Witnessing the Birth of Rare Heavy Elements in a Neutron-Star Collision

Astronomers have observed the creation of rare heavy elements, including tellurium, iodine, and thorium, in the aftermath of a violent collision between two neutron stars. The collision, known as a kilonova, occurred about 1 billion light years away and produced a burst of gamma rays more than 1 million times brighter than the Milky Way. This is the first time such a cosmic event has been observed with the James Webb space telescope, allowing scientists to identify the elements produced by their infrared signatures. The discovery sheds light on the origins of elements and fills gaps in the periodic table.