Elements from the universe’s earliest stars gave birth to our sun

It is easy to regard the sun as humdrum, yet it contains elements blasted from the universe’s first stars as they died and is halfway through its 9-billion-year lifespan

By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

NASA/JPL-Caltech/GSFC

YOU should never stare directly at the sun. This isn’t a euphemism of some kind – you really shouldn’t because it will damage your eyes.

Of course, some among us may have stared at it anyway, perhaps in what we irresponsibly perceived to be a show of daring. But maybe you have been good and have never stared at it or only used special glasses to look, if you have ever witnessed a solar eclipse.

Either way, you have probably never noticed that the sun seemed different. Sure, clouds, fog or even the moon might get in the way, but, …