# Destroy the Sun? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 21, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991 "2003-04-21T07:08:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thaumaturge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@Thaumaturge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thaumaturge)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/21 "2003-04-22T05:08:26Z")
A white dwarf is thousands of times denser than the material in the sun ( or the earth or any other "normal body for that matter). It passes through such material even more easily than a ball of iron would through the air. The only consequence for the white dwarf would be an increase in mass as it collects a bit from the sun on its way through. Here’s the [cite](http://www.sciamdigital.com/cart_http.cfm?ARTICLEID_CHAR=A19DC0AC-D8D8-48A1-B474-815C9C3A58C) if you are interested. ( and if you can get it to load, I can’t, but I have the hardcopy here at home.) While the white dwarf would hardly notice it’s passage through the sun, the shockwave of it’s passing would raise the temperature of the sun enough to simultaneously ignite most of it’s hydrogen in a massive fusion explosion. The sun would undergo 5 billion years of fusion in a day, an blow itself apart, along with the solar system. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/22 "2003-04-22T06:09:18Z")
> [@](#): > > I promise you a monkey sapper team on the sun in 2 years! I laughed. I cried. Speaking of destruction, Jupiter has it coming if you ask me. All that gravity. Just sitting there, waiting to suck us in. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/23 "2003-04-22T06:27:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thaumaturge \* > A white dwarf is thousands of times denser than the material in the sun ( or the earth or any other "normal body for that matter). It passes through such material even more easily than a ball of iron would through the air. Er, I wasn’t able to read your cite, but I do know that while a white dwarf is many times denser than the _average_ solar density, the _core_ density of the sun is pretty high. I think if the WD went through the center, you’d see some interaction. No? ---
**Author:** ![Thaumaturge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@Thaumaturge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thaumaturge)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/24 "2003-04-22T06:47:18Z")
Apparently, the core of the sun is only about as dense as lead ( which is high considering it is moslty hydrogen gas). But even that’s not that high compared to white dwarf degenerate matter. “Whereas the sunlike star is annihilated, the white dwarf, being 10 million times as dense, gets away with only a mild warming of its outermost layers. Except for an anomalously high surface abundance of nitrogen, the white dwarf should appear unchanged.” The density difference is even higher than I previously stated. It would be like a cannon-ball flying through a partial vacuum. From a picture caption: " In the aftermath of a collision between the sun and a white dwarf, the sun explodes as a giant thermonuclear bomb, leaving a gasseous nebula. A few percent of the sun’s mass collects in a disk around trhe white dwarf, which continues on it’s way. Earth survives, but the oceans and atmosphere boil away. No longer held by the gravity of a central star, the planets all fly off into interstellar space and wander lifelessly around the galaxy." ---
**Author:** ![Thaumaturge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@Thaumaturge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thaumaturge)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/25 "2003-04-22T06:49:05Z")
It’s the November 2002 issue of Scientific American, if anyone’s interested. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/26 "2003-04-22T06:54:58Z")
From [this page](http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/sun/Solar_interior/Sun_layers/Core/core.html&edu=high): > [@](#): > > The solar core is made up of an extremely hot and dense gas (in the plasma state). Despite a density of 160,000 Kg/m3, the temperature of 15 million degrees Kelvin (27 million degrees Faranheit) prevents the core from reaching the solid state. And from [this article](http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l2/dwarfs.html): > [@](#): > > An earth-sized white dwarf has a density of 1 x 10[sup]9[/sup] kg/m[sup]3[/sup] That’s 6 orders of magnitude more dense than the Sun. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/27 "2003-04-22T06:56:04Z")
I mean 3 orders of magnitude. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/28 "2003-04-22T07:06:26Z")
Okay, I guess you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/29 "2003-04-22T08:04:20Z")
Yeah, but _why did they print that article_? What aren’t they telling us? And why haven’t we seen the guy that played Mini-Me around lately? He could be on the way to the sun _right now_! ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/30 "2003-04-22T11:44:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I have an idea, why don’t we destroy the Sun? Well if you insist. Kaaaaaaaa Maaaayyyyyyyyy Haaaaaaaaaaaaa Maaaayyyyyyyy Haaaaaaaaaaaaa! [sub]Yes I know they didn’t actually destroy the sun in Dragonball, just the moon and a bunch of planets.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/31 "2003-04-22T12:47:14Z")
All we have to do is start a vicious rumor that we’ve discovered the what exactly is the great question of life, the universe and everything and that we’ve also stored that question on the sun to be retrieved at some later date. And in about 50 years some ugly green men will come along in ugly yellow spaceships and take care of the problem for us. ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/32 "2003-04-22T13:09:50Z")
The government already knows how to extinguish the sun. They even know how to do it on one side of the Earth. Govt. scientists work out of a clandestine lab disguised as a shrimp boat. Despite proof published on the web, the govt is, as usual, totally silent on this awesome project. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/33 "2003-04-23T03:23:15Z")
Why don’t we ask Rue de Day? He’s got experience on this sort of thing ;). ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/34 "2003-04-23T03:24:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TJ555 The Golfer \* > \*\*I have an idea, why don’t we destroy the Sun? We could just use electricity. And this will also help the economy with more jobs. \*\* I find your theories fascinating, and wish to subscribe to your newsletter… ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/35 "2003-04-23T03:33:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cooler of Death \* > \*\*Yes… destroy the sun. What a brilliant idea. I should have thought of that. My very mortal enemy, the sun. The source of heat, the source of life on this planet. Destroyed. The world would then cower in cold darkness before me. All would be set right. > > Brilliant, absolutely brilliant idea… destroy the sun with a dwarf. I must prepare. I must find the “white dwarf” of whom you speak. He must help me… He will help me! \*\* Cooler! Baby! Good to see ya spreadin’ your wings a little. If your a fan of American Idol-- and I can’t imagine you aren’t-- there’s usually a thread going in Cafe Society on the most recent show. See you around, Happy ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/36 "2003-04-23T03:47:12Z")
The only thing I would ask our resident golfer **TJ** here is, WTF were you smoking when you came up with this idea? Thank you for your time in reading this mundane, and rather pointless post. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/37 "2003-04-23T04:12:17Z")
Why would a white dwarf go through the sun anyway? Wouldn’t it be much, much more likely that one would become a satellite of the other? ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/38 "2003-04-23T04:38:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thaumaturge \* > Here’s the [cite](http://www.sciamdigital.com/cart_http.cfm?ARTICLEID_CHAR=A19DC0AC-D8D8-48A1-B474-815C9C3A58C) if you are interested. ( and if you can get it to load, I can’t, but I have the hardcopy here at home.) Your link points to a cart. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thaumaturge \* > While the white dwarf would hardly notice it’s passage through the sun, the shockwave of it’s passing would raise the temperature of the sun enough to simultaneously ignite most of it’s hydrogen in a massive fusion explosion. The sun would undergo 5 billion years of fusion in a day, an blow itself apart, along with the solar system. It doesn’t work that way. A star doesn’t go nova merely because it used up all the hydrogen fuel. ---
**Author:** ![Cek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Cek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cek)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/39 "2003-04-23T08:04:27Z")
Destroy the sun? The Globe of Hatred? The Ball of Malevolent Brilliance? The Orb of Evil? The Abomination of the Sky? Yes. The sun is worthy of death. The sun is the sworn enemy of man, no, all life, all thing in the universe. Few know the why but its evil ways can easy be seen. Does not the sun deliberate broadcast rays of vileness upon the earth? Do not these rays inscribe a curse in the genes of a man own cells? Do not these cells rise up against the man trying to kill him? Yes! Do not these rays also brand the flesh of those who stand in it? Yes. The sun is evil. The sun was chosen above all other cosmic forges to receive the gift of life upon one of it worlds. But it was not enough. The sun was envious of other cosmic forges who power and fire could forge elements of great size and amazing properties. As life took its course and man arose the sun watched. When man harvest fire the sun watched. When made used fire to create things the sun watched and a hatred of man began to fester. When man learned to make elements unknown in all the universe, elements the universe itself can only support of seconds before they fade the sun rage became all consuming. Yes the sun, given the rarest gift to watch after in now trying to incinerate this gift for it can do what nothing else can. I say we end the suns evil once and for all. Remove the Abomination of the Sky from it place in the universe and build one of our own. This new sun will gently light our world and set our place as the greatest of creator in all the universe, the role we were meant to play. I call to all those who know of the suns evil and those who my words have swayed to help in the quest. The technology to do this is nearly ready. We only lack the funding for the final baby steps. Send to me all the money you can and be sure it will be used for our great quest and not to buy a small island and a huge house for myself so I can send my days living the good life! It is not to late to be in on this glorious adventure which is certainly not well thought thought scam to make lots of money for sun hating fools! ---
**Author:** ![Cek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Cek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cek)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991/40 "2003-04-23T09:23:57Z")
The second “thought” in the last sentence should be “out”. I’m half asleep sorry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroy-the-sun/169991.md?page=1)