Extreme universe recreated in the lab

Conditions in the vast universe can be quite extreme: Violent collisions scar the surfaces of planets. Nuclear reactions in bright stars generate tremendous amounts of energy. Gigantic explosions catapult matter far out into space. But how exactly do processes like these unfold? What do they tell us about the universe? To find out, researchers have performed sophisticated experiments and computer simulations that recreate violent cosmic conditions on a small scale in the lab.