1.   In this context, a neutron star is effectively a single atomic nucleus.

2.   Quarks bind together to make up larger particles such as the protons and neutrons found in the atomic nucleus.

3.   An ordinary atomic nucleus contains positively charged protons, while its antimatter counterpart contains negatively charged anti-protons.

4.   Atomic nuclei repel each other, and it takes a lot of energy to force them to fuse.

5.   A few, however, will collide with atomic nuclei in the plates, generating a shower of electrically charged particles to trigger a flash of light.

6.   A major problem was that when two atomic nuclei collide, they often combine energies to such high levels that the new composite nucleus instantly shakes itself apart.

7.   Cosmic rays consist of photons of gamma rays and of particles of various kinds, including entire atomic nuclei.

8.   Fermions include such entities as quarks, the building blocks of protons and neutrons, which in turn are the building blocks of atomic nuclei.

9.   Fermions, named for the late Italian-American physicist Enrico Fermi, include the quarks that make up nuclear particles, and the electrons that orbit atomic nuclei.

10.   Finally, these atomic nuclei captured electrons to form atoms.