Whose theory first predicted a hot, dense early phase that could make the light elements?
Quick Answer
George Gamow, Ralph Alpher, and Robert Herman developed the early nucleosynthesis theory in the 1940s. It explained how hydrogen, helium, and lithium could form in the early universe.
The Full Story
George Gamow and his collaborators Ralph Alpher and Robert Herman proposed that the early universe was hot enough for nuclear reactions to build the light elements. Their calculations in the 1940s showed how helium and small amounts of other light nuclei could be produced shortly after the Big Bang. This became known as Big Bang nucleosynthesis. The predicted cosmic aftermath also led them to anticipate the existence of a relic background radiation.
Key Facts
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