Curiosity15 M☉

If ¹⁷O(p,α)¹⁴N were twice as fast, this model of a 15 M☉ star's core would end up with an oxygen‑17 to oxygen‑16 ratio half as high (−50%).

Biggest knock-on effect: ¹⁸O (−50%).

Stardust grains in meteorites preserve this oxygen ratio; LUNA measured this rate in 2016.

One-zone model at 35 MK over 6.4 million years. Real stars adjust. Doubling is a what-if, not the rate's actual uncertainty. How well this rate is known: improving.

Try it How we know this rate

If 17O(p,α)14N were twice as fast, this model of a 15 M☉ star's core would end up with an oxygen‑17 to oxygen‑16 ratio half as high (−50%).

If ¹⁷O(p,α)¹⁴N were twice as fast, this model of a 15 M☉ star's core would end up with an oxygen‑17 to oxygen‑16 ratio half as high (−50%).