Measurements on neutron-rich nuclei help to refine models of how heavy elements came into existence Models for how heavy elements are produced within stars have become more accurate thanks to ...

A double blast of dying stars may be the first observed case of a long-hypothesized, never proven “superkilonova.” Although ...

Heavy duty: artist’s impression of a kilonova releasing r-process elements into the cosmos. (Courtesy: ESO/L Calçada/M Kornmesser) The mystery of where heavy elements such as gold and silver come from ...

An artist’s impression of strontium emerging from a neutron star merger. ESO/L. Calçada/M. Kornmesser When massive neutron stars collide, they don’t only produce dazzling light, bursts of gamma rays, ...

Astronomers report a strange cosmic blast that looked like a kilonova, then behaved like a supernova, hinting at a possible first “superkilonova” and leaving scientists debating how stars truly die.

Precious elements may come from spinning neutron stars that have swallowed a tiny black hole and imploded. If true, this dramatically changes our understanding not only of how rare elements like gold ...

The origin of heavy elements such as gold, lead and uranium has not yet been fully clarified. The lightest elements – hydrogen and helium – were already formed in significant quantities with the Big ...

The heavy element strontium is created in the violent collision of a pair of neutron stars, according to a new study. It’s the first time scientists have detected the birth of a heavy element found on ...

Two years ago astronomers for the first time observed the collision of two neutron stars, which created gravitational waves and light and created heavy elements such as gold, platinum and lead. These ...

Most chemical elements heavier than helium were born in the death throes of stars; the explosive energy of a supernova is responsible for generating most of the contents of the periodic table. Now, a ...