Deuterium in the Universe

All the heavy hydrogen in space may have been made in the first 15 minutes after the "big bang". Observations leading to estimates of its abundance thus provide evidence on conditions at that time

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

00

Jay M. Pasachoff is an astronomer at Williams College. He is chair of the Working Group on Solar Eclipses of the International Astronomical Union. His work is funded by the National Geographic Society and the National Science Foundation.

More by Jay M. Pasachoff
Scientific American Magazine Vol 230 Issue 5This article was published with the title “Deuterium in the Universe” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 230 No. 5 (), p. 108
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0574-108

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe