Planets, on the other hand, will be richer in heavy elements than the star they orbit, since there were fewer light elements left over by the time they formed.

ECONOMIST: Twinkle, twinkle, giant planet

The interaction between light and the atoms of individual elements in a star's outer layers causes some wavelengths to be suppressed, and others to be amplified.

ECONOMIST: Stellar origins

Beyond these three key brand elements, let the Star Trek story go where it wants to go.

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But some theorists believe that when it is possible, they will be able to determine how a particular object formed by comparing its spectrum with that of its parent star to determine the relative proportions of heavy elements in the two bodies.

ECONOMIST: Twinkle, twinkle, giant planet

The number of movies under Chan's belt, and the infectious elements of his features, have made Chan a star the world over, with children and adults.

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The story, with its elements of obsession, mystery, insanity and a baseball star, made it part of both Chicago's colorful crime history and rich baseball lore.

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Acting alone, gravity would cause stars to collapse completely, but as long as energy is produced at their centers by nuclear fusion (the joining of atomic nuclei to form new elements, as in a hydrogen bomb), the star is heated and puffed up.

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Elements of the scheme include the clocking on and off GPS system STAR, covert bus monitors aged 14 and above called Bus Angels, and training aimed at helping bus drivers cope with anti-social behaviour.

BBC: Satellite tracking for school bus