Overview

• Analysis of the 2004 SGR 1806-20 magnetar flare confirms radioactive decay signals consistent with the creation of heavy elements through the r-process.
• Magnetar flares, caused by extreme magnetic activity in neutron stars, are now estimated to contribute up to 10% of the Milky Way's heavy elements.
• This discovery complements the 2017 neutron star merger findings, addressing gaps in explaining the early universe's heavy-element abundance.
• Future missions, like NASA’s COSI launching in 2027, aim to directly identify individual elements from magnetar flares and validate these findings.
• The study highlights the role of magnetar flares in galactic chemical evolution, influencing the formation of stars, planets, and potentially habitable environments.