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Health & Science2h 30m ago
Debris from a giant cosmic explosion that occurred over 100 million years ago is still raining down on Earth, according to a new study published in Nature Astronomy.
Pacific Ocean, Germany, Canberra
Who
Dr Dominik Koll, Professor Anton Wallner, Dr Michael Hotchkis
What
Debris from a giant cosmic explosion that occurred over 100 million years ago is still raining down on Earth, according to a new study published in Nature Astronomy.
When
Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:12:00 GMT · 2h 30m ago
Where
Pacific Ocean, Germany, Canberra ·
Why
Measurements of rare isotopes, specifically Pu-244, in a ferromanganese crust from the Pacific Ocean, indicate a past cosmic explosion, likely a neutron star merger, that produced these elements.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
This research provides new insights into the origin of heavy elements in the universe, suggesting that elements like plutonium are continuously arriving on Earth from ancient cosmic events rather than solely from recent supernovas. The study highlights advanced capabilities in detecting rare isotopes, which could also aid nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
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1 event in this threadNo related history yet - this is the origin event.
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