from ~13.5 billion years agoReputable sourceWell documented
Heavy Elements Forged in Stars
On the timeline · around from ~13.5 billion years ago · Cosmic Dawn
What happened
Stars fuse light elements into heavier ones deep in their cores, then scatter them across space when they die — especially in supernova explosions. Carbon, oxygen, iron and more were all built this way.
Why it matters
Almost every atom in your body heavier than hydrogen was forged inside a star. As NASA puts it, we really are made of star stuff.
Sources
- NASA. Stars · Reputable source
Related timelines
- Evolution of Life on Earth → — The star-forged elements from which life is built