How gold was born: Two neutron stars smashing together

That shiny yellow stuff is not just bling — it's a tiny piece of the universe

Stars collide
(Image credit: NASA/CXC/UMass Amherst/Q.D.Wang et al)

Gold — that soft, glimmering, reliably precious metal you should maybe consider investing in — is a fascinating element. Paired with its valuable ability to conduct electricity, it is equally comfortable hanging out in your computer keyboard as it is dangling from the neck of Jay-Z.

The question, though, of how gold came into being, chemically speaking, has long baffled scientists. Whereas lighter elements like carbon and oxygen emerged from the fusion reactions at the hearts of stars, heavy metals like platinum and gold require something with a lot more firepower.

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Chris Gayomali is the science and technology editor for TheWeek.com. Previously, he was a tech reporter at TIME. His work has also appeared in Men's Journal, Esquire, and The Atlantic, among other places. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.