[inquest]

OK, here's a question. If heavy elements were created in the cores of first-generation stars, and this star's been around for the entire time, wouldn't it have the same concentration of heavy elements as the rest of the universe? I mean, it's not like it's been frozen in time all this time.

[longshadow]

If heavy elements were created in the cores of first-generation stars, and this star's been around for the entire time, wouldn't it have the same concentration of heavy elements as the rest of the universe?

Good question; according to the models for stellar energy production, a star such as the one in this article evolves very slowly compared to larger stars, and the production of haevier elements always occurs at the end of the star's life cycle, after its hydrogen fuel is used up. This star is still in its hydrogen burning phase, and has not had an opportunity to produce heavier nuclei than helium.

Additionally, at 0.8 solar masses, it might not be massive enough to EVER get hot enough to initiate helium fusion, and hence will never produce anything heavier than helium.

Lastly, truly heavy nuclei (>Fe) are never produced in normal stellar reactions; they are produced in supernovae.