In the life cycle of a massive star, which stage typically follows a nebula?

• A. Nebula
• B. White Dwarf
• C. Big Star
• D. Red Supergiant

Answer: (C)

Nebulae are the stellar nurseries where gas and dust come together under gravity to form a new star. As material collapses, it heats up and eventually ignites nuclear fusion, giving birth to a star. In a simple view of the life cycle for massive stars, this birth is represented by a big star—the star has formed and begun fusing hydrogen in its core. The more advanced stages, like red supergiants, occur later after the star has already formed and evolved on the main sequence, while white dwarfs are remnants that come at the end of a star’s life for lower-mass stars. So the immediate next stage after a nebula is the birth of a big star.