Nucleosynthesis is an ongoing process.
Nuclei are still being synthesized in the Universe.
By measuring life times of unstable nuclei, areas of active nucleosynthesis can be be identified.
For example:
- 26Al has a lifetime of 730,000 years.
- 26Al decays by emitting g rays.
- The origin of 26AL g rays reveals the locations of active nucleosynthesis.
Data from the GRO satellite