From Hydrogen to Humanity: Tracing Cosmic Chemistry with Roman Gerasimov

In this episode of Rust Belt Science, we journey into the deep cosmos with astronomer Roman Gerasimov to explore how ancient stars hold the secrets of the universe's past. Gerasimov, whose work focuses on the chemical composition of some of the oldest known stars, explains how these stellar relics act like time capsules—preserving the fingerprints of cosmic events from billions of years ago. We discuss what the early universe was made of, how heavier elements formed, and why the Milky Way’s outer halo might be the key to understanding galaxy formation. From brown dwarfs to stellar archaeology, this conversation shines light on how we piece together the story of everything—from hydrogen to humanity.