Astronomers have spotted a jaw-dropping collision between two neutron stars – and it may have produced gold and platinum.
The discovery in a tiny, faraway galaxy is the first time this has been seen in such a setting and may explain the presence of these precious metals in intergalactic space.
NASA Chandra mission team said: "Neutron stars are the ultra-dense remnants left behind after massive stars collapse. When neutron stars occasionally collide with one another, they can produce important elements like gold and platinum and generate gravitational waves that ripple across space."
This latest discovery may help solve open questions as to how those precious elements are sometimes found outside galaxies, as well as how some gamma-ray bursts mysteriously do not appear to be associated with a known galaxy.
“Finding a neutron star collision where we did is game changing,” said Simone Dichiara of Penn State University, who led the study. “It may be the key to unlocking not one, but two important questions in astrophysics.”
“We found a collision within a collision,” said co-author Eleonora Troja of the University of Rome in Italy. “The galaxy collision triggered a wave of star formation that, over hundreds of millions of years, led to the birth and eventual collision of these neutron stars.”
An alternative identity for the explosion is that it is in a much more distant galaxy located behind the galaxy group. The team considers this to be a less likely explanation than the tiny galaxy idea.
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...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM CDT FRIDAY...
* WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, north winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts
up to 30 mph. For the Frost Advisory, temperatures as low as 36
will result in frost formation.
* WHERE...Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee,
Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Etowah, Fayette, Greene,
Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Lowndes, Marengo, Marion, Perry, Pickens,
Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa,
Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston Counties.
* WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 7 PM CDT this evening. For the
Frost Advisory, from 1 AM to 10 AM CDT Friday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Trees
could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Frost
could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants
may be killed if left uncovered.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
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