Recent content by doccojohn

Thanks! That was my guess but my astrophysics knowledge is clearly rudimentary. I'm doing volunteer work as a docent in the local planetarium, and I'd rather not be stumped by a 9th-grader's question. I like to point out to kids that they are made of stardust. It tends to intrigue them...

Sorry if this question is too elementary (no pun intended) for this forum. If stellar fusion of iron takes more energy than it produces, how are heaver elements formed? Cheers, JP