ethan@utastro.UUCP (05/20/84)
<Woodman spare my planet> Sorry for the science but, Hutch writes: >One thing that may be being overlooked is the source of the >higher-numbered elements. There is to my knowledge no reason >for the Big Bang to have produced anything more complicated than >hydrogen, directly. According to the standard model the early universe contained matter which was predominantly hydrogen, but about 1/4 (by mass) helium. All heavier elements were made subsequently inside stars. A point which tends to confirm this is that the oldest stars are very poor in elements heavier than helium whereas young stars are a few percent heavier elements. "Only perverts use cute signoffs." Ethan Vishniac {kpno,charm,ut-sally}!utastro!ethan