Science/Stars

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Stars are massive spheres of plasma held together by gravity. They are most likely to be found in space.

Formation

A mass of dust and gas, likely the remnants left after a supernova, is not static. Particles will hit each other and so on, and larger clumps will form when they stick. Masses of dust and gas will begin to coalesce, and the protoplanetary disc will have a large central clump and many smaller clumps orbiting it.

The central clump continues to accrete material. If there is not enough material, it will never be able to ignite proton-proton fusion and will be left as a brown dwarf- hot, small, murky, and generally feeling sorry for itself.

If the star gets massive enough, the hydrogen within will begin to fuse. Through a reaction with many stages, hydrogen will become helium, and energy will be released. The star is extremely massive, and its gravity is constantly trying to push inwards, but once this fusion occurs, a 'radiation pressure' counteracts it. If the star contracts further, the pressure and temperature will rise and more radiation pressure will be exerted, causing the star to enter equilibrium.

Types

Evolution

Death

You can read about what happens when stars stop being able to fuse at all here.