Stellar Evolution

Stellar evolution is the theoretical life cycle of a star according to evolutionary scientists.^[1] It encompasses all aspects of development to the beginnings of a protostar in a nebula to the emergence of the star on the main sequence to the final stages of its life as a red giant before it degenerates into a white dwarf, neutron star or black hole.

Issues with the evolutionary picture[edit]

However, creationists have shown there are many flaws with this.^[2][3] For example, while some processes such as supernovae have been observed, star formation itself has not. Such claims often make many assumptions such as assuming any surrounding disk of material was involved in the formation process as well as assuming the age is millions of years.^[3] In some cases, evolutionary scientists must assume processes are at work to explain some discrepancy between theory and observation. An example of this gas shielding dust from a star's light, otherwise the dust would become too hot and vaporize.^[3]

Issues also exist for stars larger than around 20 solar masses.^[4] These massive stars would produce such as strong stellar wind that it would be extraordinarily difficult for them to gain more mass and become heavier. However the largest star, named R136a1, is known to be 265 times heavier than the Sun.^[5]

The formation of the very first stars (called Population III) also have huge problems. It is normally suggested that star formation is triggered by a disturbance of some sort, such as a supernova.^[6] However since these are supposed to be the first stars, there can't be a supernova to cause a disturbance. Furthermore there were no dust grains or heavy molecules to aid with cooling and condensing of large clouds of gas.^[7] In short, these Population III stars could not form by any of the claimed mechanisms for star formations today as these all require things that wouldn't have existed.

Other examples include the production of elements. The Big Bang couldn't produce any element heavier than lithium, so this must be explained as being produced by star.^[2] However there is no observational evidence for this and no eyewitness account either.

References[edit]