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How and where was water first created?

Water in the universe originated in clouds of gas after oxygen emerged from dying stars, say our readers

15 June 2022

Torichter/Getty Images

How and where was water first created?

 

Herman D’Hondt Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Water was first created in deep space, after hydrogen and oxygen first formed. All hydrogen atoms were created about 380,000 years after the big bang. Oxygen was created much later in the nuclear furnaces of stars, towards the end of their life cycles.

Stellar lives begin by converting hydrogen into helium. Then, as the hydrogen starts to run out, helium is converted into progressively heavier elements, including oxygen, all the way up to iron. Later, these elements are ejected from the stars.

In smaller stars,…

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