The collision of neutron stars and the alchemy of the Universe

Abstract

The origin of the elements has been one of the largest mysteries in science for centuries. The discoveries of the first half of the twentieth century allowed us to understand the structure of atoms and their nuclei, and led us to the discovery that the heavy elements can be formed inside stars from the fusion of lighter elements such as hydrogen and helium. However, elements heavier than iron can only be produced in cataclysmic processes, such as the explosion of a supernova, or the collision of two stars. The recent observation of the collision of two neutron stars, also known as a kilonova, both in gravitational waves and in the whole electromagnetic spectrum, has allowed us to verify that such events can produce heavy elements, and particularly precious metals in abundant quantities and at the same time help disperse them throughout the Universe.

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