Previously recorded on Monday, November 13, 2023.
Benjamin Dean Astronomy Lectures
Members-only recording: Cosmic Alchemy
Benjamin Dean Astronomy Lecture members-only recording
Cosmic Alchemy: How Neutron Star Smash-Ups Forge Heavy Atoms
Featuring Dr. Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, University of California, Santa Cruz
The source of about half of the heaviest elements in the Universe has been a mystery for a long time. Although the general picture of element formation is well understood, many questions about the astrophysical details remain to be answered. The key may lie in the collision of neutron stars—violent, energetic, and unusual events that we are now beginning to observe. This talk will focus on recent advances in our understanding of the origin of the heaviest and rarest elements in the Universe.