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The James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories witnessed an extraordinary event in space that resulted in the creation of rare chemical elements, some of which are crucial for life.
On March 7, there was an explosion in space that emitted the second brightest gamma-ray burst ever observed by telescopes in over 50 years. This burst was over one million times brighter than the entire Milky Way Galaxy combined. Gamma-ray bursts are short bursts of the most powerful form of light.
The explosion, named GRB 230307A, is believed to have been caused by the merger of two neutron stars in a galaxy approximately one billion light-years away. Neutron stars are the incredibly dense remnants of stars after a supernova. This merger not only produced the gamma-ray burst but also created a kilonova, a rare explosion that occurs when a neutron star merges with another neutron star or a black hole. These findings were published in the journal Nature.
Lead study author Andrew Levan, astrophysics professor at Radboud University in the Netherlands, stated, “There are only a handful of known kilonovas, and this is the first time we have been able to examine the aftermath of a kilonova with the James Webb Space Telescope.” Levan was also part of the team that first detected a kilonova in 2013.
The burst and its origin were observed by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, in addition to the James Webb Space Telescope. The James Webb Space Telescope also detected the presence of tellurium in the aftermath of the explosion.
Tellurium, a rare metalloid, is utilized in glass and ceramic tinting, as well as in the manufacturing of rewritable CDs and DVDs. Astronomers anticipate that other elements near tellurium on the periodic table, such as iodine, which is essential for life on Earth, may be present in the material released by the kilonova.
Neutron star mergers have long been considered to be the source of rare elements heavier than iron. However, it has been challenging to find evidence to support this hypothesis.
Kilonovas are infrequent events, making them difficult to observe. However, astronomers search for short gamma-ray bursts, which typically last no longer than two seconds, as signs of these rare occurrences.
What makes this burst unusual is its duration of 200 seconds, classifying it as a long gamma-ray burst. Extended bursts are usually associated with supernovas resulting from the explosion of massive stars.
“This burst falls into the long burst category. It’s not near the border. However, it seems to originate from a merging neutron star,” explained study coauthor Eric Burns, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Louisiana State University.
The gamma-ray burst was initially detected by Fermi, with ground- and space-based observatories used to track changes in brightness across various wavelengths. The quick changes in visible and infrared light indicate the occurrence of a kilonova.
“This type of explosion is very rapid, with the expanding material cooling off quickly and becoming visible as infrared light, turning redder over time,” said study coauthor Om Sharan Salafia, a researcher at the National Institute for Astrophysics’ Brera Astronomical Observatory in Italy.
The team also used the James Webb Space Telescope to trace the journey of the neutron stars leading up to their merger.
The two massive stars were once part of a binary system within a spiral galaxy. One star exploded as a supernova, leaving behind a neutron star. The same fate awaited the other star. These explosive events ejected the stars from their galaxy, and they remained a pair, traveling for 120,000 light-years before merging hundreds of millions of years later.
For decades, astronomers have sought to unravel the mystery of how chemical elements are formed in the universe.
Discovering more kilonovas in the future through advanced telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (set to launch in 2027) could provide insights into the creation and release of various heavy elements during these rare explosions.
Researchers also aim to identify more mergers that result in longer gamma-ray bursts to understand their driving forces and any potential connection to element creation.
The violent life cycles of stars have scattered the elements found on the periodic table throughout the universe, including those essential for life. Recent advancements in studying stellar explosions like kilonovas are allowing scientists to gain a deeper understanding of the formation of chemical elements and the evolution of the universe over time.
“Webb provides a tremendous boost and has the potential to discover even heavier elements,” noted study coauthor Ben Gompertz, assistant professor at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy and the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
“As we gather more frequent observations, the models will improve, and the spectrum will continue to evolve. Webb has opened the door for monumental advancements in our understanding of the universe,” Gompertz added.
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