hese human-made elements are heavier in atomic terms than the naturally occurring elements and are typically generated by smashing atoms of natural elements into one another; they break down, or decay, rapidly into atoms of other elements. As examples of how science can remove some of the mystery from the universe: our understanding of atoms and elements means that no new natural, light elements are theoretically possible. We know of all the light elements that can possibly exist anywhere in the universe, a pretty amazing fact