Scientists Uncover Origins of the Universe’s Oldest Gold

Quick Summary

• Scientists identified magnetars, neutron stars with potent magnetic fields, as a potential early source of gold in the universe.
• Magnetar giant flares may have forged heavy metals,including gold,shortly after the Big Bang-earlier than previously thought.
• Findings derived from 20-year-old NASA and ESA telescope data aligned with signals observed from a magnetar flare in 2004.
• The high density of neutrons during magnetar flares facilitates rapid heavy metal formation via nuclear decay reactions.
• Researchers estimate up to 10% of heavy elements in the Milky way could have originated from magnetars.
• study published in The Astrophysical Journal letters credits advancements in understanding how atomic structures evolve under extreme cosmic conditions.

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