First Identification of a Heavy Element Born from Neutron Star Collision
Following observations with ESO’s Very Large Telescope, freshly made strontium has been detected in space for the first time.
This heavy element, which is used in fireworks, was observed in the explosion after a neutron star merger.
Astronomers suspected strontium and other heavy elements formed in this extreme environment…
But until now, there was no definite proof that the collision of neutron stars created this element in the Universe.
Thanks to observations done with the X-shooter instrument on the VLT of the GW170817 neutron star merger,...
...we now have a missing piece of the puzzle of chemical element formation.
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Transcription by ESO; translation by —