Neutron collisions are cosmic events of immense power that have the ability to forge some of the universe’s most precious elements, including gold. These astronomical phenomena provide a unique ...

Creating a neutron star Before you can get this ideal cosmic laboratory, a star first has to die. The end of a star’s life depends largely on its mass. Unremarkable stars like the Sun go out with a ...

Scientists now believe highly magnetised neutron stars, or magnetars, are a significant source of gold and other heavy ...

But most of the gold on Earth isn’t in our hands; it’s deep underground. During the planet’s formation, heavy elements like gold and platinum sank toward the molten iron core. Geologists estimate that ...

Neutron stars are formed when giant stars run out of fuel. Their internal pressure is no longer sufficient to fight gravity, and the resulting collapse and supernova explosion leaves a tiny core, with ...