The term Ylem comes from the ancient Greek term for the primordial substance from which the world was created. The bottle was donated to NASM in 2001 by Louise and Ralph Alpher.

What language is YLEM?

History and Etymology for ylem

Middle English, from Middle French ilem, probably from Medieval Latin hylem, accusative of hyle matter, from Latin, from Greek hylē

What is primordial substances?

The word means something along the lines of "primordial substance from which all matter is formed" (that in ancient mythology of many different cultures was called the cosmic egg) and ultimately derives from the Greek ὕλη (hūlē, hȳlē), "matter", probably through an accusative singular form in Latin hylen, hylem.