Sarah Pearson

Graduate Student

"The Explosive Origin of Our Elements"

Carl Sagan famously stated that “We are a way for the Universe to know itself”, referring to the fact that we are made of elements (atoms) produced within the stars we observe in the night sky. Stars are enormous nuclear factories that fuse lighter elements to heavier elements within their cores. Certain types of stars die in violent explosions that can outshine entire galaxies. In these explosions, an enormous amount of matter is expelled, enriching their surroundings. In this talk I will walk you through the explosive origin of our elements and explain how the elements expelled in stellar explosions are the very elements we consist of.