Strontium is the first heavy element detected from a neutron star merger
The find supports the idea that these smashups create many of the elements heavier than iron
Finding the heavy element strontium in the afterglow of a neutron star merger (illustrated) provides the most direct evidence yet that these collisions set off an exotic chain of chemical reactions called the r-process.
University of Warwick, Mark Garlick, ESO
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