Burbidge et al. (Burbidge, Fowler, and Hoyle)

Burbidge, Fowler, and Hoyle’s work was pivotal in understanding how elements are created in stars. They explained that the universe’s lighter elements formed through nuclear reactions in stellar interiors, while heavier elements result from processes like supernovae explosions. Their research connected atomic physics with astrophysics, demonstrating that stars serve as cosmic factories producing the elements essential for planets and life. This work significantly advanced our understanding of nucleosynthesis—the origin of elements—and showed how the universe’s chemical complexity evolved over time.