“The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.” — Carl Sagan.

"We are stardust, We are golden" — Joni Mitchell, Woodstock.

"...for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." — ‎Genesis 3:19.

Below is the Periodic Table of all the known elements annotated with the source(s) of each element.

The Big Bang is believed to have produced primarily hydrogen (H), with some helium (He) and a little Lithium (Li).  The first stars were almost pure hydrogen. Over billions of years, the deaths of stars by various processes results in increased concentrations of heavier elements in the interstellar gas and dust that forms new stars (and planets of course).

The recent observation of the merger of two neutron stars by the gravitational wave observatories provided evidence for the means of creation of heavy elements such as silver (Ag), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and uranium (U).

Mike Priaro, P.Eng.

Calgary

403-281-2156