Why Do Some Stars Explode and Others Don't?

Stars are like big fireballs in the sky. Some burn out quietly, but others have a huge explosion called a supernova. This happens when a star runs out of fuel and can no longer hold itself together, it’s like when a balloon pops after you let all the air out.

Not all stars are the same size or shape. Some stars, especially big ones, have more energy inside them. When they run out of fuel, their outer layers fall in and then burst out again with a big flash, like a firework going off in space!

After the explosion, pieces of the star float away into space and may become part of new stars or planets, just like how you might make new things from old scraps.