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Learn about How Stars Work — Simply Explained
Stars are massive balls of hot gas powered by nuclear fusion — the process of smashing hydrogen atoms together to form helium, releasing enormous energy. Our Sun fuses about 600 million tons of hydrogen every second. A star’s mass determines its color, temperature, lifespan, and ultimate fate.
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How long do stars live?+
It depends on their mass. Small red dwarfs can burn for trillions of years. Our Sun will last about 10 billion years. Massive blue stars burn bright but die young — sometimes in just a few million years.
What happens when a star dies?+
Small to medium stars expand into red giants, then shed their outer layers and become white dwarfs. Massive stars explode as supernovae, leaving behind neutron stars or black holes.
Are we really made of star stuff?+
Yes! Every element heavier than hydrogen and helium — the carbon in your cells, the iron in your blood, the calcium in your bones — was forged inside ancient stars that exploded billions of years ago.
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