Which stage follows the interstellar nebula in the life cycle of a star?

In the life cycle of a star, the stage that follows the interstellar nebula is the protostar phase. A nebula is a large cloud of gas and dust in space, often the birthplace of stars. Within this nebula, gravitational forces may cause the gas and dust to collapse inward, leading to the formation of a protostar. During this phase, the material is not yet hot enough for nuclear fusion to occur; instead, it is increasingly compressed and heated as it gathers mass from the surrounding material.

As the protostar continues to develop, it eventually reaches the conditions necessary for nuclear fusion, transitioning into the main sequence stage, where it will spend the majority of its life burning hydrogen into helium. Understanding this progression is essential in studying stellar evolution, as each stage marks significant changes in temperature, pressure, and the processes taking place within the star.