Made Of

Everything is made of something.

← What it takes

What it leads to →

3 ways to make it

Made from

iron orelimestonecoke

Made with

blast furnace

3steps from the big bang

115things can go into it

steel

MaterialSubstance

Iron with a pinch of carbon. The world makes almost two billion tonnes a year, and a large share is recycled steel.

First appearedc. 1,800 BCE

Goes into

steelargon fluoride laserchainCO2 laserelectric motorenginegearnailscrew

Iron with a pinch of carbon. The world makes almost two billion tonnes a year, and a large share is recycled steel.

From the big bang to steel

The most direct chain from the start of the universe, following what things are made from and, for living things, what they evolved from. Each step shows when it first appeared.

big bang13.8 bn yrs ago

Hehelium13.8 bn yrs ago

CO2 laser1964

steelc. 1,800 BCE