Cosmology: how the universe evolved (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, October 16, 2017, 20:14 (2594 days ago) @ David Turell

The latest discovery is a combination of gravitational waves and electromagnetic waves from two neutron stars in collision, which produces a spread of heavy elements around the universe. Production of elements starts with hydrogen and then compression into the heavier elements one after another until all the original 92 are present:

https://phys.org/news/2017-10-neutron-star-smash-up-discovery-lifetime.html

"It had been theorised that mergers of two such exotic bodies would create ripples in the fabric of space-time known as gravitational waves, as well as bright flashes of high-energy radiation called gamma ray bursts.

"On August 17, detectors witnessed both phenomena, 1.7 seconds apart, coming from the same spot in the constellation of Hydra.

"'It was clear to us within minutes that we had a binary neutron star detection," said David Shoemaker, another member of LIGO, which has detectors in Livingston, Louisiana and Hanford, Washington.

***

"We witnessed history unfolding in front of our eyes: two neutron stars drawing closer, closer... turning faster and faster around each other, then colliding and scattering debris all over the place," co-discoverer Benoit Mours of France's CNRS research institute told AFP.

"The groundbreaking observation solved a number of physics riddles and sent ripples of anticipation through the scientific community.

"Most jaw-dropping for many, the data finally revealed where much of the gold, platinum, mercury and other heavy elements in the Universe came from. (my bold)

"Telescopes saw evidence of newly-forged material in the fallout, the teams said—a source long suspected, now confirmed.

"It makes it quite clear that a significant fraction, maybe half, maybe more, of the heavy elements in the Universe are actually produced by this kind of collision," said physicist Patrick Sutton, a member of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) which contributed to the find. (my bold)

***

"The fifth and latest gravitational wave observation is the first from a neutron star fusion. The other four were from black hole mergers which are even more violent but unlike neutron stars, emit no light."

Comment: Note my bolds about the heavy elements. There is no question the universe evolved from its beginning to its current composition. God does not use instant creation!