Chemistry in the Cosmos: From Simplicity to Complexity

The chemical makeup of the universe has evolved over billions of years. The first atoms were mostly hydrogen with a bit of helium and traces of lithium and beryllium. Since then, processes such as nuclear fusion in stars and exploding supernovae have forged new elements and altered the composition of the cosmos.

In this lecture, theoretical astrophysicist Amiel Sternberg will present an overview of chemistry in the cosmos, from the formation of the first stars in the early universe to present-day galaxies and the stellar and planetary systems that they contain.