This illustration shows the life of a massive star as nuclear fusion converts lighter elements into heavier ones. When fusion no longer generates enough pressure to counteract gravity, the star rapidly collapses into a black hole. Energy may be released during the collapse along the axis of rotation to form a gamma-ray burst. (Credit: Nicolle Rager Fuller/NSF)
"The death star": BBC documentary on the first stars in the universe and gamma-ray bursts.