By Lou Farrell 
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Look above, and you’ll see clouds. Beyond this, the atmosphere is surprisingly thin, given how large Earth is. In these layers are an abundance of elements, contributing to everything from the weather to Earth’s protection from the Sun. Even further beyond, a curious mixture of elements flies throughout the galaxy and universe in surprising and revealing ways. What is the most abundant element in the universe, and what else comprises the atmosphere and space? Spoiler alert — it is hydrogen.
Hydrogen is the simplest in the universe. It has one proton and one electron, and its existence has been known since the Big Bang. Current estimations suggest it comprises 75% of ordinary matter because so much of it was created so early. Tons of hydrogen formed in the aftermath of the Big Bang, as countless floating electrons and protons melded together. While it only makes up a tiny fraction of Earth, in the grand scheme of things, hydrogen is far more prevalent.
Helium comes next in line behind hydrogen. Ironically, it is also one of the rarest elements on Earth, yet it is plentiful among the stars. In fact, old stars fuse hydrogen atoms into helium, which is why it is so pervasive.
Additionally, the Big Bang nucleosynthesis was the point at the beginning of the universe when many of these atoms formed. The abundance of lightweight elements like helium at this stage is one of the many reasons the Big Bang theory is well-supported.
Spectroscopy is the most common method for elemental analysis. It looks at the lights emanating from the cosmos, whether it be from galaxies, gas clouds or stars. Then, scientists can examine the composition and structure of that light to determine which elements it contains.
Everything in the universe is constantly changing, as it continually expands. While the composition of the elements may not change in extremes, there are always gradual shifts to observe. For example, hydrogen atoms eventually float together to form stars. The stars form helium, and their life cycle creates even more reactions to make new elements. They can get heavier and heavier, increasing the diversity and heft of elements across the universe.
While the crust feels enormous because it covers a lot of the planet, it only makes 1% of Earth’s volume. Within that are primarily oxygen, silicon, aluminum and iron, in that order, with oxygen comprising 46.1%. Other less-prominent elements include, but are not limited to:
No. Despite the famous quote that we are made of “star stuff,” human bodies do not contain the same elemental distribution of space. Most of the human body is oxygen, carbon and hydrogen, among other elements. The list of elements may have overlaps, but the amount of it is drastically different, supporting completely different processes.
Hydrogen is the foundation for all stars. It makes up their core until temperatures are high enough to cause the fusion of helium. This energy compounds, making the stars shine bright enough for us to see.
The current distribution of elements in the universe matches the conditions of the Big Bang. For hydrogen to be the primary constituent, the early universe would have had to be incredibly dense and hot. Otherwise, the light elements could not have formed. If the universe were full of heavy elements, it would be a completely different story.
The oldest stars in the universe could be responsible for some of the heavier elements known to humans. Researchers determined some elements in these ancient stars had atomic masses of over 260, making them heavier than any element on Earth. Neutron stars are responsible for the heaviest creations, including gold, platinum and uranium, especially when they merge or supernova.
Yes. The composition of elements throughout the universe is not uniform. However, the variances aren’t so drastic as to cause massive differences in what can form and exist in these parts of space. Places with newer stars are actively forming heavy elements because of nuclear fusion. Regions with dying or dead stars will look quite different. Even the edges of a galaxy look different because the presence of heavy metals is minimal.
Hopefully, you now understand more about the elements that make up our world and beyond. Knowing what the most abundant element in the universe is lays a foundation for how everything works in harmony, or discord, with each other. Without these critical building blocks, the Earth and everything else in the cosmos would not operate as they do.
While there are still many mysteries about the exact interactions and creations of some of these forces, humans have come a long way in understanding how and why these elements work the way they do. The future will only be more telling.
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