nucleosynthesis
noun
nu·cle·o·syn·the·sis
ˌnü-klē-ō-ˈsin(t)-thə-səs 
ˌnyü-
: the production of a chemical element from simpler nuclei (as of hydrogen) especially in a star
Examples of nucleosynthesis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Our earth contains a plethora of iron and rare earth metals that were created through stellar nucleosynthesis during billions of years of supernovae enrichment.
—
Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Those reactions then produce new atomic nuclei, a process known as nucleosynthesis.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024
Helium Helium’s origins go back to just a few minutes after the big bang, when hydrogen, helium and a bit of lithium were produced during what is called big bang nucleosynthesis.
—Sanjana Curtis, Scientific American, 4 July 2023
Driven by nucleosynthesis in stars, the three most abundant elements in the Universe after hydrogen and helium are oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen, Walker writes.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2021
Deuterium’s creation was the first step in Big Bang nucleosynthesis, a sequence of nuclear reactions that occurred when the cosmos was a super hot but rapidly cooling soup of protons and neutrons.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Nov. 2020
Since then, observations of the cosmic microwave background have become increasingly precise, putting pressure on physicists who study Big Bang nucleosynthesis to match that precision — and so allow a comparison of the two epochs.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Nov. 2020
Big Bang nucleosynthesis also enabled physicists to predict the number of different types of neutrinos, which helped drive cosmic expansion.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Nov. 2020
In it, the authors argued that nearly all of the chemical elements, from aluminum to zinc, are forged in the bodies of stars, a process now called stellar nucleosynthesis.
—Margalit Fox, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2020
Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Those reactions then produce new atomic nuclei, a process known as nucleosynthesis.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024
Helium Helium’s origins go back to just a few minutes after the big bang, when hydrogen, helium and a bit of lithium were produced during what is called big bang nucleosynthesis.
—Sanjana Curtis, Scientific American, 4 July 2023
Driven by nucleosynthesis in stars, the three most abundant elements in the Universe after hydrogen and helium are oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen, Walker writes.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2021
Deuterium’s creation was the first step in Big Bang nucleosynthesis, a sequence of nuclear reactions that occurred when the cosmos was a super hot but rapidly cooling soup of protons and neutrons.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Nov. 2020
Since then, observations of the cosmic microwave background have become increasingly precise, putting pressure on physicists who study Big Bang nucleosynthesis to match that precision — and so allow a comparison of the two epochs.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Nov. 2020
Big Bang nucleosynthesis also enabled physicists to predict the number of different types of neutrinos, which helped drive cosmic expansion.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Nov. 2020
In it, the authors argued that nearly all of the chemical elements, from aluminum to zinc, are forged in the bodies of stars, a process now called stellar nucleosynthesis.
—Margalit Fox, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nucleosynthesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin
First Known Use
1957, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near nucleosynthesis
Cite this Entry
“Nucleosynthesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nucleosynthesis. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nucleosynthesis
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