[samtheman]

The matter is spread as superheated oxygen and hydrogen in what looked like vast empty spaces between galaxies.

I can understand all the hydrogen... hydrogen is what was produced in the big bang.

But why such an abundance of oxygen over helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon and nitrogen?

What happened to all the helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon and nitrogen?

Why are they missing?

[jongaltsr]

What happened to all the helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon and nitrogen? Why are they missing?
You have to totally understand quantum theory - and I don't. That is something only a real egghead could understand. Even when they try to explain why, all you and I could ever do is just look at them with a blank look on our face and nod our head as if we knew what they were talking about.