In 1946, Fred Hoyle proposed that elements heavier than hydrogen and helium would be produced by nucleosynthesis in the cores of massive stars. [6] It had previously been thought that the elements …

Supernova explosions are responsible for creating nearly all of the heavy elements seen in nature, with a few important exceptions. The universe starts out with only Hydrogen (75%), Helium (~25%), and a …

Jun 22, 2022 · Stars fuse hydrogen and helium into heavier nuclei. All stars produce carbon via the triple-alpha process. Carbon releases neutrons, which feed the slow neutron-capture or s-process. …

Jan 20, 2026 · A supernova is the biggest explosion that humans have ever seen. Each blast is the extremely bright, super-powerful explosion of a star. An illustration of one of the brightest and most …

During hydrostatic burning these fuels synthesize overwhelmingly the alpha nuclides (A = 2Z), nuclei composed of integer numbers of helium-4 nuclei. Initially, two helium-4 nuclei fuse into a single …

May 28, 2025 · Although the 56 Fe nucleus is the most stable nucleus known, the most abundant element in the known universe is not iron, but hydrogen (1 H), which accounts for about 90% of all …

Most of the atoms in the universe are either hydrogen or helium, formed within the first few minutes after the Big Bang. The other elements are mostly made by nuclear fusion in stars, especially fusion …

Supernova SN 1994D (bright spot on the lower left), a Type Ia supernova within its host galaxy, NGC 4526 A supernova (pl.: supernovae) is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. A supernova …

Elements that are heavier than hydrogen and helium are formed. Elements heavier than iron are formed in the supernova explosions of high mass stars.

Much of our bodies, and our planet, are made of elements that were created in the explosions of massive stars. Let's examine exactly how this can be.