... which, in turn, resists the gravity (iirc?) i.e. supernovas are formed when this balance collapses and a series of fission/fusion reactions fail to stabalis

... which, in turn, resists the gravity (iirc?) i.e. supernovas are formed when this balance collapses and a series of fission/fusion reactions fail to stabalise the star. This helps create heavy elements, as the star explodes and some magnificent forces are unleashed, seeding the surrounding space with the necessary stuff for "further development" - later stage stars, planets, coments/asteroids and life. I highly recommend Stardust by John Gribbin for a thorough and accessible read on the subject of stars and their evolution.