Astronomers have been trying to determine how the heaviest elements, like gold, were formed in the universe for decades. Now, new research based on a signal uncovered in archival space mission data may point to a potential clue: magnetars, or highly magnetized neutron stars.
Scientists believe that lighter elements such as hydrogen and helium likely existed early on after the big bang created the universe 13.8 billion years ago. Heavier elements like iron were released by exploding stars and incorporated into newborn stars and planets. However, the distribution of gold throughout the universe has posed a mystery to astrophysicists.
The researchers found evidence suggesting that magnetar giant flares could be responsible for creating heavy elements like gold. The team used data from NASA’s retired RHESSI and Wind satellites, as well as archival space mission data, to search for connections between radiation from magnetar flares and the formation of heavy elements.
According to lead author Anirudh Patel, a doctoral student at Columbia University, the research is a “pretty fundamental question in terms of the origin of complex matter in the universe.” The team believes that up to 10% of elements heavier than iron in the Milky Way galaxy could be created by magnetar giant flares.
While the study’s findings are promising, Dr. Eleonora Troja, an associate professor at the University of Rome, cautions that producing gold can be a tricky process and it’s possible that magnetars could add too much of the wrong ingredients, resulting in light metals like zirconium or silver instead of gold.
The researchers hope that future missions, such as NASA’s Compton Spectrometer and Imager mission expected to launch in 2027, will provide more precise estimates of heavy element creation by magnetar giant flares.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/03/science/magnetar-flare-cosmic-gold