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The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
'We want answers': probe launched into health service's use of grant funding
The alleged excessive spending of senior leadership at an Aboriginal health service is being examined by health authorities as Indigenous people across Dubbo demand answers. On May 29, 2025 the Department of Health, alongside representatives from the Community Grants Hub, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and the NSW Ministry of Health, met with the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service chair Brendon Harris and CEO Phil Naden to seek further clarification regarding the allegations grant funding - from both the state and federal government - was being used to fund a host of overseas trips. The Daily Liberal has reviewed all of the paperwork and spoken to a number of former staff members who say residents are battling to gain access to a GP while senior leadership at the CAHS have been on multiple overseas trips. Over the next two days the Liberal will bring you a series of stories detailing the allegations, calls for "greater transparency and accountability" and what the next steps will be for government officials examining the books. In a statement provided to the Liberal, the CAHS denies any wrongdoing. In nine years, Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) has spent more than $1 million on travel expenses, with $732,006 being spent in the past two years alone. Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler said his department is actively investigating to ensure funding to the Aboriginal Medical Service is being appropriated correctly in line with their grant agreements. "The Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) is fully cooperating with the investigation and will provide formal evidence in due course," he said. Mr Butler said Aboriginal Medical Services play a critical role in our health care system. "The majority offer outstanding health care services for First Nations Australians," he said. According to publically available CAHS financial statements, in 2024 the service spent $408,164 on travel, while in 2023 they spent $323,842. The number has jumped 24 times since the original amount spent in 2016, which was $16,143. According to sources, who wish to stay anonymous, in March 2023 and in April 2023 multiple members of staff, and some family members, went to New Zealand. While in 2024, ex-staff allege managers and the CEO travelled to Las Vegas, Canada and Bali. A spokesperson for Minister Ryan Park said NSW Health has a strong and long-standing relationship with the individual Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in regional and rural areas and closely monitors service delivery and activity through a schedule of regular program and financial reporting and face to face engagement. "This includes six-monthly performance reporting, regular meetings with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations staff and management, clinic site visits and analysis of annual audited financial reporting," they said. "NSW Health provides funding to CTG Aboriginal Health Services to deliver healthcare programs for Aboriginal communities in Coonamble, Dubbo and Gilgandra. These funds are accounted for in financial statements." A statement from Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service said they remain fully committed to transparency and accountability and will continue to cooperate with the review in an open and constructive manner. "As you know, a formal departmental review is already in progress and out of respect for that process and to ensure it is conducted thoroughly and without interference, it is inappropriate to provide additional comment outside that process," the statement said. Previously the health service said travel and vehicle expenses have increased in line with the significant growth and complexity of CAHS' operations. "We now service over 40 per cent of the West and Far West of NSW. Since 2012/13, the number of contracts serviced has grown from three to 32," the statement said. "This operational expansion across Dubbo, Gilgandra and other areas has required increased travel to meet clinical and managerial responsibilities." According to CHAS all travel is assessed against strict internal policies with appropriate Board oversight to ensure alignment with business objectives and value for money. "Note, over the same period, revenue has increased from $1.2 million to $15.4 million, a 13-fold increase," the statement said. "All government grants are subject to the strictest probity and all of CAHS' accounts have been signed off by an independent auditor. "International trips are rare and only undertaken when there's a clear business case and Board approval. No Government funds were used." The Liberal contacted former chief executive of the service, Tim Horan, who said all wages and operational costs were fully covered under the grants. He noted that under funding rules, grant recipients are expected to either return surplus Medicare earnings or grant funding or demonstrate how the funds benefit the community. Mr Horan raised concerns about the number of recent overseas trips taken by the organisation. "It's unclear how such travel directly benefits the community, there should be greater transparency and accountability on how funds are used in any organisation let alone a registered charity," he said. "Why are we promoting health services in Bali, Las Vegas, or Canada? It doesn't make sense to me." Mr Horan, who recently relocated from Coonamble to Dubbo in search of better access to health services said, "unfortunately, even here, many of us including my own family are struggling to get GP appointments." "I was especially concerned to hear about a recent trip to Canada described as part of a financial and educational program," he said. "It raised some questions for me, especially since Australia operates under very different legal, business, and healthcare systems." Mr Horan says he asks himself, "were taxpayer dollars involved?". "How are clients here directly benefiting? And why are we struggling to get basic medical appointments? "There may well be valid explanations and I'm open to hearing them but right now, it doesn't sit right with many of us. "I'm concerned and want answers that make sense to the people who live this every day particularly when it comes to mental health." Mr Horan, suffering his own serious health issues appeared emotional while speaking with the Daily Liberal. "This is important to me and thousands of others and speaking out hopefully will help me with my health but many others in the same boat and who have been denied access to the Dubbo Service," he said. Mr Horan said government funding bodies should not be investigating "their own mistakes". "They don't want to find anything that shows they have failed their responsibilities, this is for ASIC and ICAC," he said. The alleged excessive spending of senior leadership at an Aboriginal health service is being examined by health authorities as Indigenous people across Dubbo demand answers. On May 29, 2025 the Department of Health, alongside representatives from the Community Grants Hub, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and the NSW Ministry of Health, met with the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service chair Brendon Harris and CEO Phil Naden to seek further clarification regarding the allegations grant funding - from both the state and federal government - was being used to fund a host of overseas trips. The Daily Liberal has reviewed all of the paperwork and spoken to a number of former staff members who say residents are battling to gain access to a GP while senior leadership at the CAHS have been on multiple overseas trips. Over the next two days the Liberal will bring you a series of stories detailing the allegations, calls for "greater transparency and accountability" and what the next steps will be for government officials examining the books. In a statement provided to the Liberal, the CAHS denies any wrongdoing. In nine years, Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) has spent more than $1 million on travel expenses, with $732,006 being spent in the past two years alone. Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler said his department is actively investigating to ensure funding to the Aboriginal Medical Service is being appropriated correctly in line with their grant agreements. "The Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) is fully cooperating with the investigation and will provide formal evidence in due course," he said. Mr Butler said Aboriginal Medical Services play a critical role in our health care system. "The majority offer outstanding health care services for First Nations Australians," he said. According to publically available CAHS financial statements, in 2024 the service spent $408,164 on travel, while in 2023 they spent $323,842. The number has jumped 24 times since the original amount spent in 2016, which was $16,143. According to sources, who wish to stay anonymous, in March 2023 and in April 2023 multiple members of staff, and some family members, went to New Zealand. While in 2024, ex-staff allege managers and the CEO travelled to Las Vegas, Canada and Bali. A spokesperson for Minister Ryan Park said NSW Health has a strong and long-standing relationship with the individual Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in regional and rural areas and closely monitors service delivery and activity through a schedule of regular program and financial reporting and face to face engagement. "This includes six-monthly performance reporting, regular meetings with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations staff and management, clinic site visits and analysis of annual audited financial reporting," they said. "NSW Health provides funding to CTG Aboriginal Health Services to deliver healthcare programs for Aboriginal communities in Coonamble, Dubbo and Gilgandra. These funds are accounted for in financial statements." A statement from Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service said they remain fully committed to transparency and accountability and will continue to cooperate with the review in an open and constructive manner. "As you know, a formal departmental review is already in progress and out of respect for that process and to ensure it is conducted thoroughly and without interference, it is inappropriate to provide additional comment outside that process," the statement said. Previously the health service said travel and vehicle expenses have increased in line with the significant growth and complexity of CAHS' operations. "We now service over 40 per cent of the West and Far West of NSW. Since 2012/13, the number of contracts serviced has grown from three to 32," the statement said. "This operational expansion across Dubbo, Gilgandra and other areas has required increased travel to meet clinical and managerial responsibilities." According to CHAS all travel is assessed against strict internal policies with appropriate Board oversight to ensure alignment with business objectives and value for money. "Note, over the same period, revenue has increased from $1.2 million to $15.4 million, a 13-fold increase," the statement said. "All government grants are subject to the strictest probity and all of CAHS' accounts have been signed off by an independent auditor. "International trips are rare and only undertaken when there's a clear business case and Board approval. No Government funds were used." The Liberal contacted former chief executive of the service, Tim Horan, who said all wages and operational costs were fully covered under the grants. He noted that under funding rules, grant recipients are expected to either return surplus Medicare earnings or grant funding or demonstrate how the funds benefit the community. Mr Horan raised concerns about the number of recent overseas trips taken by the organisation. "It's unclear how such travel directly benefits the community, there should be greater transparency and accountability on how funds are used in any organisation let alone a registered charity," he said. "Why are we promoting health services in Bali, Las Vegas, or Canada? It doesn't make sense to me." Mr Horan, who recently relocated from Coonamble to Dubbo in search of better access to health services said, "unfortunately, even here, many of us including my own family are struggling to get GP appointments." "I was especially concerned to hear about a recent trip to Canada described as part of a financial and educational program," he said. "It raised some questions for me, especially since Australia operates under very different legal, business, and healthcare systems." Mr Horan says he asks himself, "were taxpayer dollars involved?". "How are clients here directly benefiting? And why are we struggling to get basic medical appointments? "There may well be valid explanations and I'm open to hearing them but right now, it doesn't sit right with many of us. "I'm concerned and want answers that make sense to the people who live this every day particularly when it comes to mental health." Mr Horan, suffering his own serious health issues appeared emotional while speaking with the Daily Liberal. "This is important to me and thousands of others and speaking out hopefully will help me with my health but many others in the same boat and who have been denied access to the Dubbo Service," he said. Mr Horan said government funding bodies should not be investigating "their own mistakes". "They don't want to find anything that shows they have failed their responsibilities, this is for ASIC and ICAC," he said. The alleged excessive spending of senior leadership at an Aboriginal health service is being examined by health authorities as Indigenous people across Dubbo demand answers. On May 29, 2025 the Department of Health, alongside representatives from the Community Grants Hub, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and the NSW Ministry of Health, met with the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service chair Brendon Harris and CEO Phil Naden to seek further clarification regarding the allegations grant funding - from both the state and federal government - was being used to fund a host of overseas trips. The Daily Liberal has reviewed all of the paperwork and spoken to a number of former staff members who say residents are battling to gain access to a GP while senior leadership at the CAHS have been on multiple overseas trips. Over the next two days the Liberal will bring you a series of stories detailing the allegations, calls for "greater transparency and accountability" and what the next steps will be for government officials examining the books. In a statement provided to the Liberal, the CAHS denies any wrongdoing. In nine years, Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) has spent more than $1 million on travel expenses, with $732,006 being spent in the past two years alone. Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler said his department is actively investigating to ensure funding to the Aboriginal Medical Service is being appropriated correctly in line with their grant agreements. "The Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) is fully cooperating with the investigation and will provide formal evidence in due course," he said. Mr Butler said Aboriginal Medical Services play a critical role in our health care system. "The majority offer outstanding health care services for First Nations Australians," he said. According to publically available CAHS financial statements, in 2024 the service spent $408,164 on travel, while in 2023 they spent $323,842. The number has jumped 24 times since the original amount spent in 2016, which was $16,143. According to sources, who wish to stay anonymous, in March 2023 and in April 2023 multiple members of staff, and some family members, went to New Zealand. While in 2024, ex-staff allege managers and the CEO travelled to Las Vegas, Canada and Bali. A spokesperson for Minister Ryan Park said NSW Health has a strong and long-standing relationship with the individual Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in regional and rural areas and closely monitors service delivery and activity through a schedule of regular program and financial reporting and face to face engagement. "This includes six-monthly performance reporting, regular meetings with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations staff and management, clinic site visits and analysis of annual audited financial reporting," they said. "NSW Health provides funding to CTG Aboriginal Health Services to deliver healthcare programs for Aboriginal communities in Coonamble, Dubbo and Gilgandra. These funds are accounted for in financial statements." A statement from Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service said they remain fully committed to transparency and accountability and will continue to cooperate with the review in an open and constructive manner. "As you know, a formal departmental review is already in progress and out of respect for that process and to ensure it is conducted thoroughly and without interference, it is inappropriate to provide additional comment outside that process," the statement said. Previously the health service said travel and vehicle expenses have increased in line with the significant growth and complexity of CAHS' operations. "We now service over 40 per cent of the West and Far West of NSW. Since 2012/13, the number of contracts serviced has grown from three to 32," the statement said. "This operational expansion across Dubbo, Gilgandra and other areas has required increased travel to meet clinical and managerial responsibilities." According to CHAS all travel is assessed against strict internal policies with appropriate Board oversight to ensure alignment with business objectives and value for money. "Note, over the same period, revenue has increased from $1.2 million to $15.4 million, a 13-fold increase," the statement said. "All government grants are subject to the strictest probity and all of CAHS' accounts have been signed off by an independent auditor. "International trips are rare and only undertaken when there's a clear business case and Board approval. No Government funds were used." The Liberal contacted former chief executive of the service, Tim Horan, who said all wages and operational costs were fully covered under the grants. He noted that under funding rules, grant recipients are expected to either return surplus Medicare earnings or grant funding or demonstrate how the funds benefit the community. Mr Horan raised concerns about the number of recent overseas trips taken by the organisation. "It's unclear how such travel directly benefits the community, there should be greater transparency and accountability on how funds are used in any organisation let alone a registered charity," he said. "Why are we promoting health services in Bali, Las Vegas, or Canada? It doesn't make sense to me." Mr Horan, who recently relocated from Coonamble to Dubbo in search of better access to health services said, "unfortunately, even here, many of us including my own family are struggling to get GP appointments." "I was especially concerned to hear about a recent trip to Canada described as part of a financial and educational program," he said. "It raised some questions for me, especially since Australia operates under very different legal, business, and healthcare systems." Mr Horan says he asks himself, "were taxpayer dollars involved?". "How are clients here directly benefiting? And why are we struggling to get basic medical appointments? "There may well be valid explanations and I'm open to hearing them but right now, it doesn't sit right with many of us. "I'm concerned and want answers that make sense to the people who live this every day particularly when it comes to mental health." Mr Horan, suffering his own serious health issues appeared emotional while speaking with the Daily Liberal. "This is important to me and thousands of others and speaking out hopefully will help me with my health but many others in the same boat and who have been denied access to the Dubbo Service," he said. Mr Horan said government funding bodies should not be investigating "their own mistakes". "They don't want to find anything that shows they have failed their responsibilities, this is for ASIC and ICAC," he said. The alleged excessive spending of senior leadership at an Aboriginal health service is being examined by health authorities as Indigenous people across Dubbo demand answers. On May 29, 2025 the Department of Health, alongside representatives from the Community Grants Hub, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and the NSW Ministry of Health, met with the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service chair Brendon Harris and CEO Phil Naden to seek further clarification regarding the allegations grant funding - from both the state and federal government - was being used to fund a host of overseas trips. The Daily Liberal has reviewed all of the paperwork and spoken to a number of former staff members who say residents are battling to gain access to a GP while senior leadership at the CAHS have been on multiple overseas trips. Over the next two days the Liberal will bring you a series of stories detailing the allegations, calls for "greater transparency and accountability" and what the next steps will be for government officials examining the books. In a statement provided to the Liberal, the CAHS denies any wrongdoing. In nine years, Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) has spent more than $1 million on travel expenses, with $732,006 being spent in the past two years alone. Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler said his department is actively investigating to ensure funding to the Aboriginal Medical Service is being appropriated correctly in line with their grant agreements. "The Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS) is fully cooperating with the investigation and will provide formal evidence in due course," he said. Mr Butler said Aboriginal Medical Services play a critical role in our health care system. "The majority offer outstanding health care services for First Nations Australians," he said. According to publically available CAHS financial statements, in 2024 the service spent $408,164 on travel, while in 2023 they spent $323,842. The number has jumped 24 times since the original amount spent in 2016, which was $16,143. According to sources, who wish to stay anonymous, in March 2023 and in April 2023 multiple members of staff, and some family members, went to New Zealand. While in 2024, ex-staff allege managers and the CEO travelled to Las Vegas, Canada and Bali. A spokesperson for Minister Ryan Park said NSW Health has a strong and long-standing relationship with the individual Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in regional and rural areas and closely monitors service delivery and activity through a schedule of regular program and financial reporting and face to face engagement. "This includes six-monthly performance reporting, regular meetings with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations staff and management, clinic site visits and analysis of annual audited financial reporting," they said. "NSW Health provides funding to CTG Aboriginal Health Services to deliver healthcare programs for Aboriginal communities in Coonamble, Dubbo and Gilgandra. These funds are accounted for in financial statements." A statement from Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service said they remain fully committed to transparency and accountability and will continue to cooperate with the review in an open and constructive manner. "As you know, a formal departmental review is already in progress and out of respect for that process and to ensure it is conducted thoroughly and without interference, it is inappropriate to provide additional comment outside that process," the statement said. Previously the health service said travel and vehicle expenses have increased in line with the significant growth and complexity of CAHS' operations. "We now service over 40 per cent of the West and Far West of NSW. Since 2012/13, the number of contracts serviced has grown from three to 32," the statement said. "This operational expansion across Dubbo, Gilgandra and other areas has required increased travel to meet clinical and managerial responsibilities." According to CHAS all travel is assessed against strict internal policies with appropriate Board oversight to ensure alignment with business objectives and value for money. "Note, over the same period, revenue has increased from $1.2 million to $15.4 million, a 13-fold increase," the statement said. "All government grants are subject to the strictest probity and all of CAHS' accounts have been signed off by an independent auditor. "International trips are rare and only undertaken when there's a clear business case and Board approval. No Government funds were used." The Liberal contacted former chief executive of the service, Tim Horan, who said all wages and operational costs were fully covered under the grants. He noted that under funding rules, grant recipients are expected to either return surplus Medicare earnings or grant funding or demonstrate how the funds benefit the community. Mr Horan raised concerns about the number of recent overseas trips taken by the organisation. "It's unclear how such travel directly benefits the community, there should be greater transparency and accountability on how funds are used in any organisation let alone a registered charity," he said. "Why are we promoting health services in Bali, Las Vegas, or Canada? It doesn't make sense to me." Mr Horan, who recently relocated from Coonamble to Dubbo in search of better access to health services said, "unfortunately, even here, many of us including my own family are struggling to get GP appointments." "I was especially concerned to hear about a recent trip to Canada described as part of a financial and educational program," he said. "It raised some questions for me, especially since Australia operates under very different legal, business, and healthcare systems." Mr Horan says he asks himself, "were taxpayer dollars involved?". "How are clients here directly benefiting? And why are we struggling to get basic medical appointments? "There may well be valid explanations and I'm open to hearing them but right now, it doesn't sit right with many of us. "I'm concerned and want answers that make sense to the people who live this every day particularly when it comes to mental health." Mr Horan, suffering his own serious health issues appeared emotional while speaking with the Daily Liberal. "This is important to me and thousands of others and speaking out hopefully will help me with my health but many others in the same boat and who have been denied access to the Dubbo Service," he said. Mr Horan said government funding bodies should not be investigating "their own mistakes". "They don't want to find anything that shows they have failed their responsibilities, this is for ASIC and ICAC," he said.
Boston Globe
24-04-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
MIT astronomers discover crumbling planet; may offer insight into earth-like conditions in space
TESS, launched in 2018, is the first telescope to scan the entire sky for planets by shifting its field-of-view every month. Advertisement The disintegrating planet, named BD+05 4868 Ab, is one of just four planets of its kind that scientists have discovered. Astronomers said the cause of BD+05 4868 Ab's rapid disintegration is its proximity to its star — 50 times closer than Earth is to the sun — and its relatively small size. 'The planet got so close to its star that the heat started evaporating its surface,' said The planet is about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and is covered in magma that is boiling off into space, leaving a comet-like trail of debris, the astronomers said. Advertisement This comet-like tail causes an unusual blocking of the light emitted from the planet's star, which researchers first observed in August 2022 and again in August 2024, the astronomers explained. When exoplanets pass in front of their stars, astronomers observe a dip in the total amount of light received from that star, called a transit. Dips in starlight are usually brief and regular, but in the case of BD+05 4868 Ab, a dip in light lingered longer than expected. 'The dimming pattern we observed was as if a comet passed in front of the star,' said This strange observation puzzled Hon, who decided to flag the data set so others on the team could take a look. 'Marc wasn't looking specifically for this kind of object, ... but he was bright enough to understand that it was scientifically interesting,' Shporer said. The tail of debris stretches up to 9 million kilometers long — half of the planet's entire orbit — according to astronomers. The discovery of BD+05 4868 Ab could lead to a host of other discoveries, expanding our understanding of rocky exoplanets as a whole, astronomers said. The TESS team submitted a proposal for the The goal for the Webb telescope's period of observation is to determine the mineral composition of BD+05 4868 Ab's inner layers, made possible because of the planet's disintegrating nature. Advertisement By identifying which colors in the infrared are absorbed as light passes through the dust tail, scientists can identify the type of mineral species present from the planet. 'It's going to be as if we went to that planet and drilled inside,' Shporer said. 'It is one of the only ways possible to have this kind of direct measurement of the internal composition of an exoplanet compared to our theoretical models.' 'Then, we will be able to test the theories we have of far-away planets,' Shporer added. After determining the mineral makeup of BD+05 4868 Ab, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the potential habitability of planets beyond our solar system, Hon said. 'We've gained an appetite for this now,' Hon said of their discovery. 'We are now starting to be a lot more cognizant of weird events like this. ... Now, the team is going back through the data and looking for other interesting things we might have missed.' Sarah Mesdjian can be reached at
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This Melting Planet Laid a Trail of Destruction Over 5 Million Miles Long
Astronomers have discovered one of the least habitable planets ever. This tiny world is being melted by its host star, leaving a comet-like tail that stretches millions of kilometers behind it. While we're often preoccupied with planets that might be comfy enough for liquid water to pool on the surface, the hellish landscape of BD+05 4868 Ab hosts liquid rock. These magma oceans are boiling right off the surface into space, condensing into a rocky tail. "The extent of the tail is gargantuan, stretching up to 9 million kilometers [5.6 million miles] long, or roughly half of the planet's entire orbit," says Marc Hon, astrophysicist at MIT's Kavli Institute. The unfortunate planet lies about 140 light-years away, orbiting its host star every 30.5 hours. That brings it about 20 times closer to the star than Mercury orbits the Sun – and cuddling up that close could prove to be a lethal mistake. BD+05 4868 Ab may have started out with more than double its current mass, which seems to be less than half that of Mercury, and it's getting smaller all the time. The researchers estimate that it ejects a Mount Everest's-worth of material into space with every orbit, and at that rate it will completely dissolve within 1 or 2 million years. "This is a very tiny object, with very weak gravity, so it easily loses a lot of mass, which then further weakens its gravity, so it loses even more mass," says Avi Shporer, astronomer on the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. "It's a runaway process, and it's only getting worse and worse for the planet." It's only the fourth melting Mercury exoplanet discovered so far, but it has the poorest prognosis. One orbiting KIC 12557548, for example, has been given about 200 million years to live. But BD+05 4868 Ab's extensive tail is a symptom of a much faster disintegration. Other tailed exoplanets have been discovered before, but they're usually gas giants with plenty of material to spare. HAT-P-32b, for instance, is leaking helium into two tails that span more than 53 times the planet's radius. It will probably take another 40 billion years before it evaporates completely. The hot Jupiter WASP-69b is also losing its atmosphere to a tail, although it's only shrinking by one Earth mass every billion years. It'll likely face other, more pressing apocalypses, like its star blowing up, long before it needs to worry about running out of air. But back to BD+05 4868 Ab. This extraordinary exoplanet was discovered in an ordinary way, using the transit method. This involves watching a star for periodic dips in brightness, caused by a planet passing between it and the telescope viewing it. But in this case, the astronomers didn't just see a brief and regular dimming. It took much longer than expected for the brightness to return to normal after each transit. Weirder still, the amount of light filtering through during each orbit varied. That suggested that a fuzzy, inconsistent structure was trailing behind the transiting object. "The shape of the transit is typical of a comet with a long tail," says Hon. "Except that it's unlikely that this tail contains volatile gases and ice as expected from a real comet – these would not survive long at such close proximity to the host star. Mineral grains evaporated from the planetary surface, however, can linger long enough to present such a distinctive tail." Intriguingly, there's also a much smaller 'leading' tail that stretches out in front of the planet. The team says this could be especially useful to help us understand the dust tail's dynamics and test formation theories. It won't top anyone's list of holiday destinations, but BD+05 4868 Ab may still have something to teach us about more hospitable worlds. After all, it's not often that a planet blasts its innards outwards for us to analyze. JWST could perform this autopsy, studying the spectrum of the star's light as it's absorbed by the dust to reveal what the doomed planet is made of. "This will be a unique opportunity to directly measure the interior composition of a rocky planet, which may tell us a lot about the diversity and potential habitability of terrestrial planets outside our Solar System," says Hon. The research was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Red Planet's Core May Explain Strange Mystery of Ancient Magnetic Field Unusual Gas on Alien World Sparks Hope of Life, And Healthy Skepticism NASA Reveals Stunning Closeup of Bizarre-Looking Asteroid
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Astronomers discover doomed planet shedding a Mount Everest's worth of material every orbit, leaving behind a comet-like tail
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have discovered a planet that is literally falling apart as it orbits its star. Located about 140 light-years from Earth in the Pegasus constellation , this doomed world named BD+05 4868 Ab whips around its star once every 30.5 hours — so close that its surface is being scorched into magma and vaporizing into space. With each orbit, BD+05 4868 Ab leaves a blazing trail of molten rock behind it like a comet made of lava, offering a rare glimpse of an exoplanet in the final stages of its destruction. What's even more astonishing: with every blistering 30-hour orbit — which heats the planet to close to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,600 degrees Celsius) — the planet sheds as much mass of molten rock as an entire Mount Everest. "The extent of the tail is gargantuan, stretching up to 9 million kilometers long, or roughly half of the planet's entire orbit," said Marc Hon, a postdoc in MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research in a statement. This is an epic disintegration unfolding in real time, and the team predicts that it might take 1 to 2 million years for the entire planet to fully disintegrate. "We got lucky with catching it exactly when it's really going away," said Avi Shporer, a collaborator on the discovery who is also at the TESS Science Office. "It's like on its last breath." Only three other disintegrating worlds have been identified among the more than 6,000 discovered exoplanets — each leaving a distinctive, comet-like tail of debris behind it. But BD+05 4868 Ab stands out: its tail is the longest of them all. "That implies that its evaporation is the most catastrophic, and it will disappear much faster than the other planets," Hon said. Because BD+05 4868 Ab orbits so perilously close to its star, its transit — the dip in starlight created as the planet passes in front of its star — appears especially bright and distinct. The planet was discovered with NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) observatory. TESS, which scans nearby stars for periodic dips in brightness, revealed a strange, fluctuating transit that stood out from the usual planetary candidates. This makes it an ideal target for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, whose sensitive instruments can capture subtle changes in starlight to identify the chemical makeup of the vaporized rock trailing behind the planet. The result is a rare opportunity to watch a planet disintegrate in real time, and to study the composition of a world being stripped down to its core. Hon says the discovery was a lucky break. "We weren't looking for this kind of planet," he explained. "We were doing the typical planet vetting, and I happened to spot this signal that appeared very unusual." Though BD+05 4868 Ab's transit appears every 30.5 hours, the star's brightness took much longer than in other instances to return to normal. Even more bizarre was the depth the starlight's dip changed with every transit. "The shape of the transit is typical of a comet with a long tail," Hon explained. "Except that it's unlikely that this tail contains volatile gases and ice as expected from a real comet — these would not survive long at such close proximity to the host star. Mineral grains evaporated from the planetary surface, however, can linger long enough to present such a distinctive tail." Shporer explains that the planet is likely falling apart due to its low mass. "This is a very tiny object [between the size of Mercury and the moon], with very weak gravity, so it easily loses a lot of mass, which then further weakens its gravity, so it loses even more mass," Shporer stated. "It's a runaway process, and it's only getting worse and worse for the planet." The team plans to carry out follow up observations this summer using the JWST. "This will be a unique opportunity to directly measure the interior composition of a rocky planet, which may tell us a lot about the diversity and potential habitability of terrestrial planets outside our solar system," Hon said. And in the meantime, the researchers said they're looking for more examples in TESS data. "Sometimes with the food comes the appetite, and we are now trying to initiate the search for exactly these kinds of objects," Shporer said. "These are weird objects, and the shape of the signal changes over time, which is something that's difficult for us to find. But it's something we're actively working on."
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Astronomers discover hellscape world crumbling into its host sun
Inside the Pegasus constellation, a planet is disintegrating into boiling chunks of rock and evaporating minerals. Its dramatic final days aren't due to cataclysmic surface events, but rather the proximity to its star. With a 30.5-hour orbit and a position about 20 times closer than Mercury's distance to our sun, BD+05 4868 Ab more resembles a comet than a planet, with a debris tail as much as 5.6 million miles long. 'The extent of the tail is gargantuan… roughly half of the planet's entire orbit,' Marc Hon, an MIT postdoc at the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, said in a statement. Discovered by accident using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), Hon and colleagues detail BD+05 4868 Ab's final days in a study published April 22 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.'We weren't looking for this kind of planet,' Hon explained. 'We were doing the typical planet vetting, and I happened to spot this signal that appeared very unusual.' An orbiting exoplanet's signal typically features a brief, regularly repeating light curve dip that indicates it's passing in front of a host star. BD+05 4868 Ab's brightness takes much longer to return to its normal measurement. This implies a long, trailing formation that continues to block host starlight. Each orbital rotation's light dip also varies, indicating that the formation is dynamically shifting in size and composition. Although the transit shape resembles a long-tailed comet, the composition doesn't align with that kind of space object. 'It's unlikely that this tail contains volatile gases and ice as expected from a real comet—these would not survive long at such close proximity to the host star,' said Hon. 'Mineral grains evaporated from the planetary surface, however, can linger long enough to present such a distinctive tail.' Astronomers have only identified three disintegrating planets before BD+05 4868 Ab, all of which were detected over a decade ago using data collected by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope. The newest find is the most violent example yet, with the longest tail and deepest transits of the four known examples. 'That implies that its evaporation is the most catastrophic, and it will disappear much faster than the other planets,' said Hon. 'Faster' is often relative when dealing with cosmic events, and BD+05 4868 Ab's case is no exception. Even losing an estimated Mount Everest's worth of material with every orbit, it will still take 1–2 million years before the planet is completely destroyed. Until then, conditions on BD+05 4868 Ab will remain pretty hellish: surface temperatures reach an estimated 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Such constant, punishing heat also means the entire planet is likely covered in boiling magma as its mineral grains continue to evaporate into space. 'This is a very tiny object, with very weak gravity, so it easily loses a lot of mass, which then further weakens its gravity, so it loses even more mass,' explained Avi Shporer, a study co-author at the TESS Science Office. 'It's a runaway process, and it's only getting worse and worse for the planet.' According to Shporer, it's pure luck that astronomers detected BD+05 4868 Ab when they did. 'We got lucky with catching it exactly when it's really going away,' said Shporer. 'It's like [it's] on its last breath.'
