The process of a star forming inside a cloud of gas and dust is called stellar nucleation.

Here's a breakdown:

* Nebula: The cloud of gas and dust is called a nebula.

* Gravity: Gravity causes the gas and dust to clump together.

* Core Formation: As the clump gets denser, the core heats up.

* Nuclear Fusion: At a certain temperature and pressure, nuclear fusion begins in the core, which releases enormous amounts of energy, leading to the birth of a star.

So, the entire process from the initial cloud to the birth of the star is often referred to as stellar nucleation.