What are we made of, where do we come from? The question of evolution of structures in the Universe is perhaps the central question of astronomy. After all, astronomers are ""historians of the Universe"". Gamma ray astronomy will help us to understand the nature of heavy chemical elements. Nature contains over 100 different types of atoms known as elements such as iron, oxygen or hydrogen. The human body is made of elements like calcium, which builds our bones or iron contained in our blood. But how did they come into being?
This programme outlines how Integral, ESA's Gamma Ray Observatory launched on the 17 October 2002, will help us answer questions about the origin of elements found on earth.
This programme carries split track audio with English commentary and is complimented by a B-Roll with clean international sound.

HEAVY CHEMICAL ELEMENTS
00:00
What are we made of, where do we come from? The question of evolution of structures in the Universe is perhaps the central question of astronomy. After all, astronomers are ""historians of the Universe"". Gamma ray astronomy will help us to understand the nature of heavy chemical elements. Nature contains over 100 different types of atoms known as elements such as iron, oxygen or hydrogen. The human body is made of elements like calcium, which builds our bones or iron contained in our blood. But how did they come into being?
00:35
We know that the early Universe contained only the lightest elements: hydrogen and helium. All heavier elements were synthesized from these two light ones, and the only place we know this can happen is in the centres of stars. Subsequently, these elements were dispersed into the interstellar medium via supernova explosions. When a massive star has used up all its fuel, it ends in a big supernova explosion. The matter expelled is the raw materia