October 23, 2008--COROT satellite scientists used a type of solar seismology to peer inside three stars and examine their composition by spotting starquakes. It's the first time starquakes have been directly observed on stars other than the sun.

Like earthquakes, starquakes originate far below the surface. These acoustic waves create ripples that spread across the sun's surface and cause its brightness to wobble.

Moving starquake ripples can also reveal clues to a star's age, mass, and chemical composition.