That depends on how you look at it. Yes, eight out of ten of the most common elements in our galaxies have even atomic numbers. On the other hand, there's still more hydrogen in our galaxy (and probably in the universe) than all other elements combined, so if you picked an atom at random, it's most likely to have an odd atomic number.
I came SO close to responding to my own post for a second time just to mention Hydrogen and to say that the numbers are biased because it's the starting point elementally; that every other element in the universe was once Hydrogen in a star. I knew someone would say something if I didn't. :P
P.S. Still waiting for someone to say that Platinum has an even number, yet is roughly as rare as Gold.
Something in Orion, I guess. I used to use The Plough to orient myself in the sky but it's always Orion now. I find myself looking at Betelgeuse a lot, wondering whether it's already gone supernova. Wondering whether I'm looking at something already spectacularly dead.
I think about how the Orion I see is how Orion looked during the Middle Ages because that's when the light left most of the stars.
Plus Orion contains some of the brightest stars in the sky. And then there's Orion's knack of "pointing" to other stars, like Aldebaran in Taurus with its Star Wars connotations of home.
And I like how Aldebaran follows the Pleiades around. The Pleiades are only up there because old Orion fancied his chances with the seven sisters and Zeus had to turn them into stars to escape him. And yet there he is, like Aldebaran (meaning "the pursuer"), still following those girls around the sky.
I choose Aldebaran. I like him. He's a hopeless old cuffer, but I do like him.
I am certain that many of the stars we see are already spectacularly dead. But what does that mean? I saw a picture the other day that compared the death of a star to the birth of a cell. They look oddly similar. I love this about science.
I find it very fitting that you like the star whose mythology is all about chasing women. But you forgot about the second star on your right and straight on till morning. I think part of you is comfortable there as well.
What is your favorite element off of the periodic table?
↑ View this comment's parent
← View full post
That depends on how you look at it. Yes, eight out of ten of the most common elements in our galaxies have even atomic numbers. On the other hand, there's still more hydrogen in our galaxy (and probably in the universe) than all other elements combined, so if you picked an atom at random, it's most likely to have an odd atomic number.
It works ok for elements found on Earth, though.
--
dappled
11 years ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
0
0
I came SO close to responding to my own post for a second time just to mention Hydrogen and to say that the numbers are biased because it's the starting point elementally; that every other element in the universe was once Hydrogen in a star. I knew someone would say something if I didn't. :P
P.S. Still waiting for someone to say that Platinum has an even number, yet is roughly as rare as Gold.
--
howaminotmyself
11 years ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
0
0
Take a deep breath, slowly now. You don't want to hyperventilate.
Wait, do you mean to say we're all stardust?
--
dappled
11 years ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
1
1
Every single atom of your body was made inside a star (and most likely not the sun). We all come from the stars!
Can I start hyperventilating again now? Please? :D
--
howaminotmyself
11 years ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
0
0
Hehe, I kind of already knew that. Don't ask me how, just sounds logical to me. :P
But please, tell me more about the universe! What star feels like "home" to you?
--
dappled
11 years ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
0
0
Something in Orion, I guess. I used to use The Plough to orient myself in the sky but it's always Orion now. I find myself looking at Betelgeuse a lot, wondering whether it's already gone supernova. Wondering whether I'm looking at something already spectacularly dead.
I think about how the Orion I see is how Orion looked during the Middle Ages because that's when the light left most of the stars.
Plus Orion contains some of the brightest stars in the sky. And then there's Orion's knack of "pointing" to other stars, like Aldebaran in Taurus with its Star Wars connotations of home.
And I like how Aldebaran follows the Pleiades around. The Pleiades are only up there because old Orion fancied his chances with the seven sisters and Zeus had to turn them into stars to escape him. And yet there he is, like Aldebaran (meaning "the pursuer"), still following those girls around the sky.
I choose Aldebaran. I like him. He's a hopeless old cuffer, but I do like him.
--
howaminotmyself
11 years ago
|
pl
Comment Hidden (
show
)
Report
0
0
I am certain that many of the stars we see are already spectacularly dead. But what does that mean? I saw a picture the other day that compared the death of a star to the birth of a cell. They look oddly similar. I love this about science.
I find it very fitting that you like the star whose mythology is all about chasing women. But you forgot about the second star on your right and straight on till morning. I think part of you is comfortable there as well.