<ul><li>Magnetars, highly-magnetic neutron stars, can produce up to 10% of the universe's gold, silver, and platinum.</li><li>Astronomers observed kilonova explosion in 2017, producing rare heavy elements and answering origins of precious metals.</li><li>Research explains how flares on magnetars create rapid-process elements like gold and platinum.</li><li>Magnetars have intense magnetic fields and when those fields snap, it results in powerful flares.</li><li>Mechanism behind giant flares on magnetars involves dissipation of magnetic field and shockwaves.</li><li>Giant flares have been observed releasing energies greater than the Sun and creating heavy elements.</li><li>These magnetar flares contribute 1-10% of all rapid-process elements in the universe.</li><li>Magnetars, although rare, have a significant impact on the production of heavy elements.</li><li>Magnetars would have been dominant in producing these elements early in the universe's history.</li><li>Other environments like certain supernovae may also contribute to the formation of heavy elements.</li></ul>

How magnetar flares give birth to gold and platinum

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