[JimRed]

Helium, for example, was first discovered in 1868 on a solar spectrum and only later found here on Earth.

And in sufficient quantities to use blowing up birthday balloons.

Helios is Greek for sun, right?

[Nateman]

Helium was discovered on the Sun first. It is named for Helios, the Greek word for Sun. The man who discovered it was given a lot of grief at first for his extraterrestrial find. Late on by crushing uranium bearing rocks tiny quantities were released . The great race to liquify Helium was often hampered by how difficult it was to obtain. Somewhat funny for an element that is the second most abundant element in the Universe.