Scientists discover first 'polar planet' orbiting two stars in ‘surprise' find
Astronomers have found a planet that orbits around a rare pair of peculiar stars in what has been dubbed a "surprising" discovery. This discovery is the first strong evidence of a 'polar planet' orbiting a pair of stars.
Scientists used the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) to make this exciting discovery. Several planets orbiting two stars at once have been discovered in the past years, but none that orbited their stars in this interesting way had been found.
Star Wars fans may recognise that phenomenon from the fictional planet Tatooine in the film franchise. And Science Daily explains that these odd planets typically occupy orbits that roughly align with the angle in which their host stars orbit each other.
However, this particular 'polar planet' orbits at a 90 degree angle around its stars.
Previous theories assumed that these orbits would be stable, and hints of these planets existing had been found, but there was a lack of clear evidence that these polar planets existed until now.
Thomas Baycroft, a PhD student at the University of Birmingham, who led the study published in Science Advances, said: "I am particularly excited to be involved in detecting credible evidence that this configuration exists."
The exoplanet, named 2M1510 (AB) b, orbits a pair of young brown dwarf stars, which are bigger than gas-giant planets but too small to be considered proper stars.
The two brown dwarfs produce eclipses of one another as seen from Earth, in a phenomenon that astronomers call an 'eclipsing binary'.
This star system is incredibly rare, and it is only the second pair of eclipsing brown dwarfs known to date. The system also contains the first exoplanet ever found on a path at right angles to the orbit of its two host stars.
"A planet orbiting not just a binary, but a binary brown dwarf, as well as being on a polar orbit is rather incredible and exciting," says co-author Amaury Triaud, a professor at the University of Birmingham.
The planet was found while the team was refining the orbital and physical parameters of the two brown dwarfs - but it wasn't a discovery they were expecting.
Triaud added: "The discovery was serendipitous, in the sense that our observations were not collected to seek such a planet, or orbital configuration. As such, it is a big surprise."
Scientists collected observations with the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES) instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope at Paranal Observatory, Chile.
This pair of brown dwarfs, known as 2M1510, were first detected in 2018 by the research's co-author Triaud.
The astronomers noticed that the orbital path of the two stars in 2M1510 were being pushed and pulled in unusual ways, which led to the discovery of this exoplanet with its strange orbital angle.
Baycroft explained that it became clear that the only explanation for this push-pull effect was that there was a planet orbiting at a 90 degree angle to the stars.
"Overall, I think this shows to us astronomers, but also to the public at large, what is possible in the fascinating Universe we inhabit", says Triaud.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
27-07-2025
- The Independent
George Lucas finally comes to Comic-Con to give a preview of his new museum
George Lucas is finally coming to the stage at Comic-Con. And while 'Star Wars' is sure to get a mention, the 81-year-old is making his debut appearance at the San Diego pop cultural extravaganza for a more earthbound reason: a preview of his long-in-the-works Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. The Sunday panel discussion in Comic-Con's vaunted Hall H will act as a relatively quiet closing act to the four-day festival that brought its usual series of big, bombastic looks at upcoming sci-fi and superhero projects. The museum-centered session is also meant to be a broader discussion of the new institution's subject matter: the histories and traditions of narrative art across time and cultures. Lucas will be joined by fellow filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro and art director Doug Chiang, who has worked on a steady series of 'Star Wars' films starting with the Lucas-directed prequels in 1999. Queen Latifah will act as moderator. Lucas is easily on the Mount Rushmore of figures whose work has had the greatest inspiration on the kind of films and other pop cultural celebrated annually in Hall H at Comic-Con. But the convention wasn't a common showcase for blockbuster films when he was directing them himself. And he sold 'Star Wars' and Lucasfilm to the Walt Disney Co. in 2012, and Disney has used different venues to make big splashy presentations about its properties. The museum founded by Lucas and his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson, is set to open next year in Exposition Park, near the Los Angeles Coliseum, several of the city's other museums, and the University of Southern California. The 11-acre campus and 300,000-square-foot building designed by architect Ma Yansong includes galleries, two theaters and related spaces.
Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Daily Mail
DIY health tests relied on by thousands could be delivering false results and putting lives at risk, major study reveals
Many DIY tests for the likes of high cholesterol, vitamin deficiency, fertility and prostate cancer are not fit for purpose, a study suggests. Researchers examined tests that patients can buy in supermarkets, pharmacies and shops which they then use at home. They found the checks risked giving users the wrong result and could delay diagnosis. Most of them recommended following-up with a doctor regardless of the result, prompting experts to question the point of using them in the first place. Scientists from the University of Birmingham are now calling for much tighter regulation of the sector, adding that the NHS may face additional demand after patients self-test. They said: 'In the absence of guidance from healthcare professionals, individuals might use tests inappropriately or without a clear understanding of the implications of the results. 'False positive test results can lead to unnecessary anxiety, increased healthcare usage, and additional costs, whereas false negative test results may delay appropriate treatment or engagement with screening programmes. 'Test errors can stem from inherent limitations in the accuracy of the test, as well as user-related issues such as sampling errors, incorrect processing, and difficulties in interpreting the results.' However, the team said that in the future home tests could have great potential for patient care. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it would look at the findings. Self-testing is becoming increasingly popular and the UK market for self-tests is expected to reach £660million by 2030. Overall 30 self-tests costing £1.89 to £39.99 were included in the study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). The tests covered 19 different conditions, including vitamin deficiency, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, thyroid function, prostate health, HIV, menopause and bowel cancer. Researchers said only eight of the 30 tests provided information about who should or should not use the test, while four specified the presence of symptoms. External packaging on fewer than half of the tests (14) included any statement about their accuracy. Meanwhile, 90 per cent of the tests recommended following up with a healthcare professional if results were positive or abnormal, while 47 per cent recommended this if the outcome was negative. Accuracy claims were made for 24 of the tests, including in pamphlets, and most (58 per cent) claimed a performance of at least 98 per cent accuracy, sensitivity or specificity. However, the researchers said evidence supporting accuracy claims was largely unavailable or did not provide sufficient information for people likely to purchase the tests. Professor Jon Deeks, from the University of Birmingham, said: 'A plethora of new health self-tests have emerged in recent years and are available to buy from many high street supermarkets and pharmacies in the UK. 'While these kits have been approved for sale, they are not subject to the same stringent regulations as pharmaceutical products. 'Our recent research raises concerns about the suitability, accuracy and usability of many of the self-testing products available that require users to sample, test and interpret results themselves. 'In some cases, it is unclear how accuracy claims are supported, and there is no requirement of manufacturers to share the evidence behind these claims.' Professor Deeks said the UK is looking at a 'new world' when it comes to self-testing, but there is more work to do to show claims made were robust. He said much of the literature contained with tests was 'not easy to understand', while some of the results could lead to a 'wrong diagnosis'. In one example, he said the self-tests for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, a marker of prostate health, were fixed at a certain concentration level. However, he said this depended on how old the patient was, adding 'if you're age 70 you need to have your PSA done at a very different level to when you're 20'. Professor Deeks added: 'Current regulations for the use of self-testing kits in a commercial setting are not adequately protecting consumers.' Dr Clare Davenport, clinical associate professor at the University of Birmingham, said: 'The wide range of off-the-shelf tests now available to the public are not endorsed by the NHS and evidence for their benefit is lacking. 'This is in contrast to well-established self-tests, such as pregnancy tests. 'We are worried that consumers concerned about their health and tempted by the convenience of buying a test over the counter may be harmed if they use these tests in the wrong way.' A spokesman for Suresign, which provides three of the self-tests studied, said: 'We find this blanket condemnation of a small range of home tests available to be unreasonable and unprofessional, since they admit they are content with many of those examined. 'This is not a clinical approach to a highly scientific subject. 'We are content our tests give the public access to healthcare screening not easily available with the NHS at the present time.' Joseph Burt, head of diagnostics and general medical devices at the MHRA, said the regulator is 'overhauling the medical device regulations to further strengthen standards'. He added: 'In the meantime, we strongly encourage anyone using a self-test to check for a CE or UKCA mark, read the instructions carefully, and seek medical advice if they're unsure about their result.'
The Independent
24-07-2025
- The Independent
New research exposes the risk of store-bought self-test kits
Researchers from the University of Birmingham have warned that high street self-tests for conditions like vitamin deficiencies, menopause, and bowel cancer may not be fit for purpose. A review of 30 self-tests found many lacked crucial information on who should use them, how to interpret results, or what actions to take afterwards. Concerns were raised about the accuracy claims of these tests, with evidence often being unavailable or of low quality, and 18 tests were deemed "high risk". Experts, including Professor Kristien Boelaert, highlighted the potential for "false reassurance" and increased demand on the NHS due to these unregulated products. Calls have been made for urgent, tighter regulation of the booming self-test market, which is projected to reach £660m by 2030 in the UK.
