Astronomers from the University of Michigan have made a groundbreaking discovery that sheds light on the creation of elements in the early Universe. Led by Ian Roederer, the team examined 42 stars in the Milky Way and found evidence of elements much heavier than what is naturally occurring on Earth or in the wider Universe.
Most elements in the Universe are formed through fusion, where atoms are fused together in the core of a star to create heavier elements. However, the fusion process can only produce elements up to iron before the star self-destructs. Other methods of element formation include self-destruction during supernova explosions and kilonova explosions, which occur when neutron stars collide.
The team’s study focused on stars that are known to have elements produced by the rapid neutron-capture, or r-process, during supernova explosions. Instead of looking for r-process elements, the researchers examined elements that could be products of fission, such as ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, and silver.
By studying these stars as a group, the researchers identified patterns indicating that the heavy elements were created by fission. This suggests that early stars in the Universe must have produced elements heavier than an atomic mass of 260, which then split to form lighter, more stable elements.
Interestingly, these heavy elements have never been observed naturally occurring anywhere. However, studying their fission products could provide valuable insights into their formation in the wider Universe.
The research, which has been published in the journal Science, has significant implications for our understanding of element creation in the early Universe. The exact conditions and processes involved in this phenomenon are still not fully understood, and researchers hope that this study will help to fill those knowledge gaps.
Unlocking the secrets of element creation in the early Universe could lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of how the Universe evolved and the origins of life itself. Ian Roederer and his team’s findings mark an important step forward in this field of research, providing valuable clues about the formation of heavy elements in the cosmos.
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