Population I stars are metal rich. Where did these metals come from?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Population II stars are the oldest stars, and they are metal-poor because they formed before the universe had a chance to create heavier elements through nuclear fusion. As Population II stars became more massive, they exploded as supernovae, creating heavy elements such as iron, nickel, and gold. These elements were then incorporated into the next generation of stars, known as Population I stars, which formed from the enriched gas and dust of the previous generation. Therefore, Population I stars are metal-rich because they formed from the remnants of earlier Population II stars, especially the most massive ones.

Population I Stars Are Metal Rich