starstuff

Alternative forms

• star-stuff, star stuff

Etymology

From star +‎ stuff. Compare Dutch sterrenstof (“stardust”), German Sternenstoff (“star matter”).

Noun

starstuff (uncountable)

1. The material composition of stars; matter originated from stars; starmatter.
   • 2004, Thom Hartmann, The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight:

     Not only is the matter around you star-stuff, but you are, too. There is not a single cell in your body that is not made of matter formed in the heart, and then the death, of a distant and now-extinct star.

   • 2009, Michael Dowd, Thank God for Evolution:

     " […] We have begun to contemplate our origins—starstuff pondering the stars!”

   • 2009, David Waite Yohn, Energy: Lifestyle For Today:

     Energy takes starstuff and turns it into a horse. Dissolves the horse back into stardust and uses the same starstuff to grow a tree.

   • 2010, Dave Barry, Peter and the Sword of Mercy:

     “The Cache,” said Leonard. “A large quantity of starstuff, hidden here in London centuries ago.” “Hidden by whom?” “By the original Starcatchers,” said Leonard.

   • 2011, K. F. Long, Deep Space Propulsion: A Roadmap to Interstellar Flight:

     Others have discussed this idea, such as the physicist Greg Matloff, who states: In one of his books, the late Carl Sagan states that we are all 'starstuff,' since the atoms that compose us were mostly generated in the explosive demise of a super giant star.

   • 2017, Stephen Baxter, Xeelee: Vengeance:

     They were just a third of the solar radius out from the centre now, with nearly five hundred thousand kilometres of starstuff over their heads.