From the April 2011 issue

Have astronomers detected elements in the universe that aren’t found in our solar system?

Bill Attwell, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
By | Published: April 25, 2011 | Last updated on May 18, 2023
Supernova
A cloud of gas is all that remains of a massive star that exploded 3,000 years ago. NASA/ES/The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Supernovae and some stars that aren’t like our present-day Sun create radioactive elements not found in our solar system.