From giant star to your necklace: Indian-origin NASA scientist finds a billion-year-old alien connection to gold

Time of India

01-05-2025

A groundbreaking study led by Anirudh Patel suggests that magnetars—rare, highly magnetic neutron stars—played a key role in the formation of gold and other heavy elements in the universe. By re-examining 20-year-old space data, scientists found that intense magnetar flares could have contributed up to 10% of the heavy elements in our galaxy. This discovery opens a new frontier in astrophysics, revealing the cosmic origins of precious metals found on Earth and in modern technology.
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Magnetars: The unlikely goldsmiths of the universe
A closer look at the cosmic "starquakes"
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The role of Gamma Rays in unveiling element formation
A game-changer for astrophysics
The cosmic origins of gold and other precious metals
The origin of heavy elements like gold, platinum, and uranium has long been one of the universe's greatest mysteries. While lighter elements were forged in stars, the source of these heavier elements remained unclear for decades. Now, scientists suggest that magnetars , a rare type of neutron star, might be the key to understanding how gold and other precious metals formed. New research based on decades-old space data offers a fresh perspective on how these elements might have been created in the depths of space.In a recent study led by Anirudh Patel , a Ph.D. student at Columbia University , magnetars have been proposed as major contributors to the creation of heavy elements. Magnetars are highly magnetic remnants of supernova explosions, their magnetic fields trillions of times stronger than Earth's. These stars occasionally release massive bursts of energy—known as magnetar flares—during which they expel high-energy radiation capable of influencing Earth's atmosphere.According to Patel, these flares could have played a crucial role in the formation of elements heavier than iron. "It's a fun puzzle that hasn't actually been solved," Patel said, reflecting on the mystery that has intrigued astronomers for years. His team discovered that magnetar flares could account for up to 10% of the heavy elements in our galaxy, including gold, platinum, and uranium. This would make magnetars among the first cosmic goldsmiths in the universe.Magnetars are more than just stellar oddities. These neutron stars are incredibly dense—just a teaspoon of their matter would weigh billions of tonnes on Earth. When they experience intense internal stresses, their crusts can crack open in what are known as "starquakes." These violent events unleash powerful magnetar flares that can be seen from Earth, even though they occur thousands of light-years away.Eric Burns, a co-author of the study from Louisiana State University, described this discovery as a breakthrough in astrophysics . "It's like solving a century-old riddle using forgotten observations," he said. By re-examining old data from ESA and NASA telescopes, the team found that these violent outbursts could generate the conditions necessary for the rapid neutron capture process, or " r-process ," which is responsible for creating heavy elements like gold.In 2017, scientists witnessed the merger of two neutron stars, providing direct evidence of the r-process in action. However, such mergers are rare and occur too late in the universe's history to explain the formation of early elements. Patel's team, therefore, turned to magnetar flares, which are much more frequent and occur earlier in the universe's life cycle.Burns suggested that gamma rays—rather than visible or ultraviolet light—might provide a clearer signal of element creation during magnetar flares. When they revisited data from a magnetar flare observed in 2004 by ESA's retired INTEGRAL satellite, the team was stunned to find a gamma-ray signal that matched their predictions. This finding was later confirmed by two additional NASA missions , RHESSI and Wind, which independently detected the same flare.This discovery opens a new chapter in astrophysics. NASA's upcoming COSI mission, launching in 2027, will provide an even more detailed view of cosmic explosions like magnetar flares. With a wide-field gamma-ray telescope, COSI could offer direct observations of the elements created during these stellar outbursts, potentially validating Patel's theory.The implications of this research extend beyond the academic world. "It's very cool to think about how some of the stuff in my phone or my laptop was forged in this extreme explosion," Patel mused, underscoring the cosmic journey that brought elements from distant stars into everyday technology.Gold, platinum, and other precious metals have long been linked to meteorite bombardments and the cooling of Earth's core. However, this new research suggests a far more explosive origin. The heavy elements we value today might not have just arrived via meteorites, but were also forged in the intense flares of distant magnetars. The 2004 flare alone, according to Patel's team, could have produced the equivalent of a third of Earth's mass in heavy metals, shedding light on the incredible forces behind the creation of the precious materials that shape our world.Patel's research, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, presents a transformative shift in how we understand the formation of elements in the universe. By turning to older data with fresh insight, scientists have uncovered a surprising and profound source of some of the most precious materials in existence. The idea that gold—whether in wedding rings or smartphones—might have its origins in the violent death throes of a magnetar is a humbling thought. As we look to the future, researchers are eager to explore more ancient cosmic signals, hoping to uncover further secrets of the universe's hidden goldmines.