Final answer:
Nuclear fusion occurs in the core of the sun, where the conditions are right for hydrogen nuclei to combine into helium, thus releasing energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nuclear fusion is a process that powers the sun by converting hydrogen nuclei into helium, releasing a significant amount of energy. This process occurs under extremely high temperatures and pressures, which can only be found in the core of the sun. In the core, hydrogen atoms undergo a series of reactions, eventually forming helium and emitting energy, which then diffuses slowly to the sun's surface, with neutrinos escaping immediately.