Scientists used lasers to mimic stellar core processes of nucleosynthesis.

科学家们利用激光模拟了恒星核心的核聚变。

Helium, in turn, fused to form heavier elements, like beryllium, carbon and oxygen in a process known as nucleosynthesis.

反来，氦在称为核合成的中融合形成更重的元，如铍、碳和氧。

When the star explodes, the gas gets so hot and is compressed so violently by the blast that it undergoes fusion, what astronomers call explosive nucleosynthesis: literally, creating heavy elements explosively.

当恒星爆炸时，气体会变得很热，并被猛缩，从而发生聚变，天文学家称之为爆炸核聚变：确切说，就是爆炸般产生重元。

Nucleosynthesis works in one of two ways. It can start with protons and neutrons (or something even smaller) and bind them into a nucleus. Or it can start with a few lighter nuclei and fuse them into a heavier one.

核合成有两种方式进行。一种是从质子和中子（或更小的粒子）开始，将它们结合成一个原子核。另一种则是从几个较轻的原子核出发，将它们融合成一个更重的原子核。