All change for stellar evolution (Jan 13)

All change for stellar evolution (Jan 13)
http://physicsweb.org/article/news/9/1/8
Models of how quickly stars evolve may have to be modified after
astrophysicists found that the rate at which three helium nuclei
transform into carbon-12 is very different from earlier estimates. This
so-called triple-alpha process occurs in the interiors of certain stars
and is important for determining how abundant different elements are in
the universe. The researchers found that at temperatures below about 5 x
10^7 K the rate is significantly higher than previously thought, but
that it is much lower at temperatures above 10^9 K (H Fynbo et al. 2005
Nature 433 136).