Summary:
- Scientists have discovered that the intense magnetic fields of magnetars, a type of neutron star, may have been responsible for creating much of the gold in the universe.
- Magnetars are extremely dense and have the most powerful magnetic fields in the universe, which can help fuse lighter elements like iron and nickel into heavier elements like gold.
- This new understanding challenges the previous belief that gold was primarily created during the collision of two neutron stars, and provides a new explanation for the origin of this precious metal.