3 ms·
Are there even transitionally stable conditions in other places in the universe where these elements exist for more than fleeting time? I would imagine in cond
by ggm 2y ago
Are there even transitionally stable conditions in other places in the universe where these elements exist for more than fleeting time?
I would imagine in conditions of high heat, plasma, RF energy and pressure many things "exist" but I don't see that as quite the same. I guess if their spectral line emissions from stars says they are a continuum of existence then thats something, but I wondered if there were wierd islands of stability e.g. inside crystal lattices under pressure, or in solution in some wierd, non-plasma state. Absent an observer round that star we can't know but can we hypotheise physical states which would let it be?
- indoordin0saur 2y agoNeutron stars are made of a solar mass of neutrons and protons packed so tightly together that they're almost like a single giant nucleus. They can collide and shatter into countless particles of every imaginable heavy element. Of course most of these quickly decay but they decay into other heavier things that are more stable. This is possibly where heavy elements in our solar system such as uranium, platinum and gold came from. If we could visit Earth shortly after its formation 4.5 billion years ago maybe we'd see trace amounts of even more exotic elements! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_star_merger#Distribution_of_Heavy_Metals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_star_merger#Distributi...