The birth of a star

In space, there exists huge clouds of gas and dust. these clouds consist of hydrogen and helium, and are the birthplaces of the new stars. Gravity causes these clouds to shrink and become warmer. The body starts to collapse under its own gravity, and the temperature inside rises. After the temperature reaches several thousand degrees, the hydrogen molecules are ionized (electrons are stripped from them), and they become single protons. The contraction of the gas and the rise in temperature continue until the temperature of the star reaches about 10,000,000 degrees Celsius (18,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit). At this point, Nuclear fusion occurs in a process called proton-proton reaction. Briefly, proton-proton reaction is when four protons join together and two are converted into neutrons; an 4He nucleus is formed. During this process, some matter is lost and converted to energy as dictated by Einstein's equation. At this point, the star stops collapsing because the outward force of heat balances the gravity.