Solar energy source

Gamow suggested that hydrogen fusion was the source of the Sun's energy but could not supply the details. Almost a decade hence, much had been learned about nuclear reactions. Bethe used this knowledge and estimates of pressures and temperatures deep in the Sun's core to explain the mechanism by which hydrogen fusion could take place in the Sun's core.
 Hans Albrecht Bethe United States 1938 Solar energy source

Gamow suggested that hydrogen fusion was the source of the Sun's energy but could not supply the details. Almost a decade hence, much had been learned about nuclear reactions. Bethe used this knowledge and estimates of pressures and temperatures deep in the Sun's core to explain the mechanism by which hydrogen fusion could take place in the Sun's core.