Gold & Platinum Created through Neutron Stars’ Explosions: Study
For centuries, humans have been fascinated by the origin of precious metals like gold and platinum. While we’ve long known that these elements are abundant on Earth, their exact origin has remained a mystery. However, a recent study has shed new light on this question, revealing that magnetars, or highly magnetized neutron stars, played a crucial role in creating these metals.
According to the study, which was led by Columbia University student Anirudh Patel, magnetars exploded and released flares that contained elements like gold and platinum. These explosions, which occur approximately once per decade in the Milky Way and annually across the observable universe, are the result of intense magnetic fields that build up around these neutron stars.
Neutron stars are incredibly dense celestial objects that form when massive stars collapse in on themselves. They have such intense magnetic fields that they can create incredibly powerful explosions, known as supernovae. Magnetars, in particular, are a type of neutron star that is thought to be responsible for some of the most powerful explosions in the universe.
The study, which was published in the journal Nature, used data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope to analyze the light curves of several magnetars. By studying the patterns of these light curves, the researchers were able to determine that the magnetars were indeed producing gold and platinum.
“We were surprised to find that the magnetars were producing such a large amount of these precious metals,” Patel said in a statement. “It’s a really exciting discovery that helps us better understand the formation of these elements in the universe.”
But how exactly do magnetars create gold and platinum? The answer lies in the intense magnetic fields that build up around these neutron stars. During a supernova explosion, the magnetic field of the neutron star can become so powerful that it begins to strip away electrons from the surrounding material, creating a plasma of positively charged ions and free electrons.
As this plasma expands outward from the neutron star, it begins to interact with the surrounding material, including elements like hydrogen and helium. Through a process known as nuclear fusion, these elements can be fused together to create heavier elements, including gold and platinum.
The exact mechanism by which magnetars create gold and platinum is still not fully understood, and further research is needed to determine the details. However, the study provides strong evidence that these neutron stars play a crucial role in the creation of these precious metals.
So the next time you gaze up at the stars, remember that the gold and platinum you wear or use may have been created in a distant neutron star explosion. It’s a fascinating reminder of the incredible processes that shape our universe, and the important role that magnetars play in the creation of the elements that make up our world.
