Tag: nucleosynthesis
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On stardust & entropy
Stellar nucleosynthesis is entropic because the proton-proton reaction radiates 0.7% of the original mass as 26.73 MeV energy. Additional reactions produce heavier elements until finally supernova nucleosynthesis produces everything up to uranium in the last few seconds of a star’s life. We can calculate the entropy cost of the elements to create planets and life…