(7b) The large star cools down and expands to form a red supergiant star.
(8b) The supergiant then becomes unstable. It starts to convert helium into other heavier elements including carbon and iron.
(9b) The supergiant then contracts very quickly and explodes in a dramatic supernova. Gas and particles from the outer layers are thrown into space and form a nebula.
(10b) The object that remains after the supernova is incredibly dense. All the protons and electrons are squeezed together and form neutrons. This kind of star is known as a neutron star. If the sun collapsed into a neutron star it would only be a few kilometers in diameter. In some cases, when the initial star is even more massive a black hole will form. The gravitational force around a black hole is so strong that not even light can escape.
(11b) The story does not end here. The dust and gas thrown off by the supernova can form a nebula. Out of this cloud, a new star can start to form. Scientists believe that our sun was formed out of such a nebula.
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