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Astronomy

The Distribution of Elements in the Intergalactic Medium

Quick fact

The intergalactic medium holds about 60% of the universe's ordinary matter, yet it's so diffuse that a cubic meter contains only a few atoms—mostly hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of heavier elements like oxygen and iron.

Why this is interesting

Space between galaxies looks empty, but it's actually filled with gas that hides a record of how the universe evolved. Could this invisible matter tell us where the missing elements went?