Final answer:
Dying stars contribute to the formation of new stars by enriching the interstellar medium with heavy elements through nucleosynthesis, which are then used to form new stars in a process of cosmic recycling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dying stars play a crucial role in the formation of new stars through the process of cosmic recycling. As stars end their lifespan, particularly those with masses greater than about 8 solar masses, they undergo a series of nuclear reactions that build up elements as heavy as iron, a process known as nucleosynthesis.
Ultimately, when they can no longer sustain nuclear fusion, they explode in supernovae or eject mass, dispersing these heavier elements into interstellar space. This ejected material, now enriched with elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, is incorporated into the vast clouds of gas and dust from which new stars are born.
This progressive enrichment of the interstellar medium with heavy elements means that each subsequent generation of stars has a larger proportion of these elements. The Population I stars formed more recently with these heavier elements, while the older Population II stars contain fewer of them.
Interestingly, this contributes not only to star formation but also to the abundance of elements on planets like Earth and in the organisms that inhabit them, including humans. In summary, the death of stars contributes to star formation by providing the necessary enriched material for the birth of successive generations of stars.