The Disappearing Spoon: Chapter 4 Summary and Reflection

In this chapter named, We are all Stars and Stuff, the author starts of talking about how the elements originated. Before science became advanced, it was thought that the Big Bang Theory was responsible for the origination of elements. However, it was discarded completely when in 1939 scientists proved that the sun and other stars heated themsleves by nuclear fusion. This chapter discussed how the age of a star effected what type of elements were In it. As a young star, it usually contains the elements Hydrogen and Helium. As the star gets older, it fuses with different elements. Elements are created when a star experiences a supernova, and much of the heavier elements are produced. After a supernova, planets and galaxies are created. The chapter talks about the danger of lead and what it does to planets and stars. Also, in 1977, scientists studying limestone in Italy discovered a major advance in our knowlege of the history of the earth. When finding a red dust containing iridium, it suggested that it came from a meteorite, which dated to the time when a mass extinction was known to occur. This lead to the belief the sun had a companion star at this time, and it was also suggested a mass extinction occurs every 24 million years. I personally thought this was the coolest chapter so far mainly because of how extreme it's concepts were. I had no clue how the elements were created and I also had no clue that fusion in stars cores lead to supernovas which created planets and galaxies. I liked how the chapter related elements to the existence of our universe and without them we wouldn't have one. Lastly, I liked this chapter because it talked about the cool discoveries that were made that advanced humans knowledge of the universe and the understanding of the elements.