Posted on 09/16/2020 2:19:00 PM PDT by MtnClimber
When humanity finally detected the collision between two neutron stars in 2017, we confirmed a long-held theory - in the energetic fires of these incredible explosions, elements heavier than iron are forged.
And so, we thought we had an answer to the question of how these elements - including gold - propagated throughout the Universe.
But a new analysis has revealed a problem. According to new galactic chemical evolution models, neutron star collisions don't even come close to producing the abundances of heavy elements found in the Milky Way galaxy today.
"Neutron star mergers did not produce enough heavy elements in the early life of the Universe, and they still don't now, 14 billion years later," said astrophysicist Amanda Karakas of Monash University and the ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) in Australia.
"The Universe didn't make them fast enough to account for their presence in very ancient stars, and, overall, there are simply not enough collisions going on to account for the abundance of these elements around today."
SNIP
"We can think of stars as giant pressure cookers where new elements are created," Karakas said. "The reactions that make these elements also provide the energy that keeps stars shining bright for billions of years. As stars age, they produce heavier and heavier elements as their insides heat up."
To create elements heavier than iron - such as gold, silver, thorium and uranium - the rapid neutron-capture process, or r-process, is required. This can take place in really energetic explosions, which generate a series of nuclear reactions in which atomic nuclei collide with neutrons to synthesise elements heavier than iron.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencealert.com ...
They mention the dearth of lithium as a major cause of concern for cosmologists.
(Not to mention the dearth of customers as a major cause of concern for cosmetologists thanks to Gavin Nuisance.)
Thanks.
Yes, I’ve seen that one. The establishment community has been “debunking” the theory. In another century the scientific establishment would have burned them at the stake.
I think that GOLD comes out of the butts of MEXICAN GODS.
They eat CHOCOLATE and poop GOLD.
Origin of gold = King Midas
Any 3rd grader knows that.
I read all the responses and giggled a bit. Science really has no clue, except that they were for sure and certain a few weeks ago....
That’s what I thought too.
In a bank in the middle of California under somebody else’s name.
Ahhh I’m too slow.
It's science. It has to be figured out. Nobody wakes up with all the right answers.
;>)
Especially low atomic number elements.
“If one reads their bible, the tons of gold, in Solomon’s temple, had several tons of gold; even when the Queen of Sheba visited, she gave him a few more tons - where did this gold go?”
The Knights Templar buried it on Oak Island, George Washington moved it to Philadelphia and Benjamin Franklin Gates found it and then Obama and Biden and the Clintons pilfered it.
It is until they come up with another theory.
Remember, Trust Science!
Didn’t PING and others make beryllium clubs? My Dad had a whole set - and I have a PING Beryllium Anser II putter.
But didn’t they quit making them because they found out that somehow the beryllium was dangerous?
And Bendix used it to make rocket parts.
Beryllium is used in Defense and Aerospace applications. It is very rigid and does not flex.
Here is a good midswestern company that makes beryllium alloys and castings.
https://ibcadvancedalloys.com/
Think it was sometime in the 1980's, thanks to the Pointer sisters...
That's true,during the normal course of the massive star's evolution. Iron is the ash product of the final stage.
But the implosion/explosion of the star's collapse creates heavier elements.
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