Theories of stellar evolution

Theories of stellar evolution describe how stars form, change, and eventually die. Stars begin as clouds of gas and dust that collapse under gravity, becoming hot enough to spark nuclear fusion—the process that powers stars. Depending on their initial mass, stars follow different paths: smaller stars become stable and eventually cool into white dwarfs, while massive stars burn brightly, explode as supernovae, and may form neutron stars or black holes. These processes are driven by changes in the star's core and balance between gravity and pressure, shaping their lifecycle from birth to death over millions or billions of years.