For centuries, the origin of gold has been a reason for fascination and debate. Although modern science has identified possible scenarios for its formation, a new theory suggests that its true source could have been hidden in an unexpected corner of the cosmos. And the most surprising: we have been with the key under our eyes without realizing.
A sign that time almost erases
It all started with a forgotten flash. In December 2004, an intense gamma ray signal was recorded by space telescopes. For almost two decades, it remained as another fact in astronomical archives. Until Anirudh Patel, a young researcher at Columbia University, rediscovered that information at a crucial moment for his research on the birth of heavy elements in the universe.
Magnetares: the hidden titans of the cosmos
The suspects: the magnetares. These exotic neutron stars, heirs of collapsed giants, have such extreme magnetic fields that they can break their own cortex in violent events known as starquakes. At that time, they launch matter at speeds close to light, rich in neutrons that allow to create gold, uranium and other valuable metals in seconds.
Although this type of cosmic eruptions is extremely rare, its power is such that one could enrich large sectors of the universe. The revolutionary is that these events can happen in early stages of the cosmos, before even the collisions of neutron stars that until now were considered the main source of gold.
The new hypothesis that challenges what is established
The key to the discovery was the detailed analysis of that 2004 signal, which coincided with the theoretical models generated by Patel and its team. This energy “signature” coincides with what would be expected of a giant eruption of a magnetar capable of producing heavy elements. If this is confirmed, it would mean that these extreme objects could be the true oldest forces of the universe.
And now what?
Although the hypothesis is promising, there is still no conclusive evidence. Scientists warn that the conditions in these environments are so violent that they could lead to other elements, such as zirconium or silver. However, future missions such as Cosi, scheduled for 2027, could throw the evidence that is missing. And with that, maybe we will finally know where the gold that we value so much comes from.
Fuente: National Geographic.
