Astronomers may have found a strange new kind of cosmic explosion

When very massive stars reach the ends of their lives, they explode as supernovae, scattering elements like carbon and iron across space. Another, rarer type of explosion happens when two neutron stars, the dense remnants of dead stars, collide. This event, known as a kilonova, produces even heavier elements such as gold and uranium. These materials are essential ingredients for forming stars, planets, and ultimately everything we see around us.

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