The Creation of Elements: From Stars to Atoms

🔑 Elements are defined by the number of protons in their nucleus.

💥 Stable nuclei require energy to transform into different elements or isotopes.

🌌 The universe expanding and cooling led to the formation of protons, the building blocks of hydrogen.

🌟 Stars are formed from the inhomogeneity of the universe and are fueled by fusing hydrogen into helium.

⚛️ Large stars can fuse smaller elements into larger ones, but they reach a limit when forming Iron 56.

🌌 The synthesis of larger elements was put on hold until the formation of stars.

🌟 Stellar nucleosynthesis stops at iron, causing a supernova explosion.

☢️ Intense heat and gamma rays during a supernova break apart iron nuclei and create neutrons.

⚛️ Neutrons captured by iron decay into new elements, creating elements past iron.

🌟 Particles collide with carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen to create smaller elements.

🔬 Plutonium and other larger elements are synthetically made by scientists.

💫 The processes discussed in the video are responsible for creating every atom in the universe.