Gold & Platinum created through neutron stars’ explosions: Study
For centuries, humans have been fascinated by the origins of precious metals like gold and platinum. Where did these valuable elements come from? Was it a natural process on Earth or did they have an extraterrestrial origin? Scientists have long debated the answer to this question, and now, a groundbreaking study has finally provided a definitive answer.
According to a study led by Columbia University student Anirudh Patel, magnetars – highly magnetized neutron stars – played a crucial role in creating elements like gold and platinum in a cosmic event over 20 years ago. These magnetars, which are essentially highly magnetized neutron stars, exploded and released flares that contained these precious elements.
But how did this happen? To understand the process, let’s take a step back and explore the basics of neutron stars and their behavior.
What are Magnetars?
Magnetars are a type of neutron star that is characterized by its extremely strong magnetic field. Neutron stars are the remnants of massive stars that have undergone a supernova explosion, leaving behind a dense ball of neutrons. These stars are incredibly dense, with a sugar-cube-sized amount of material weighing approximately the same as a mountain.
Magnetars are unique because of their incredibly strong magnetic fields, which are trillions of times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field. This magnetic field is so strong that it traps particles and heats them up, creating a colossal amount of energy.
The Cosmic Event
The study, which was published in the journal Nature Astronomy, focused on a specific cosmic event that occurred over 20 years ago. During this event, a magnetar exploded in a supernova-like explosion, releasing a massive amount of energy and particles into space.
This explosion was so powerful that it created a shockwave that traveled through space, causing nearby stars to heat up and create heavy elements like gold and platinum. These elements were forged in the intense heat and energy released during the explosion.
The Creation of Gold and Platinum
The study found that the explosion created a type of flare that contained a significant amount of heavy elements, including gold and platinum. These elements were created through a process called rapid neutron capture, or r-process nucleosynthesis.
During this process, the intense heat and energy released during the explosion caused atomic nuclei to merge and create heavier elements. This process is incredibly rapid, happening in a matter of seconds, and is responsible for creating many of the heavy elements found in the universe.
Frequency of Magnetar Explosions
The study also found that magnetar explosions occur relatively frequently in the universe. In the Milky Way galaxy, these explosions happen approximately once per decade, while across the observable universe, they occur annually.
This means that the creation of gold and platinum through magnetar explosions is not a rare event, but rather a common occurrence in the universe.
Conclusion
The study led by Anirudh Patel has finally provided the answer to the long-debated question of where gold and platinum come from. The creation of these precious elements is not a natural process on Earth, but rather a cosmic event that occurs through the explosions of magnetars.
This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the universe and the creation of heavy elements. It also highlights the importance of studying magnetars and their behavior, as they play a crucial role in shaping the universe as we know it.
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