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NASA's Webb Makes First Detection of Heavy Element from Star Merger
Release date: Wednesday, October 25, 2023 11:00:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Webb’s study of the second-brightest gamma-ray burst ever seen reveals tellurium.
Under what conditions many chemical elements are created in the universe has long been shrouded in mystery. This includes elements that are highly valuable, or even vital to life as we know it.
Astronomers are now one step closer to an answer thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope and a high-energy event: The second brightest gamma-ray burst ever detected, most likely caused by the merging of two neutron stars—which resulted in an explosion known as a kilonova. Using Webb’s spectacular sensitivity, scientists captured the first mid-infrared spectrum from space of a kilonova, which marked Webb’s first direct look at an individual heavy element from such an event.
Find additional articles, images, and videos at
WebbTelescope.org
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