Cosmic Alchemy: How Neutron Star Smash-Ups Forge Heavy Atoms

The source of about half of the heaviest elements in the Universe has been a mystery for a long time. The key may lie in the collision of neutron stars - violent, energetic, and unusual events that we are now beginning to observe. Dr. Enrico Ramirez Ruiz of UC Santa Cruz will present a talk focusing on recent advances in our understanding of the origin of the heaviest and rarest elements in the Universe.