Astronomy
Radiation Pressure and the Formation of Dusty Circumstellar Shells
Quick fact
In evolved stars, radiation pressure on dust grains can launch winds that expel up to 10⁻⁴ solar masses of material per year—enough to strip the star of a significant fraction of its mass over a few thousand years.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever felt sunlight warm your skin? Imagine that light actually pushing you—and being strong enough to blow off the outer layers of a star.