Research challenges established limits and color theories of white dwarf stars

New scientific research is challenging long-held astrophysical principles regarding white dwarf stars. A study led by Zenia Zuraiq and Banibrata Mukhopadhyay from the Indian Institute of Science suggests that intense internal magnetic fields may allow some white dwarfs to exceed the Chandrasekhar limit. While the established mass limit for these stars is approximately 1.4 times the mass of the Sun, computer simulations indicate that a carbon-oxygen white dwarf with a sufficiently strong magnetic field could reach approximately 2.4 solar masses.

Additionally, new calculations regarding the appearance of white dwarfs suggest their color may not be determined solely by temperature. While astronomers have traditionally used temperature to classify stellar colors, research led by Mark Hollands indicates that white dwarfs could appear yellow, pink, or even green when viewed closely, questioning the standard application of blackbody radiation models to these stellar remnants.