Is neon a viable solution to the solar model problem? Insights from nearby B-type stars

The recent downward revision of the solar CNO photospheric abundances now leads to severe inconsistencies between theoretical models for the Sun's internal structure and the results of helioseismology. There have been claims that the solar Ne abundance may be underestimated and that an increase in this ill-defined quantity could alleviate (or even completely solve) this problem. To address the validity of this hypothesis, we present a fully homogeneous non-LTE abundance analysis of the optical Ne I/II lines in a sample of 18 nearby B-type stars. Our very preliminary results point towards a mean neon abundance slightly higher than the new solar value, but apparently insufficient by itself to restore the agreement between the solar models and the helioseismological constraints.