Fwd: Neutron star collision triggers worldwide discoveries

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From: "Nature Briefing" <natureresearch@information.nature.com>
Date: Oct 16, 2017 12:11 PM
Subject: Neutron star collision triggers worldwide discoveries
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Multiple cosmic mysteries may be solved by the observation of a merger between two super-dense neutron stars. | 

Trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser Monday 16 October 2017 Hello Nature readers, Today we delight in the torrent of discoveries unleashed by gravitational wave, γ-ray, optical, X-ray and radio observations of a spectacular collision between two super-dense neutron stars. A simulation of the merger of two neutron stars (W. Kastaun/T. Kawamura/B. Giacomazzo/R. Ciolfi/A. Endrizzi.) Neutron-star merger is source of heavy elements, gamma ray bursts An epic collision between two super-dense neutron stars has simultaneously solved multiple cosmic mysteries. Observations confirm that such explosive stellar encounters are a source of mysterious short γ-ray bursts. Also, that neutron-star collisions are where gold, platinum, uranium and many rare earth elements are formed. Researchers published several dozen papers in at least five journals today based on the event, which was detected on Earth on 17 August. Nature | 13 min read Reference: Start with this Nature News & Views article By the numbers • Name of the neutron-star collision event: GW170817 • Distance from Earth: 40 million parsecs (130 million light years) • Amount of gold flung into space: about 10 times Earth's mass • Duration of the gravitational-wave signal: 100 seconds (the longest ever observed) • Research teams involved in observations: over 70 on all seven continents • Authors of the overview paper in The Astrophysical Journal Letters: 3,566 How a stellar event ripples around the world The neutron-star collision detected on 17 August kicked off the strongest and longest gravitational-wave signal ever seen on Earth, spotted first by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in the United States and by its Italy-based counterpart Virgo. Discover how such an event triggers a worldwide network of smaller telescopes, often built on a shoestring budget, to spring into action to search for flares of light coming from the same spot. Nature | 4 min read "We could all use a nap. And a pizza." Astrophysicist Shane Larson describes the life-changing experience of observing a neutron-star collision, why the part he's most excited about is measuring the expansion of the Universe, and the biggest thing we don't know about the discovery: what is the thing left over? Write Science blog | 9 min read A simulation of the merger of two neutron stars (W. Kastaun/T. Kawamura/B. Giacomazzo/R. Ciolfi/A. Endrizzi.) Can't see the animation? Click to watch it in your browser. FEATURES & OPINION Prepare for larger, longer wildfires The brutal, immediate effects of climate change have arrived in western North America in the form of wildfires. We need ambitious, flexible plans to adapt, says climate change researcher Kathie Dello. Nature | 5 min read How Congress derailed the DEA's war on opioids The epidemic of opioid-related deaths in the US has been allowed to run rampant because drug distributors are lobbying Congress on an epic scale, says an investigation by The Washington Post and 60 Minutes. Congress has passed laws reducing the Drug Enforcement Administration's power to freeze suspicious narcotic shipments that may end up on the black market. The Washington Post | 65 min read The particle pioneer Fifty years ago, Steven Weinberg published the iconic paper that gave rise to the standard model and inspired the CERN experimental programme. He tells of the pleasure of seeing one of your 'squiggles' come to describe reality, how science is like sexing a chicken, and why finding the standard-model Higgs boson (and nothing else) is a "nightmare scenario". CERN Courier | 21 min read Quote of the day "You can afford rent! You can have a family! You can report sexual harassment!" Biologist Brian Weitzner explains why he is pushing for a postdoc union at the University of Washington. (Science) This newsletter is always evolving — tell us what you think! Please send feedback to briefing@nature.com. Forwarded by a friend? Get the Briefing straight to your inbox: subscribe for free. Thanks for reading! Flora Graham, senior editor, Nature Briefing Join our community Unsubscribe from the Nature Briefing View our privacy policy Nature Research | One New York Plaza, Suite 4500 | New York | NY 10004-1562 | USA Nature Research | Principal offices: London | New York and Tokyo, and offices in cities worldwide including Basingstoke | Barcelona | Boston | Buenos Aires | Cairo | Delhi | Heidelberg | Shanghai | Madrid | Melbourne | Mexico City | Mumbai | Munich | Paris | San Francisco | Sao Paulo | Seoul and Washington DC. Macmillan Publishers Limited is a company incorporated in England & Wales under company number 785998 & whose registered office is located at The Campus, 4 Crinan Street, London, N1 9XW. Springer Nature | One New York Plaza, Suite 4500 | New York | NY 10004-1562 | USA © 2017 Nature Research, part of Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.