Overview

• Scientists have identified a 'plateau' phase in the life cycles of stars, where frequency patterns temporarily halt and repeat before resuming, linked to mass and metallicity.
• The study, focused on the M67 open cluster, utilized stellar oscillations or 'starquakes' to determine star properties such as age and internal structure.
• This discovery provides a precise new method for estimating stellar ages, crucial for understanding the Milky Way's formation and evolution.
• The findings may also shed light on the future evolution of stars like the Sun, which originated in similar stellar clusters.
• The research, published in Nature, was conducted by an international team including ANU, UNSW Sydney, Yale, and MIT, showcasing global collaboration in advancing asteroseismology.