Where did the elements we see in the periodic table originate from?
The Sun’s light comes from a nuclear fusion reaction at the inner core of the Sun. All the elements in the periodic table are derived from hydrogen and helium, the two most essential ingredients of everything we see in the universe. Stars amass hydrogen and helium in their cores and squeeze them with such a force that hydrogen and helium turn into new elements through fusion. Then, the newly created elements fuse into other elements with higher atomic numbers, leading to the creation of every single element up until iron.
How do planets form?
Gas clouds accumulate. They start spinning in tremendous speeds; thus, their temperature increases. Then, they collapse under themselves and begin forming a dense region of cosmic material. This material accumulates, binding to itself all the matter available nearby. As the mass pile grows larger and larger, its gravitational force gets more powerful. Then, the mass begins sucking even more material.
How do neutron stars form?
Stars much more massive than the Sun can die and form neutron stars or black holes.
A neutron star is the collapsed core of a giant star and consists of a massive cluster of particles with extreme densities. Neutron stars are the second densest objects, right after black holes. Neutron stars have incredible pulsars that can be detected from Earth.
Black holes are points in space-time where gravity is so strong that virtually nothing can escape from it, including light. It is estimated that every galaxy has a black hole in its centre. Since black holes absorb light, they cannot be seen directly. Black holes consist of three layers: the outward and inner event horizon, and singularity. Singularity is the point in space-time where most of the black hole’s mass can be located at.
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