Are Stars a Form of Life? A Metabolic Perspective One of the defining characteristics of life, as commonly understood in biological terms, is metabolism. Metabolism refers to the set of chemical processes that allow an entity to sustain itself, grow, and interact with its environment. In this context, the question arises: could stars, with their remarkable nuclear processes, be considered a form of life? The Metabolism of Stars Stars are born from vast clouds of gas and dust, primarily hydrogen. As they form, the immense pressure and temperature in their cores initiate nuclear fusion—a process where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium. This phase, known as the main sequence, dominates a star’s life and is analogous, in some sense, to an organism consuming a primary energy source to maintain itself. As stars exhaust their hydrogen, they begin to "metabolize" helium, producing heavier elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. These elements are essential for the ...
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