= Solution
The evolving optical and infrared <kilonova> was consistent with radioactive heating of neutron-rich merger ejecta. Rapid neutron capture, the <r-process>, can synthesize nuclei heavier than iron; decay of the newly formed unstable nuclei powers the transient. Its redward evolution and large inferred opacity supported production of heavy-element-rich ejecta. Thus mergers are a demonstrated important site for heavy-element production, while the fractions of individual elements and their total cosmic contribution remain model-dependent. The transient was not a direct identification of every very heavy element.<Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger by LIGO Scientific Collaboration and others>[Kilonova interpretation and conclusions: optical/infrared evolution and radioactive r-process heating]{ref}
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