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In article <35558DA5.3AF6@tref.nl> blue.sky@tref.nl writes:
>
>How can there be fire (and explosions) on the sun if there is no AIR in
>space?

 There have been lots of good answers, but I will emphasize the part 
 about "what do you mean by _fire_?"  What is fire?  

 Familiarly, it is the chemical combination of two atoms or molecules 
 that releases energy -- usually in a way that is self-sustaining. 
 Usually this is limited to oxidation reactions.  We also tend to use 
 the term in reference to the visible and infrared emissions that are 
 associated with combustion. 

 One could generalize the idea of "burning" to include any exothermic 
 reaction -- any reaction that releases energy, particularly if it is 
 self-sustaining.  Such reactions will also be accompanied by various 
 emissions of light and heat associated with the energy release or the 
 excitation of nearby material by the energy released.  

 In that most general sense, the sun "burns" hydrogen nuclei by 
 fusion reactions that turn them into hydrogen nuclei with a large 
 release of energy.  That energy is absorbed and re-emitted within 
 the sun, and what we see as "fire" is the outer manifestation of 
 the processes going on within. 

-- 
 James A. Carr   <jac@scri.fsu.edu>     | Commercial e-mail is _NOT_ 
    http://www.scri.fsu.edu/~jac/       | desired to this or any address 
 Supercomputer Computations Res. Inst.  | that resolves to my account 
 Florida State, Tallahassee FL 32306    | for any reason at any time.