy, the most extensive galactic survey in history.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EGaia\u2019s data allow\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Es\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Prof.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMaoz\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;to probe something called the initial mass function (IMF) of stars\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, the relative number of small and large stars formed\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Ein a given\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;population\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E. By knowing the distance and brightness of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Esuch\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Estars, their IMF can be examined\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u2013\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eand with it\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Etheir history can be pieced together.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EAlready some interesting findings have been made. For example, by measuring their IMF, Prof\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMaoz\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;and colleagues w\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eere\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;able to confirm that a group of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.space.com\/milky-way-ancient-kraken-merger.html\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003Esev\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003Ee\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003Eral billion stars\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;in our galaxy known as\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u2018Gaia Sausage\u2019 did not originate from our galaxy, and in fact merged with our Milky Way.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u2018To our surprise, we found that they have an initial mass function that\u2019s very distinct from the normal stars of our galaxy,\u2019 said Prof\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMaoz\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;The\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eir IMF, like a genetic signature,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;confirmed previous indications that\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u2018this population of stars was swallowed by the Milky Way 10 billion years ago.\u2019\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EGalactic archaeology\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EKnowing where and how stars formed can tell us a lot about our galaxy. But another key part of understanding the Milky Way is to work out how old its different stars are, which\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Ein turn\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eallow\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Es\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;us to study the history of our galaxy \u2013\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Ean approach\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eknown\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eas galactic archaeology.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/772293\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003EAsterochronomet\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003Er\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003Ey\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;project\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, led by Dr Andrea\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMiglio\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;from the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EUniversity of Birmingham\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;in the UK, is looking to delve into this in greater detail to understand how spiral galaxies like our own form and evolve. It will do so by measuring the ages of tens of thousands of stars in the Milky Way, but that has required some novel thinking to achieve.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EThe\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;project is making use of a unique star-dating method\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eknown as asteroseismology\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Ethat relies on the pulse of each star\u2019s brightness\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, complemented by Gaia\u2019s unprecedented information\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, to understand lots of stellar ages at once and thus reconstruct the timeline of events that formed our galaxy.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u2018Before Gaia, we had information of the distances for only a few\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E(nearby)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Ethousand stars,\u2019 said Dr\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMiglio\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E. \u2018Now with Gaia, we have very precise information on where the stars are. When you have the distance, you can infer very precisely\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E(the)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eluminosity. With Gaia, we can do it (a few thousand light years) from the Sun, so you can start to explore different regions of the galaxy.\u2019\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022text-center text-blue font-bold text-2xl w-full lg:w-1\/2 border-2 border-blue p-12 my-8 lg:m-12 lg:-ml-16 float-left\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cspan class=\u0022text-5xl rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n  \u003Cp class=\u0022font-serif italic\u0022\u003E\u2018Now with Gaia, we have very precise information on where the stars are.\u2019\u0026amp;nbsp;\u0026amp;nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n  \u003Cfooter\u003E\n    \u003Ccite class=\u0022not-italic font-normal text-sm text-black\u0022\u003EDr Andrea Miglio, University of Birmingham, the UK\u003C\/cite\u003E\n  \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003ETo achieve high-precision ages\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, the project is also relying on data from planet-hunting telescopes \u2013 like NASA\u2019s Kepler and ESA\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003ECoRoT\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u2013 which look\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eed\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;for planets by measuring changes in a star\u2019s brightness\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, and NASA\u2019s TESS, which is still doing so today.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003ESuch changes\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eover time\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Erelate directly to a star\u2019s age. \u2018These changes are related to sound waves trapped in the stellar interior,\u2019 said Dr\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMiglio\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E. \u2018By measuring the frequency of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Ethese\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eoscillation mode\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Es\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, you can (work out) the mass, and then you can have a very precise age.\u2019\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s hoped that the model can achieve a precision of 90\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E%\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;on these stellar ages, \u2018which is really amazing,\u2019 s\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eays\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Dr\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMiglio\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E, because it can allow us to date objects in the 10-billion-year history of the Milky Way\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Ewith an uncertainty of just one billion years.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EStudying stellar ages in this way\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;will allow a picture of our galaxy\u2019s evolution to be put together, using stars like \u2018tree rings\u2019 or \u2018fossils\u2019, sa\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eys\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Dr\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMiglio\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E. \u2018You can reconstruct when a certain event happened, and how the Milky Way really evolved,\u2019 he said, \u2018and how different regions of the galaxy were enriched with certain elements.\u2019\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EDoing this, along with projects like EMERGE, can begin to tell us whether our Milky Way is similar in its structure and evolution to other spiral galaxies we can observe. \u2018Once we\u2019ve understood the assembly of the Milky Way, we can see whether it is unique,\u2019 said Dr\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EMiglio\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EThe research in this article was funded by the EU\u0027s European Research Council.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EIf you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{\u0026quot;201341983\u0026quot;:0,\u0026quot;335559739\u0026quot;:200,\u0026quot;335559740\u0026quot;:276}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n            \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n      Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-2-b6m0r3erls8cxowjp7nx6midp17r7i4i-1ha5apqo\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-2_b6m0r3erls8CxOwJp7NX6miDp17r7i4i-1hA5APQo\u0022 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