An explosive astronomical event that occurs when two neutron stars merge, producing a burst of light about 1,000 times brighter than a classical nova and creating heavy elements like gold and platinum through rapid neutron capture. These events are detected through both gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation.
Coined in 2010 by combining 'kilo-' (meaning thousand) with 'nova' (new star), indicating an explosion roughly 1,000 times more energetic than a regular nova. The term reflects the event's intermediate energy between novae and supernovae.
Kilonovae are the universe's ultimate gold mines - literally! When two neutron stars spiral into each other and merge, they create conditions so extreme that they forge elements heavier than iron, including much of the gold, platinum, and uranium in the universe. The 2017 detection of kilonova GW170817 was a cosmic treasure hunt that combined gravitational wave detection with optical telescopes, proving that these collisions are the primary source of precious metals throughout the cosmos.
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