Something the average diver probably doesn't know is that when you submerge you actually strap a piece of a supernova to your waist.
The lead weights.
During the main burning phase of a star it spends most of its life fusing hydrogen into helium. However, when it starts to age the hydrogen starts to run out and the force of gravity starts causing it to fuse heavier elements. Helium, then lithium and all the way through the periodic table up to iron. Some (for humans) pretty important stuff gets created like this, like oxygen and carbon.
However, iron doesn't release additional energy when it fuses so the process stops there and the star collapses and creates a supernova (at least if it's big enough it will).
In those few seconds during the collapse, atoms are crushed together with such astounding force that all of the other elements heavier than iron are created.
Including lead.
So the next time you go diving, take some time to think about that. We're all literally made of star dust and on your weight belt you carry with you on every dive a sliver of a supernova.
R..
The lead weights.
During the main burning phase of a star it spends most of its life fusing hydrogen into helium. However, when it starts to age the hydrogen starts to run out and the force of gravity starts causing it to fuse heavier elements. Helium, then lithium and all the way through the periodic table up to iron. Some (for humans) pretty important stuff gets created like this, like oxygen and carbon.
However, iron doesn't release additional energy when it fuses so the process stops there and the star collapses and creates a supernova (at least if it's big enough it will).
In those few seconds during the collapse, atoms are crushed together with such astounding force that all of the other elements heavier than iron are created.
Including lead.
So the next time you go diving, take some time to think about that. We're all literally made of star dust and on your weight belt you carry with you on every dive a sliver of a supernova.
R..
