2 verifications about Stellar Nucleosynthesis Stellar Nucleosynthesis ×
“Stellar nucleosynthesis inside stars combines smaller nuclei into heavier elements.”
The statement accurately describes the core process of stellar nucleosynthesis in stars. Standard astrophysics sources explain that stars build heavier nuclei from lighter ones mainly through nuclear fusion. Important nuance remains: ordinary stellar fusion mostly makes elements up to iron, while many heavier elements require neutron-capture or explosive events.
“Red giants and red supergiants produce elements up to iron through nuclear fusion.”
The statement mixes two very different kinds of stars. Red supergiants can build up to iron in their cores through successive fusion stages, but ordinary red giants do not get that far and generally stop around carbon and oxygen. It also blurs the fact that much iron-peak material released into space is made during the supernova explosion, not just during the red-supergiant phase.