The 'slow' neutron capture process that creates about half of the elements heavier than iron in the universe, occurring in the interiors of evolved stars like red giants where neutron densities are relatively low.
From 'slow' neutron capture process, distinguished from the 'rapid' (r-process). The terminology was established by Burbidge, Burbidge, Fowler, and Hoyle in their landmark 1957 paper on stellar nucleosynthesis.
The s-process is like a cosmic assembly line that builds heavy elements atom by atom over thousands of years! It's responsible for creating about half the elements heavier than iron, including much of the silver, tin, and barium in the universe.
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