Curtis reported in early 2023 that geoscientists have new evidence about how cosmic cataclysms forge gold, platinum and other heavy members of the periodic table. Bits of the stars are all around us, and in us, too. About half of the abundance of elements heavier than iron originates in some of the most violent explosions in the cosmos. As the universe churns and new stars and planets form out of old gas and dust, these elements eventually make their way to Earth and other worlds.
After 3.7 billion years of evolution on our planet, humans and many other species have come to rely on them in our bodies and our lives. Iodine, for instance, is a component of hormones we need to control our brain development and regulate our metabolism. Ocean microplankton called Acantharea use the element strontium to create intricate mineral skeletons. Gallium is critical for the chips in our smartphones and our laptop screens. And the mirrors of the JWST are gilded with gold, an element useful for its unreactive nature and ability to reflect infrared light (not to mention its popularity in jewelry).
Scientists have long had a basic idea of how these elements come to be, but for many years the details were hazy and fiercely debated. That changed recently when astronomers observed, for the first time, heavy-element synthesis in action. The process, the evidence suggests, went something like this.
This was a pre-print, so search for the full article when it becomes available.
In the meantime, when the full text is avilable, compare with the views expressed in the articles below:
https://www.space.com/neutron-star-collisions-gave-earth-precious-metals
https://news.mit.edu/2021/neutron-star-collisions-goldmine-heavy-elements-1025
https://www.space.com/strontium-heavy-element-formed-neutron-star-merger.html
https://physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/PT.3.3815
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
