Plutonium-244 could have formed together with iron-60 by explosions of nearby supernovae / Pixabay
Australian scientists have found a radioactive isotope of plutonium and iron of cosmic origin in rock samples from the Pacific floor. It’s the imprint of a “recent” supernova explosion, perhaps even a neutron star.
Radioactive plutonium is more abundant on Earth due to recent nuclear explosion experiments. It occurs in very trace amounts in nature due to the processes in which uranium-238 is involved.
But plutonium also has a cosmic origin. It was supposed to rain on Earth in the form of cosmic dust from supernova explosions. To a lesser extent, it was also found in meteor dust on the ocean floor.
Researchers studied oceanic crust samples from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and found iron-60 along with plutonium-244. “Our data may be the first evidence that supernovae actually produce plutonium-244,” said Anton Wallner, lead author, nuclear physicist and professor at the National University of Australia. But he does not rule out that there is not a much more epic event behind this. Neutron star explosion.
Plutonium-244 could have formed together with iron-60 by explosions of nearby supernovae. Or plutonium-244 was already present in the solar system before their explosions. The mass and radiation of the supernovae then transported him to Earth. This would mean that neutron stars collided in the solar system tens of millions of years ago.
Thus, both heavy elements should have long since disintegrated into stable forms. But since they were found in their current state, it may mean that a cosmic event occurred “only” a few million years ago. And if it was the explosion of a neutron star, we “narrowly” lost a spectacular spectacle.
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