Gold and other heavy elements are born in some of the universe’s most violent events—but scientists still struggle to understand the nuclear steps that create them. Now, nuclear physicists have ...

All around us are elements forged in stars, from the nickel and copper in coins to the gold and silver in jewelry. Scientists have a good understanding of how these elements form: In many cases, a ...

The Nature Index 2025 Research Leaders — previously known as Annual Tables — reveal the leading institutions and countries/territories in the natural and health sciences, according to their output in ...

Scientists now understand that the universe forges its heaviest elements, including californium, through extreme cosmic events like neutron star mergers. These cataclysmic collisions provide the ...

Some of the universe’s densest objects can twist, stretch, and resonate in ways that challenge even the most seasoned ...