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Mississippi Physicist Unveils Faster Proton-Induced Reactions on Neutron Stars

4/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

Jaspreet Randhawa, a Mississippi State University physicist, directly measured proton-induced alpha emission on copper-59 during explosive bursts on neutron stars.
The results, published in The Astrophysical Journal, show the reaction rate is faster than previously believed.
This finding weakens the NiCu cycle, enabling continued synthesis of heavier elements for planet formation and life.
The study was conducted at TRIUMF in Canada.
Graduate student Muhammad Asif Zubair contributed to the study.

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Story summary

Jaspreet Randhawa, a Mississippi State University physicist, directly measured proton-induced alpha emission on copper-59 during explosive bursts on neutron stars.
The results, published in The Astrophysical Journal, show the reaction rate is faster than previously believed.
This finding weakens the NiCu cycle, enabling continued synthesis of heavier elements for planet formation and life.
The study was conducted at TRIUMF in Canada.
Graduate student Muhammad Asif Zubair contributed to the study.