Where were heavier elements, referred to as 'metals' by astronomers, manufactured and dispersed into space?
Answer
Inside stars through nuclear fusion
Elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, which astronomers often categorize as 'metals,' were not created during the Big Bang. Instead, these heavier constituents—such as oxygen, carbon, neon, and nitrogen—are forged deep within stars via the process of nuclear fusion. They are subsequently released into the interstellar medium when those stars reach the end of their lifecycles, frequently through explosive events like supernovae, enriching subsequent generations of nebulae.
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