The Universe
The universe contains billions of galaxies, each with billions of stars.
The universe contains billions of galaxies, each with billions of stars.
The Sun is a medium-sized star at the center of our solar system.
Stars are massive spheres of hot gas powered by nuclear fusion.
Stars are born inside clouds of gas and dust called nebulae.
Gravity pulls the gas together, heating it up.
Hydrogen fusion begins. The star is stable.
The star expands as it runs out of fuel.
The star explodes, spreading elements across space.
Supernovae create the heavy elements that make up planets, life, and everything around us.
For stars like our Sun, the core becomes a dense white dwarf after the outer layers are ejected.
Massive stars collapse into incredibly dense neutron stars, with intense magnetic fields.
The most massive stars collapse into black holes, where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape.
From stardust to stars, and back again
Every atom in your body was forged in the heart of a star. The universe recycles matter in an endless cosmic dance.