Hypernova explosion illustrated

Brian Cox explains how we can discover what stars are made of by analysing the light that arrives on earth from the stars. Elements are shown to emit certain colours when they are burnt.

Professor Brian Cox explains how stars die. Stars are only able to survive as long as they have a supply of hydrogen to burn. But all stars will eventually run out and then die.

Professor Brian Cox demonstrates how the chemical elements are made in the death throes of a dying star. All 92 elements on Earth, including those that make up our bodies, were formed at the heart of a star.