Skip to primary navigationSkip to main contentSkip to footer
Lester Martin logo
  • Engagement
    • Shop Complete Rings
    • Find Your Diamond
    • Start With the Ring Setting
    • Diamond Education
  • Collections
    • 302
    • Alisa
    • Ashi
    • Dugout Mugs
    • Barbela Design
    • Bassali
    • Chisel
    • Citizen
    • Cosi Bella Coins
    • Dilamani
    • Elysium
    • Ever & Ever
    • Fingerprint Jewelry
    • Hidalgo
    • La Vie
    • Lafonn
    • Leslie's
    • Lester Martin Collection
    • Meira T.
    • Lightning Ridge Opal
    • Mova Globes
    • Reflection Beads
    • Religious Collection
    • Rembrandt Charms
    • Roger Dery Gem Design
    • Romance Diamond
    • Royal Chain
    • Shardz
    • Stuller
  • Jewelry
    • LMJ Deals and Steals
    • Engagement
        Complete Diamond Engagement RingsSemi-mount Diamond Engagement RingsAnniversary Bands
    • Wedding Bands
        Diamond Wedding BandsGemstone Wedding BandsGold Wedding BandsAlternative Metal Rings
    • Pendants
        Diamond PendantsGemstone PendantsGold PendantsSilver PendantsReligious Pendants
    • Charms and Charm Bracelets
        CharmsCharm Bracelets
    • Earrings
        Diamond EarringsGemstone EarringsPearl EarringsGold EarringsSilver EarringsPiercing Earrings
    • Necklaces
        Diamond NecklacesGemstone NecklacesPearl NecklacesGold NecklacesSilver NecklacesFamily NecklacesReligious Necklaces
    • Chains
    • Rings
        Diamond Fashion RingsGemstone Fashion RingsPearl RingsGold Fashion RingsSilver Fashion RingsFamily Rings
    • Bracelets
        Diamond BraceletsGemstone BraceletsPearl BraceletsGold BraceletsSilver BraceletsAnkletsFamily BraceletsReligious BraceletsBangle BraceletsChain Bracelets
    • Estate Jewelry
    • Giftware
        CrystalGold Dipped Roses
    • Men's Section
        Men's NecklacesMen's ShavingMen's BraceletsMen's AccessoriesClasps
    • Watches
        Women's WatchesMen's WatchesUnisex WatchesWatch Bands
    • Accessories
        Cleaning SuppliesWomen's Accessories
    • Eternity Bands
  • Education
    • Jewelry Education
    • Diamond Education
      • The Four Cs of Diamonds
      • Diamond Buying Tips
    • Choosing The Right Setting
    • Learn About Gemstones
      • Birthstone Guide
      • Gemstone Guide
    • Precious Metals
    • Jewelry Care
      • Caring for Fine Jewelry
      • Diamond Cleaning
      • Gemstone Cleaning
    • Anniversary Guide
    • Gold Buying Guide
  • About
    • About Us
    • Events
    • Our Blog
    • Diamonds Do Good
    • Services
    • Testimonials
    • Jewelry Insurance
  • Contact
  • AccountToggle My Account Menu
    Forgot Password?

    Don't have an account? Sign up now

  • SearchToggle Search Menu
  • Wish ListToggle My Wishlist
  • Bag (0)Toggle Shopping Cart Menu
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Gamma-Ray Burst From Rare Kilonova Signals the Birth of Platinum and Gold

Gamma-Ray Burst From Rare Kilonova Signals the Birth of Platinum and Gold

Published: Dec 13, 2022
Gamma-Ray Burst From Rare Kilonova Signals the Birth of Platinum and Gold
Author: 
LMJ Blog Team

A gamma-ray burst generated by a rare kilonova signaled the birth of platinum, gold and other heavy elements equal to 1,000 times the mass of the Earth, according to an international team of scientists.

On Dec. 11, 2021, NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected a blast of high-energy light from the outskirts of a galaxy approximately 1 billion light-years away in the constellation Boötes.

This gamma-ray burst, identified as GRB 211211A, lasted about a minute – a relatively lengthy explosion, which would usually signal the collapse of a massive star into a supernova. But during the past year of research, scientists learned that this event contained an excess of infrared light and was much fainter and faster-fading than a classical supernova, hinting that something different was going on.

In papers published in both Nature and Nature Astronomy, an international team of scientists described how the infrared light detected in the burst came from a kilonova, which occurs when two super-dense neutron stars in a binary star system collide, emitting gamma-rays. NASA explained that these are most powerful events in the universe.

When neutron stars collide and merge, they create a cloud of hot debris emitting light across multiple wavelengths. Scientists hypothesize that jets of high-speed particles, launched by the collision, produce the initial gamma-ray flare before they collide with the wreckage. Heat generated by the radioactive decay of elements in the neutron-rich debris likely creates the kilonova’s visible and infrared light. This decay results in the production of heavy elements, such as gold and platinum.

“We found that this one event produced about 1,000 times the mass of the Earth in very heavy elements," noted Dr. Matt Nicholl, an Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham, who modeled the kilonova emission. "This supports the idea that these kilonovae are the main factories of gold in the universe.”

Its proximity in a neighboring galaxy only one billion light years away gave scientists the opportunity to study the properties of the merger in unprecedented detail with multiple telescopes.

Back in 2017, astronomers from around the globe jointly reported a kilonova blast from a clash of neutron stars 130 million light years from Earth in the constellation Hydra. They cooperated in pointing their high-powered equipment at the scene to record the visible light, radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays emitted from the blast.

Their equipment identified massive amounts of platinum, gold and silver, estimated at the time to be worth in excess of $100 octillion. That’s $100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (1 followed by 29 zeroes).

Credit: Graphic by A. Simonnet (Sonoma State Univ.) and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Categories
  • Previous Article
  • Next Article
Lester Martin Address
Lester Martin Jewelers
1650 Limekiln Pike B27
Dreshertown Plaza
Dresher, PA 19025
(267) 470-4771
ValentinesW
CLOSED: Sat 5/24 Fri & Sat 5/30 & 5
Store Information
Store Hours

Tuesday - By Appointment Only

Friday:Closed Graduation Day Closure
Saturday:Closed Graduation Day Closure
Sunday:Closed
Monday:Closed
Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday:10:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday:10:00am - 5:00pm
Jewelry
  • LMJ Deals and Steals
  • Engagement
  • Wedding Bands
  • Pendants
  • Charms and Charm Bracelets
  • Earrings
  • Necklaces
  • Chains
  • Rings
  • Bracelets
  • Estate Jewelry
  • Giftware
  • Men's Section
  • Watches
  • Accessories
  • Eternity Bands
Collections
  • 302
  • Alisa
  • Stocking Stuffers. Most Items Below $75
  • Ashi
  • Dugout Mugs
  • Barbela Design
  • Bassali
  • Chisel
  • Citizen
  • Cosi Bella Coins
  • Dilamani
  • Elysium
  • Ever & Ever
  • Fingerprint Jewelry
  • Hidalgo
  • La Vie
  • Lafonn
  • Leslie's
  • Lester Martin Collection
  • Meira T.
  • Lightning Ridge Opal
  • Men's Shaving
  • Mova Globes
  • Reflection Beads
  • Religious Collection
  • Rembrandt Charms
  • Roger Dery Gem Design
  • Romance Diamond
  • Royal Chain
  • Shardz
  • Stuller
  • Valentine's Day Gifts
Our Store
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Services
  • Privacy Policy
  • Return Policy
Mailing List

Sign up for special offers and discounts

© 2025 Lester Martin. All Rights Reserved. Website designed, maintained, and hosted by Punchmark. Accessibility Statement.

Learn how we use cookies in our Privacy Policy or manage cookie preferences.