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The Miracle After the Big Bang: Why Hydrogen and Helium Are the Building Blocks of the Universe?
At the beginning of the universe, after the Big Bang, the two elements hydrogen and helium formed the building blocks of the universe in their basic forms. This is not only because they are the lightest elements, but also because they play an important role in the evolution of galaxies and the circulation of matter. This article explores why hydrogen and helium form the basis of the universe and leads us into the creation of chemical elements.
The chemical elements of the universe are produced through nuclear fusion reactions inside stars, and hydrogen and helium play an irreplaceable role in this process.
The Big Bang and the Formation of Elements
About 13.8 billion years ago, the universe was born due to a huge explosion. This big explosion produced countless particles, and under extremely high temperatures and pressures, hydrogen, helium and a small amount of lithium were formed for the first time. These elements interacted with each other in the subsequent evolution of the universe, laying the foundation for later heavier elements.
The roles of hydrogen and helium
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, accounting for about 74% of the matter in the universe; while helium is the second most abundant element, accounting for about 24%. These two elements play a pivotal role in the life cycle of a star. First, they are the raw material from which stars form. When enough hydrogen clouds gather to a certain mass, stars will be born, followed by nuclear fusion.
The nuclear fusion process inside stars is the main way to create chemical elements. Hydrogen fuses into helium, and the energy released in the process supports the star's light and heat.
Nucleosynthesis of stars
As stars evolve, hydrogen is converted into helium in the stellar core, a process called hydrogen fusion. At this point, the star remains stable, producing light and heat. When the hydrogen is exhausted, the star will begin to burn helium, producing further carbon, oxygen, and heavier elements. This series of nucleosynthesis processes is called stellar nucleosynthesis and has a profound impact on the abundance of elements.
Contribution of supernovae
When a massive star burns its iron, nuclear fusion no longer releases energy, which makes the star unable to maintain its own gravity and eventually explodes in the form of a supernova. In this process, the huge energy and violent shock waves prompted more nuclear reactions to occur, producing elements heavier than iron and spreading them into the universe.
The explosion of a supernova is not only the end of the life of a star, but also the beginning of new elements in the universe. These elements will become the raw materials for future planets and life.
The significance of hydrogen and helium in the universe
Hydrogen and helium are not only fundamental to the evolution of the universe, they also shape the way we understand the universe. Most stars, galaxies and various celestial bodies are composed of these two elements. Without hydrogen and helium, there would be no birth of stars and no life. Therefore, understanding their formation and function is an important part of exploring the mysteries of the universe.
Future research directions
As science and technology advance, astronomers are able to study more deeply the properties of hydrogen and helium and their role in stellar evolution. Especially using modern telescopes and space observation equipment, we can better detect different types of galaxies and their compositions, and further understand how these elements affect the overall structure and evolution of the universe.
Exploring hydrogen and helium, the most basic elements in the universe, will help us reveal the origin and future of the universe, and make us think: What other unknown secrets are waiting for us to discover in the vastness of the universe?
