The early Universe was dark and cold until a few atoms of hydrogen and helium got together. A star was born. With the birth of the first stars, a fantastic chain of events occurred that enabled a diversity of elements and chemistry. Anything was possible. Website: https://www.bighistoryproject.com
Fusion, which occurs when atomic nuclei combine to form new elements, is extremely powerful. All the stars in the universe, including the Sun, are nuclear furnaces fueled by fusion. Through fusion, stars are responsible for forming all the naturally occurring elements heavier than hydrogen and heliu
In this video from NOVA’s Sun Lab, explore nuclear fusion and the balance of energy in the Sun. Intense heat and pressure in the Sun’s core cause protons to fuse together to form helium atoms, a process that releases large amounts of energy. This nuclear reaction—the same process that takes place in
