Probing the origins of the chemical elements*

In the last decade, a wealth of exciting experimental, theoretical, computational, and observational results in nuclear astrophysics have opened new lines of inquiry into the origin of the elements. The 2023 NSAC Long Range Plan identifies several open questions in nuclear astrophysics that will propel the field into the next decade, spanning from the lightest elements produced in the Big Bang to the heaviest (and perhaps even superheavy) elements generated in neutron star mergers. Perhaps surprisingly, critical to our understanding of nucleosynthesis and the evolution of stars are reactions between some of the most common elements, such as hydrogen, helium, and carbon. This talk will give an overview of these open questions in the origin of the elements, as well as the tools and techniques to address them.