we are the dust of stars

At least some fraction of us...

I was having a discussion with someone about how elements are forged - at least those in stars from several processes. Not wanting to get technical it should be noted that the carbon and oxygen in us comes from helium fusion while the nitrogen is from hydrogen fusion. Of course the hydrogen came directly from the big bang. Lots of other things get made in different ways. As an exercise to learn OmniGraffle (great product by the way) a bit better I offer a periodic chat of nucleosynthesis (punting with a various processes category)

Here the light elements come from

Hydrogen fusion occurs in all stars to make Helium

Helium fusion creates Carbon, Neon and Oxygen. Occurs in red giants that have run low on Hydrogen

C, Ne, O and Si fusion occurs in massive stars that are about to go supernova

e-process nucleosynthesis creates elements near Iron during supernovas

and the heavy elements from

s-process nucleosynthesis slow neutron capture in He fusing red giants

r-process nucleosynthesis rapid neutron capture in supernovas

various things like proton capture and other things that go bang in supernovas

Supernovas are reasonably important to the cosmic ecosystem.