The Birth of Atoms: A Simple Explanation by a Physicist
Atoms, the building blocks of everything with mass, are made of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Most atoms in the universe are hydrogen and helium. The first atoms formed around 400,000 years after the Big Bang. More massive atoms are created in stars through fusion. Supernovae produce elements heavier than iron. Scientists are still exploring how atoms are made and the mystery of dark matter.
Richard Feynman, a famous theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize, said that all things are made of atoms. Understanding how atoms form is crucial as they make up everything with mass. The origin of atoms involves complex physics, with physicists having good guesses about their formation.
An atom consists of a nucleus made of protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons. Atoms are neutral, with the same number of protons and electrons. Most common atoms are hydrogen and helium, while elements are groups of atoms with the same number of protons.
Hydrogen and helium atoms formed around 400,000 years after the Big Bang when the universe was smaller and hotter. The cooling down allowed for the formation of atoms. More massive atoms are formed in stars through fusion processes, creating elements up to iron. Supernovae events can produce elements heavier than iron.
Scientists are still exploring how larger atoms are formed, including through collisions of neutron stars. Understanding atom formation involves various branches of physics, including general relativity and nuclear physics. Dark matter, a mysterious substance, also exists in the universe.
According to the source: ScienceAlert.
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