What scientific process describes the continuous creation of heavier elements from lighter ones in a star's stellar engine?
Answer
Stellar nucleosynthesis
Stellar nucleosynthesis is the scientific term defining the core process within a star, the stellar engine, where lighter atomic nuclei are fused together to create heavier elements. This process begins with the universe's most abundant components, hydrogen and helium. The energy released through this continuous creation mechanism is what generates the outward thermal pressure necessary to counteract the star's immense self-gravity, allowing the star to shine across billions of years. When this process shifts to heavier elements, the energy yields change, and the durations of the burning stages dramatically decrease.
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