Summary
Recent discussions in astrophysics reveal that many of Earth's heavy elements, including precious metals, are likely produced by the collisions of neutron stars rather than traditional supernova explosions. This groundbreaking insight stems from observations made by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave observatories, which detected gravitational waves from neutron star mergers. These events, which create a significant amount of heavy elements through rapid neutron capture processes, are now considered the primary source of elements heavier than iron.
Research indicates that a specific neutron star merger occurred approximately 80 million years before the formation of the solar system, contributing to the abundance of certain radioactive isotopes found in ancient meteorites. By analyzing the ratios of these isotopes, scientists can trace their origins back to this merger, suggesting that neutron star collisions happen every 20 million years on a galactic scale, producing essential elements like gold, silver, and uranium.
The findings emphasize the importance of neutron star mergers in the cosmic cycle of element formation, reshaping our understanding of the origins of the materials that make up both Earth and human bodies. The study highlights that a small fraction of our body mass can be traced back to the remnants of these stellar collisions, underscoring the interconnectedness of cosmic events and life on Earth.
Show Notes
PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateSPACE↓ More info below ↓Uploaded 06-06-19Carl Sagan’s famous words: “We are star stuff” refers to a mind-blowing idea – that most atomic nuclei in our bodies were created in the nuclear furnace and the explosive deaths of stars that lived in the ancient universe. In recent years it’s become clear that the truth is even more mind-blowing. Many heavy elements - includes most precious metals - were produced in an even more spectacular event: the collision of neutron stars. In fact, according to a recent study most of the Earth’s supply of these elements was created in a single neutron star merger that took place near our Sun’s birth nebula 80 million years ago before Earth formed. Check out the new Space Time Merch Store!https://pbsspacetime.com/Support Space Time on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/pbsspacetime#theuniverse #astrophyics #spacetimeHosted by Matt O'DowdWritten by Matt O'DowdGraphics by Leonardo ScholzerDirected by Andrew KornhaberProduced By: Kornhaber BrownWhen I was in astrophysicist school they taught us that all of the elements of the periodic table between carbon and iron were produced in onion shells by nuclear fusion in the cores of very massive stars during the last phases of their lives. And that the elements heavier than iron were synthesized in the following supernova explosion. That latter process is well understood – the star’s dead core collapses and protons are converted to neutrons. The surrounding shells ricochet outwards, along with a layer of the iron and nickel core. The latter is blasted by a wave of neutrons, which get rammed into the escaping nuclei. Some of those captured neutrons convert back to protons and so elements all the way up the periodic table can be made. This is the rapid neutron capture or r-process. The rapid part is because neutrons are captured faster than nuclei can decay, making it possible to build very heavy nuclei.Big Bang Supporters:Anton LifshitsDavid NicklasFabrice EapJuan BenetJustin LloydQuasar Supporters:Mark HeisingMark RosenthalTambe BarsbayVinnie FalcoHypernova Supporters: Chuck zegarDanton SpiveyDonal BotkinEdmund FokschanerHank SJohn HofmannJordan YoungJoseph SalomonekkmMark HeisingMatthewMatthew O'ConnorGamma Ray Burst Supporters: Adrien HatchAlexey EromenkoAndreas NautschBradley JenkinsBrandon LabonteCarlo MogaveroDaniel LyonsDavid BehtalaDFaulkDustan JonesGeoffrey ShortJames FlowersJames QuinteroJohn FunaiJohn PollockJonahJonathan NesfederJoseph DillmanJoseph EmisonJosh ThomasKevin WarneKyle HoferMalte UblMark VasileNathan HitchingsNick VirtuePaul RoseRyan JonesScott GossettSigurd Ruud FrivikTim JonesTim StephaniTommy MogensenYurii Konovaliukسلطان الخليفي Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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