In the television series "Cosmos" the astronomer Carl Sagan used to say, "We are all made of star stuff." What did he mean by that?
A) All of the chemical elements in our solar system were forged in an ancient star that went supernova.
B) We all have to potential to be stars.
C) The earth has incorporated large amounts of chemical material from the solar wind, so our bodies carry this material.
D) All of the chemical elements were formed during the big bang when the universe began, so we are like the stars.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Carl Sagan meant that all of the chemical elements in our bodies, including carbon, oxygen, and iron, were created through the nuclear fusion reactions in ancient stars that eventually exploded as supernovae. These elements were then dispersed into space and eventually formed new generations of stars and planets, including our own solar system. Therefore, we are literally made of the same materials as the stars.

In the Television Series "Cosmos" the Astronomer Carl Sagan Used