What is the main element found within nebulae, reflecting the universe's earliest moments?
Answer
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is overwhelmingly the most abundant element in nebulae, making up the vast majority of the material by mass. This abundance stems directly from cosmic history, as hydrogen is the simplest element synthesized in the first few minutes following the Big Bang. It exists throughout the cosmos in massive quantities, forming the foundational material for these cosmic nurseries, whether in atomic (H I), molecular (H2), or ionized (H+) states.
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