Estamos hechos de estrellas

Gold and most elements were formed in space, not on Earth. Initially, only simple elements like hydrogen and helium existed. Through nucleosynthesis, stars act as factories, creating new elements via nuclear fusion. This process forms elements up to iron, which are exothermic. Elements heavier than iron require supernova nucleosynthesis, as they are endothermic. When stars die, they release energy, allowing the formation of these heavy elements, which are then dispersed into space. Almost all atoms, including those in our bodies, originated from stars and supernovae.

How are elements heavier than iron formed?

What happens to a star when it stops generating energy by nuclear fusion?