Employees of the Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences in San Diego made an unexpected conclusion based on the results of the study - tiny black holes can penetrate into neutron stars and, like parasites, absorb their matter. It is noteworthy that this process leads to the appearance of heavy chemical elements, for example, platinum, gold and uranium, according to an article published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
Space in the early stages of the evolution of the Universe was filled with helium and hydrogen. The first stars were formed from these substances, and heavier chemical elements such as iron and others were synthesized in their depths. Atoms with a large serial number can be formed only during catastrophic events, such as the merger of two neutron stars.
American researchers have proposed a new mechanism for the formation of heavy chemical elements with the participation of small black holes (hypothetical objects, presumably formed as a by-product of the Big Bang). According to scientists, small black holes can make up some fraction of dark matter and, if they get inside a neutron star, an emission of neutron-rich material will follow. Astrophysicists believe that such a scenario could explain the abundance of heavy elements observed in the universe.
Experts claim that their hypothesis is supported by the fact that there are few neutron stars in the centers of galaxies, where there should be many black holes. Moreover, the process of devouring neural stars should be accompanied by emissions of radiation, presumably causing the appearance of fast radio bursts.