nuclear reaction

As nuclear reactions occur on the sun, it routinely expels material from its surface.

Other elements were formed later, by nuclear reactions inside stars or when stars exploded in events known as novae or supernovae.

Astronomers and astrophysicists could use this information to understand how neutron stars behave, study nuclear reactions between neutron stars and black holes colliding, and how heavy elements, including gold and uranium, are produced.

The Mallinckrodt plant processed the uranium that allowed scientists at the University of Chicago to produce the first man-made controlled nuclear reaction, paving the way for the first atomic bomb.

According to the theory, stars collapse when they run out of fuel to carry out the nuclear reactions that make them shine.