[Timothy]

Timothy asked the Naked Scientists:

Scientists try to find out if there's anything smaller than the atom, but forget to answer how these atoms came to being?

What do you think?

[Soul Surfer]

Mice are interesting creatures and smaller than human beings. You can study mice and see yow they breed.  Funnily enough it is similar to the way  humans breed.  Ladybirds are much smaller than mice and are also interesting and they breed in very different ways to mice and humans.

This does not answer your question but serves to point out that it is important to study all aspects of science together.

As to most of the atoms that make up out planet.  Scientists have worked out how they came into being.  They were not formed during the initial development of our universe (sometimes called the big bang) but were formed in large stars by synthesising more complex atoms out if the simple atoms that formed to start with in a process that gave the stars energy to shine.  These atoms were then spilled out into space as part of a supernova explosion when the stars eventually became unstable.  These atoms re formed into stars and planets again millions of years later in a continual recycling process.

[Alan McDougall]

As to most of the atoms that make up out planet.  Scientists have worked out how they came into being.  They were not formed during the initial development of our universe (sometimes called the big bang) but were formed in large stars by synthesising more complex atoms out if the simple atoms that formed to start with in a process that gave the stars energy to shine.  These atoms were then spilled out into space as part of a supernova explosion when the stars eventually became unstable.  These atoms re formed into stars and planets again millions of years later in a continual recycling process

The atoms of Hydrogen, helium and a minute quantity existed in first generation protostars. It is correct that huge primordial great blue white  giant stars went supernovae and created all the other heavier elements in the process.

Our star is a yellow dwalf star. formed out of the death of the huge blue whites of the early universe and we indeed all are made up from star dust

[DoctorBeaver]

I think Alan missed out the words "of Lithium" after "minute quantity".

[Alan McDougall]

DocB,

I think Alan missed out the words "of Lithium" after "minute quantity

Thanks Doc my mind often moves to quick for my fingers "Lithium" is the missing word.
I think I am in internet jargon what is called fat fingered

Regards

Alan