Final answer:
Higher than expected helium abundance in the universe supports the Big Bang theory, indicating that helium and other elements were produced during the first few minutes after the Big Bang, rather than solely by fusion processes in stars.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that the Big Bang produced all material in the universe is highly supported by the abundance of helium in the cosmos. During the Big Bang, conditions were ripe for the creation of helium, and the synthesis of this element occurred rapidly within the first few minutes. The fact that there is too much helium in the universe to be solely the product of stellar processes is a compelling argument for the Big Bang theory. Additionally, even the oldest stars and most distant galaxies contain helium, which suggests that it was not created in stars but was present from the very beginning of the universe. Fusion reactions within stars convert hydrogen to helium, contributing to the interstellar medium, but the initial helium abundance necessitates a pre-stellar origin, pointing back to the Big Bang.
It is significant that the interstellar medium, composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, is continually supplemented and recycled through processes such as accretion from extragalactic space, star formation, and supernova explosions. However, the production of helium and heavier elements within stars cannot account for the overall helium abundance observed, which is consistent with Big Bang nucleosynthesis. Therefore, this evidence best supports the hypothesis that the Big Bang is responsible for generating all basic materials that exist in the universe, with further contributions from stellar processes throughout cosmic history.