> how LIGO changed the understanding of how heavier elements are usually formed, guessing it changed the expected neutron star prevalence? It's not about the

> how LIGO changed the understanding of how heavier elements are usually formed, guessing it changed the expected neutron star prevalence? It's not about the prevalence, but about the light curves observed during the event AT 2017gfo. They indicate significant heavy metal ejection but, what's interesting, also production. > mergers of neutron stars contribute to rapid neutron capture (r-process) nucleosynthesis These two articles cite the relevant papers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GW170817#Scientific_importance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GW170817#Scientific_importance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleosynthesis#Neutron_star_collision https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleosynthesis#Neutron_star_c...