Alpha particles, as the nuclei of the helium atom are also called, play a decisive role in the formation of heavier elements. Carbon, for instance, is formed from the fusion of these alpha particles.

Understanding the origin of heavy elements on the periodic table is one of the most challenging open problems in all of physics. In the search for conditions suitable for these elements via ...

As massive stars collapse into black holes, powerful jets tearing out from their hearts may "dissolve" the stars' outer layers, providing the ingredients to make heavy elements. This is the conclusion ...

Galaxies “waste” large amounts of heavy elements generated by star formation by ejecting them up to a million light years away into their surrounding halos and deep space, according to a new study led ...

Gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful kinds of explosions known in the cosmos, may help provide a piece of the puzzle when it comes to one of the most challenging open problems in all of physics — how ...

Scientists propose that magnetars, highly magnetic neutron stars, could be the source of early heavy elements like gold. Analyzing old space data, researchers found gamma-ray signals from magnetar ...

Scientists used the James Webb Space Telescope to study planet formation. They observed the star cluster NGC 346. They found long-lasting planet-forming disks. These disks exist even with few heavy ...

A recent study led by researchers from Louisiana State University and Columbia University revealed that gigantic explosions from magnetars could be responsible for creating up to 10% of the elements ...

The true origins of the Earth’s heaviest elements like gold have eluded astrophysicists for decades. The prevailing scientific view is that neutron star collisions created gold and other heavy ...