Are we really made of Stardust?

How are most of the elements that make up the human body formed?

• a. Through nuclear reactions in stars.
• b. Through chemical reactions on Earth.
• c. Through the process of galactic chemical evolution.
• d. Through the Big Bang.

What are the lightest elements that existed after the Big Bang?

• a. Hydrogen, helium, and lithium.
• b. Carbon, magnesium, and iron.
• c. Oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen.
• d. Gold, platinum, and uranium.

What determines the number of protons in the nuclei of atoms?

• a. The atomic weight.
• b. The atomic number.
• c. The element's position on the periodic table.
• d. The element's chemical properties.

What is nucleosynthesis?

• a. The destruction of elements inside stars.
• b. The process of making elements inside stars.
• c. The breakdown of elements into simpler substances.
• d. The combination of elements to form compounds.

Which stars burn their fuel quickly and produce only a few elements heavier than hydrogen and helium?

• a. Hotter stars.
• b. Cooler stars.
• c. Younger stars.
• d. Older stars.

What is galactic chemical evolution?

• a. The formation of elements through nucleosynthesis.
• b. The reprocessing of elements in stars.
• c. The constant cycle of star formation and supernovas.
• d. The evolution of elements in galaxies over time.

How does the life cycle of a star end?

• a. It runs out of fuel and collapses under gravity.
• b. It explodes in a supernova.
• c. It slowly fades away into a white dwarf.
• d. It turns into a black hole.

What happens to the elements inside a star when it dies?

• a. They are destroyed.
• b. They are swept out into space.
• c. They form a black hole.
• d. They collapse into a white dwarf.

How do scientists study cosmic dust?

• a. Through telescopes.
• b. Through electron microscopes.
• c. Through spectrometry.
• d. Through chemical reactions.

Where can pre-solar grains be found?

• a. In asteroids.
• b. In supernovas.
• c. In meteorites.
• d. In the atmosphere of stars.