The Rest Is Science Are You REALLY Made Of Stars?
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Dec 16, 2025 Discover how cosmic rays—those invisible, high-energy particles from deep space—can disrupt everything from pacemakers to video game records. Delve into the fascinating story of a cosmic-ray glitch that altered a Super Mario 64 speedrun attempt. Explore the origins of beryllium and boron and their cosmic connections. Plus, uncover the mysteries of carbon-14 and how these celestial phenomena influence our biology. The universe's randomness intertwines with our most precise achievements, showing that chance plays a surprising role in our lives.
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We Are Made By Stars
- Most of the atoms in our bodies formed long before Earth and were recycled through stars and supernovae.
- Saying we are "made by stars" captures that atoms were forged elsewhere and later rearranged into life.
Boron And Beryllium Come From Spallation
- Beryllium and boron are not forged inside stars via standard nucleosynthesis.
- They form primarily through cosmic ray spallation when high-energy particles break apart heavier nuclei.
Cosmic Rays Create Atmospheric Showers
- Cosmic rays are high-energy particles (protons, nuclei) constantly bombarding Earth and producing particle showers in the atmosphere.
- Those showers create muons and other particles that reach the surface and provided early evidence for time dilation.