nucleosynthesis pathways

Nucleosynthesis pathways describe how different elements and their isotopes are formed in the universe. Starts in the Big Bang with the creation of hydrogen and helium. Inside stars, nuclear reactions fuse these nuclei into heavier elements like carbon, oxygen, and iron through processes such as fusion and neutron capture. When massive stars explode as supernovae, they release enough energy to create and spread even heavier elements. These pathways involve various fusion reactions, neutron captures, and radioactive decays, collectively building the diverse chemical elements that make up planets, stars, and life itself.