A study of Earth’s crust hints that supernovas aren’t gold mines
The stellar explosions can’t be the main source for heavy elements, new data suggest
Supernovas like the one that formed the Crab Nebula (pictured) have long been thought to forge heavy elements. But a new study suggests that the bulk of those elements must come from other sources.
J. Hester and A. Loll/ASU, NASA, ESA