First-ever nuclear fission discovery in stars points to formation of elements never formed on Earth
The IndependentSign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Astronomers have detected the first-ever signs of nuclear fission happening in stars, a discovery that sheds light on how elements heavier than those found naturally on Earth form in the cosmos. The latest discovery suggests stars may produce elements with an atomic mass over 260 – heavier than those at the high end of the periodic table. In the study, researchers combed through the variety of elements residing in very old stars and found signs of nuclear fission – the process by which an atom’s nucleus splits into two smaller ones, producing lighter elements along with the release of enormous amounts of energy. These patterns suggested that some elements listed near the middle of the periodic table – such as silver and rhodium – are likely the remnants of heavy element nuclear fission.
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