Finding a "gold refinery" in space, experts are confused

The origin of gold in the universe has long been thought to come from supernova explosions or neutron star collisions, but these are not enough to explain the abundance of gold. (Photo: Thanh Nien Viet)

A new study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters suggests that magnetars – a special type of neutron star – could be the universe’s largest “ gold refinery .” (Photo: Thanh Nien Viet)

Magnetars possess extremely strong magnetic fields and can experience “stellar earthquakes,” releasing neutrons in ideal conditions for the rapid neutron capture process to create heavy elements like gold. (Photo: Thanh Nien Viet)

Magnetar explosions also help release large amounts of heavy-element-rich matter into space, contributing to the formation of new stars and planets. (Photo: Thanh Nien Viet)

The December 27, 2004 gamma-ray burst from the magnetar SGR 1806-20 provided clear evidence for this hypothesis. (Photo: Thanh Nien Viet)

That event produced a third of the Earth's mass in heavy elements, including gold. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Although rare, the number of explosions over billions of years could be enough to explain the amount of gold in the universe . (Photo: Garfield Refining)

This discovery expands our understanding of the origin of heavy elements, links nuclear physics and astronomy, and shows that even distant celestial bodies can influence life on Earth. (Photo: Space)