There are possibly 80 billion galaxies in the universe, so that means that there are about 4Ã1068 Ã 8Ã1010 = 3Ã1079 hydrogen atoms in the observable universe. But this is definitely a lower limit calculation, and it ignores many possible atom sources such as intergalactic gas.
Bring the water to a boil and steam the peas for no more than three to four minutes. Steam the peas for less time if you plan to incorporate the peas into a heated dish. Remove the pot from the heat and plunge the steamed peas into a bath of ice water to stop the cooking process and to help the peas retain their color.
Bring to the boil and skim off any foam that rises to the surface. Turn the heat down, cover with a lid, and cook for about 1 hour. To make the pease pudding, put all the ingredients, except for the butter, into a saucepan with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Add just enough water to cover. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat, cover with a lid and simmer for 1Â½ hours, until the split peas are tender.