What is the fate of red giants?

What happens to red giants at the end of their life cycle?

At the end of their life cycle, red giants can shed their outer layers, creating a planetary nebula, while the core collapses.

What is left after a red giant sheds its layers?

What remains is a hot core, which can become a white dwarf, eventually cooling down over billions of years.

Can red giants explode?

Yes, if a red giant is massive enough, it can undergo a supernova explosion instead of becoming a white dwarf.

How long do red giants typically last?

Red giants can last for a few million to a few hundred million years, depending on their mass.

What role do red giants play in the universe?

Red giants contribute to the chemical enrichment of the universe by dispersing elements into space when they shed their layers.