Carl Sagan : We are made of star-stuff - Explained

We have been taught from childhood that space & cosmos is out there… very far… but little do we understand that space is everywhere, just like air. The only thing is that we are not able to see or comprehend them. What you see in your home/room or outside your window is space.

The whole world is made up of atoms, subatomic particles, minerals and stuff, even the stars, sun, Earth, Jupiter, all the planets, every tiny bit of dust particles that are in the space.

Element	Approximate % by weight
Oxygen	46.6
Silicon	27.7
Aluminum	8.1
Iron	5
Calcium	3.6
Sodium	2.8
Potassium	2.6
Magnesium	2.1
All others	1.5

Element	Symbol	Atomic Number	% by Mass in Solar System	Percent in Earth	Percent in Human Body
Hydrogen	H	1	70.6	0.14	9.5
Helium	He	2	27.5	Trace	Trace
Carbon	C	6	0.3	0.03	18.5
Nitrogen	N	7	0.11	Trace	3.3
Oxygen	O	8	0.59	47	65
Sodium	Na	11	0.0033	2.8	0.2
Magnesium	Mg	12	0.0069	2.1	0.1
Phosphorus	P	15	Trace	0.07	1
Sulfur	S	16	0.0396	0.03	0.3
Chlorine	Cl	17	Trace	0.01	0.2
Potassium	K	19	Trace	2.6	0.4
Calcium	Ca	20	0.006	3.6	1.5
Iron	Fe	26	0.12	5	Trace

Element	Symbol	Mass Number A	Mass fraction in parts per million	Atom fraction in parts per million
Hydrogen-1	H	1	705700	909964
Helium-4	He	4	275200	88714
Oxygen-16	O	16	5920	477
Carbon-12	C	12	3032	326
Nitrogen-14	N	14	1105	102
Neon-20	Ne	20	1548	100
Silicon-28	Si	28	653	30
Magnesium-24	Mg	24	513	28
Iron-56	Fe	56	1169	27
Sulfur-32	S	32	396	16
Helium-3	He	3	35	15
Hydrogen-2	H	2	23	15
Neon-22	Ne	22	208	12
Magnesium-26	Mg	26	79	4
Carbon-13	C	13	37	4
Magnesium-25	Mg	25	69	4
Aluminum-27	Al	27	58	3
Argon-36	Ar	36	77	3
Calcium-40	Ca	40	60	2
Sodium-23	Na	23	33	2
Iron-54	Fe	54	72	2
Silicon-29	Si	29	34	2
Nickel-58	Ni	58	49	1
Silicon-30	Si	30	23	1
Iron-57	Fe	57	28	1

The place where we stand is a Phenomenon.  Especially the Earth, because as far as human mind and technology can process the amount of information and findings, we have just started to explore the magnanimity, vastness of our planet. But we are still not fully enabled or capable of understanding the planets, its mysteries.

This is our cosmic address: Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster and Observable Universe for now.

So imagine what it would take to comprehend or explore other plants. Leave alone the planets; imagine exploring sun, stars which are far bigger than the suns….

But everything is made of atoms and elements like hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, helium, nitrogen and many other elements such as neon, iron, silicon, magnesium and sulfur. (Consider looking at the molecular/chemical formula for various substances like plastic, wood, gold.... )

With evolution taking its own course, first, there was a single-cell organism- which further evolved into multi-cell organisms… from there different life forms…  consider reading Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. We are all a part of the evolutionary process.

But how did this single-cell organism come into existence? Few elements combined together to form single-cell organisms, which means we are all made of these elements. For example take the human body – we are made of elements.  Take bones, for example – calcium. Take our muscles – they are made of fibres – fibres contain cells like actin and myosin – actin is made of other elements.

So when you break down anything into subatomic particles – they are nothing but elements from the periodic table.

What is present in the stars, the sun, Earth and all other living and non-living things, if you break them – all you are going to find is these elements in different ratios and proportions.

So we are no different from the stars or the sun. It is within us. It is outside there. We are all one and the same. When we comprehend ourselves, it a way to comprehend the universe. We are all one and the same.

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Image 1 : Why Are We Made of ‘Starstuff’