Scientists Say Gold Comes From Colliding Dead Stars
Posted on July 23, 2013
Scientists say all the gold on Earth and throughout the universe is the result of colliding dead stars. Researchers from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) used NASA's Swift telescope to study GRB 130603B, a gamma-ray burst (GRB) detected on June 3rd.
The GRB lasted for less than two-tenths of a second, but a unique glow persisted for days after the GRB. The scientists say in a release that this potentially signifies the creation of substantial amounts of heavy elements - including gold. The researchers calculate that about one-hundredth of a solar mass of material was ejected by the GRB, some of which was gold.
Edo Berger of the CfA and lead author of the study, says, "We estimate that the amount of gold produced and ejected during the merger of the two neutron stars may be as large as 10 moon masses - quite a lot of bling."
Berger also says, "To paraphrase Carl Sagan, we are all star stuff, and our jewelry is colliding-star stuff."
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