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Rapid neutron capture nuclear processes forge heavy cosmic metals. The figure is taken from ESA, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

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Yes. It sits on the Space shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

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Gold and platinum are synthesized during neutron star collisions

Rapid neutron capture nuclear processes forge heavy cosmic metals

Elements lighter than iron fuse inside star cores, but heavier precious elements like gold, platinum and uranium require rapid neutron capture during cataclysmic cosmic events. Numerical simulations and gravitational wave observations confirm that merging neutron stars forge vast clouds of heavy radioactive metals.

Where this comes from

ESA

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Tags: gold, neutron star, elements

Gold and platinum are synthesized during neutron star collisions: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Rapid neutron capture nuclear processes forge heavy cosmic metals. The figure is taken from ESA, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a space fact?: Yes. It sits on the Space shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.