For decades, scientists have pondered the origins of elements such as gold, platinum, and uranium, as well as those that form planets and life itself. The most compelling answer to date has emerged from the ENGRAVE team, which has demonstrated that these elements originate from cataclysmic collisions between the universe’s most extreme stars. This groundbreaking work has earned ENGRAVE, along with the Warwick researchers involved, the inaugural European ‘Into Change Award’, valued at nearly £1 million.
The announcement comes as a significant recognition of the efforts of Andrew Levan, Honorary Professor at the University of Warwick and Professor at Radboud University, who is a key figure in this research as chair of the Executive Committee for ENGRAVE. “The work in ENGRAVE has focused on finding the fingerprints of heavy elements in fleeting flashes of light,” Levan explained. “This is no mean feat; these sources are faint, they emit most of their light redder than the eye can see, and to secure the observations, you have to act fast.”
Unveiling the Universe’s Elemental Factories
ENGRAVE has provided compelling evidence that the universe’s heaviest elements are forged in rare and powerful events involving neutron stars, known as kilonovae. These cosmic phenomena act as factories for heavy elements that constitute about half of the periodic table, including precious metals, rare earths, and uranium. By revealing this process, the team is illuminating the very building blocks of both the Earth and humanity.
Danny Steeghs, Professor in the Department of Physics at Warwick and a member of the ENGRAVE governing council, noted, “ENGRAVE brings together almost 300 researchers from across Europe and beyond, and Warwick has been at the forefront of this effort, both in terms of the people working on the project and in providing supporting data, for example via our GOTO telescope array that is specifically designed to find the sources that ENGRAVE studies.”
Redefining Our Understanding of Elemental Origins
This work has fundamentally redefined our understanding of where the elements come from, demonstrating that many critical life-giving elements are formed in these extreme star mergers. These core results were recently presented to a general audience during one of Warwick’s award-winning Christmas lectures, delivered by Andrew Levan on November 26.
“These Christmas lectures really provide us an opportunity to explain our research to everyone, excite the public, and show just how much amazing research is done at Warwick,” said Ally Caldecote, who leads the Christmas lecture program at Warwick.
The Significance of the ‘Into Change Award’
The ‘Into Change Award’, presented by Minister for Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund, recognizes outstanding European research and the values that underpin it: curiosity, collaboration, responsibility, respect, and openness. The prize celebrates European research groups delivering exceptional work of societal significance at the highest international level.
Christina Egelund, Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science, remarked, “ENGRAVE shows what can be achieved when researchers across countries and institutions work together to solve the universe’s greatest mysteries. Their discovery of the building blocks that form our planet and ourselves is a brilliant example of European research: Curious, open, and responsible.”
“At the same time, the group has generously invited young talents to join their journey, ensuring the next generation of researchers who can continue to explore the secrets of the universe. ENGRAVE is a role model for the research culture of the future.”
Looking Forward
This prestigious award not only acknowledges the past achievements of the ENGRAVE team but also sets a precedent for future collaborative research efforts. As the team continues to explore the universe’s mysteries, their work promises to inspire a new generation of scientists dedicated to unraveling the cosmos’s secrets.
The recognition from the ‘Into Change Award’ underscores the importance of international collaboration in scientific research and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries when diverse minds come together. As ENGRAVE continues its research, the scientific community and the public alike eagerly anticipate further revelations about the universe’s most profound mysteries.
