"Unprecedented Discovery: Stars Forge Elements Beyond Earth's Reach"

TL;DR Summary
A new study provides the first compelling evidence of nuclear fission in the cores of massive stars, suggesting that elements heavier than iron, such as silver and gold, are formed through this process. The analysis of 42 ancient stars in the Milky Way reveals a consistent pattern of elements that are likely products of fission. This finding suggests that nature may forge elements with atomic masses greater than 260 before breaking them down again. The research provides "direct evidence" of this heavy-duty fission process, which has never been produced on Earth.
Topics:science#astronomy#heavy-elements#milky-way-stars#neutron-stars#nuclear-fission#stellar-evolution
- 1st evidence of nuclear fission in stars hints at elements 'never produced on Earth' Livescience.com
- Cosmic nuclear fission seen for 1st time in 'incredibly profound' discovery Space.com
- The oldest stars in our galaxy make elements that aren't yet on the periodic table Cosmos
- Element abundance patterns in stars indicate fission of nuclei heavier than uranium Science
- Ancient Stars Forged Elements Heavier Than Anything Ever Found in Nature ScienceAlert
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