Final answer:
The entropy of a star decreases as it radiates energy, while the entropy of the surrounding space increases, leading to a net increase in the entropy of the universe overall.
Step-by-step explanation:
The entropy of a star decreases as it radiates energy into space. However, the entropy of the space into which the star radiates, which is at a temperature of about 3 K, increases. This happens because the high-energy radiation from the star becomes more diffuse as it spreads out into the universe. Overall, when considering the star and its surroundings, the entropy of the universe increases, in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics, which states that for any energy exchange, if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state. This means that the process of a star radiating energy into space results in a net increase in entropy.