Stars Are Born and Die Every Day — Here’s How They Evolve in Space

Learn how different types of stars form, live, explode, and then form again.

By Joshua Rapp Learn
Feb 25, 2025 2:00 PM
The Butterfly Nebula, dying star nebula, Elements of this image furnished by NASA.
The Butterfly Nebula (dying star nebula). Elements of this image furnished by NASA. (Credit: Allexxandar/Shutterstock)

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Our sun may be responsible for life on Earth, but stars across the galaxy are also responsible for creating a plethora of elements on the period table. These are some of the building blocks of life as well as the basic material that forms planets and other astral bodies.

But how do stars form, evolve, and eventually die?

The answer depends in part on the size of the star, and even then, the outcome may differ based on several factors.

How are Stars Formed?

Most stars form in a similar way. Clouds of dust and gas floating in space called nebulae eventually begin to coalesce into clumps. The larger of these elements start to have stronger gravitational pulls, attracting more and more material. These clumps will then collapse as the density increases, compacting into ever denser cores.

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