Baryonic Matter, where the elements are made out of protons, neutrons, and electrons, is a small part of the content of the universe. The cosmological models support the idea that the total visible mass in the form of stars, planets, satellites, living beings, etc. (it's visible baryonic matter) plus the mass contributed by the energy, is only 4.6%. The rest of the mass is considered to be in the form of dark matter (23%) and dark energy (72.4%). However, there is no direct evidence for these forms of matter and energy are a subject of research. Several experiments are being done by many researchers around the globe.
The matter found in the stars and interstellar clouds is in the form of atoms or ions. In some regions, such as the high densities inside the white dwarfs and neutron stars, the matter may be found in degenerate forms. In the entire known universe, hydrogen is found to be the most abundant element, however, helium is the second most and oxygen (third), carbon (fourth). Nuclear reactions are responsible for the abundance of various elements. The answer to the question, of how carbon, iron, and other heavy elements are found inside the earth, maybe that the Earth is made out of the recycled material thrown out during the death of stars.
Matters of the universe matters.
1. Baryonic Matter: It is the matter which we see around us and is composed of Protons, Electrons, and Neutrons etc.
2. Dark Matter: Several kinds of experiments are nowadays involved in the detection of a more accepted particle candidate of dark matter: WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles). These experiments are using several kinds of techniques: Superheated Emulsion Detectors, Cryogenic Semiconductors, Scintillations materials like NaI or noble gas chambers, are reporting very interesting results.
3. Dark Energy: Dark energy is the name given to the mysterious force that's causing the rate of expansion of our universe to accelerate over time, rather than slow down. that's contrary to what one might expect from a universe that began in the Big Bang. Astronomers in the 20th century learned that the universe is expanding.
Happy Learning.
