Neutron Stars Collide

[robert zellmer]

A past student sent a link to a recent discovery about two neutron stars 
colliding
leading to a further understanding of where heavy metals come from.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gravitational-waves-neutron-star-collision-ligo/ 


Actually, stars exploding spread heavier elements throughout their 
areas.  As a star gets
older it starts to generate heavier elements due do fusion reactions (ch 
21).  In very massive
stars up to iron is created by this fusion process.  When a star 
undergoes a supernova
explosion elements heavier than iron can be formed.  Here are a few more 
links explaining
this.

http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/about-us/84-the-universe/stars-and-star-clusters/nuclear-burning/402-how-are-light-and-heavy-elements-formed-advanced 


https://phys.org/news/2016-07-heavier-elements-star-interiors.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova_nucleosynthesis

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ethansiegel/2015/07/01/the-only-three-heavy-elements-in-the-universe-that-arent-made-in-stars/#48b14df839e6 


Dr. Zellmer