Final answer:
After a nebula, the next stage in a star's life cycle is the protostar phase, where gravitational collapse leads to the formation of a hot core that will begin nuclear fusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The next stage in the life cycle of a star after beginning as a nebula is to become a protostar. During this stage, the clouds of dust and gas in the nebula collapse under gravity, forming a hot core that will eventually initiate nuclear fusion. After the protostar phase, the star enters the main-sequence phase where it spends most of its life fusing hydrogen into helium, producing energy.