114: A Burst of Tellurium

We've talked BOATs before — cosmic events that are the Brightest Of All Time — and it's always a favourite topic on the show. Recently astronomers analysed the runner-up BOAT in the Burster category, an astoundingly violent, weirdly long-lasting, and oddly-located neutron star merger, and measured the amount of afterglow Tellurium to learn more about fast neutron processes. What?! As Emily patiently explains, with a brief cameo from Tom Lehrer, it's all about a deeper understanding of where all the chemical elements in the universe come from.Help us make Syzygy even better! Tell your friends and give us a review, or show your support on Patreon: patreon.com/syzygypodSyzygy is produced by Chris Stewart and co-hosted by Dr Emily Brunsden from the Department of Physics at the University of York.On the web: syzygy.fm | Instagram & Threads: @syzygypodThings we talk about in this episode:• Research paper• Overview of the research• Syzygy episodes with BOATS:— Episode 30: Stardust or Cosmic Poo— Episode 61: Biggest Bag Ever!— Episode 107: Biggest Bang Ever! (Again)• Nucleosynthesis• The rapid neutron capture process• … as opposed to the slow neutron capture process• Tom Lehrer’s Elements song• Binding Blocks• The actual BOAT