Based on IMaX/SUNRISE data, we report on a previously undetected phenomenon in solar granulation. We show that in a very narrow region separating granules and intergranular lanes, the spectral line width of the Fe I 5250.2 Å line becomes extremely small. We offer an explanation of this observation with the help of magneto-convection simulations

We present the main results derived from a chemical analysis carried out on a large sample of galactic O-rich AGB stars using high resolution optical spectroscopy (R~40,000-50,000) with the intention of studying their lithium abundances and/or possible s-process element enrichment. Our chemical analysis shows that some stars are lithium

We study the role of fundamental constants in an updated recombination scenario. We focus on the time variation of the fine structure constant α, and the electron mass m in the early Universe, and put bounds on these quantities by using data from CMB including WMAP 5-yr release and the 2dFGRS power spectrum. We analyze how the constraints are

We have studied the role of fundamental constants in an updated recombination scenario. We focus on the time variation of the fine structure constant α, and the electron mass me in the early Universe. In the last years, helium recombination has been studied in great detail revealing the importance of taking new physical processes into account in

An analysis of a ROSAT/PSPC observation of the galaxy cluster A2634 is presented. The cluster has a luminosity of 7.9+/-0.1x10^43^erg/s in the ROSAT band (0.1-2.4keV). The temperature profile decreases from about 3keV in the outer parts to 1.2keV in the centre. Within a radius of 1.5Mpc the gas mass of the cluster is 0.51x10^14^Msun_ and the total