In order to answer these important and profound questions, the group of astronomers utilized the "fossil" records left as relics imprinted by stars inside spectra of remote, dead galaxies--thus providing precious clues concerning their metal content, age, and element abundances. All atomic elements that happen to be heavier than hydrogen and helium are termed metals within the jargon of astronomers. Hydrogen (the lightest and the majority abundant atomic element inside Universe) and helium were both born inside Big Bang fireball (Big Bang nucleosynthesis), while the rest of the, heavier atomic elements listed from the familiar Periodic Table were manufactured within the nuclear-fusing fires on the stars--or, alternatively, from the incandescent explosive rage of these supernovae deaths (stellar nucleosynthesis). similar web page