‘Space Alchemy’ Reveals Origin of Gold, Platinum

The Universe is an overall mystery to many, but a new discovery is helping lead scientists to discover the origins of gold and platinum. In Forbes, Duncan Brown, the Charles Brightman professor of physics, Peter Saulson, the Martin A. Pomerantz ’37 Professor of Physics explained how a neutron star collision helped reveal this scientific matchup.

“When you watch that radioactive decay, what you’re basically watching is space alchemy,” he said. “It’s the universe creating gold and platinum.”