This book is a natural follow-up and extension of the recent publication "The Big Bang: Theory, Assumptions & Problems", (Eds: O'Connell and Hale, 2012, Nova Publications). The authors of the present work deliver an account of current research on the subject of the astrophysical and nuclear physics aspects of the evolution of the universe. They present a general overview of both the theoretical and experimental knowledge of nuclear physics and astrophysics necessary for the understanding of stellar structure and evolution of stars and galaxies. This account is followed by a discussion of different types of reaction mechanism (transfer, capture and photonuclear) that is further illustrated by appropriate examples. Two- and three-body approaches are among the topics that are addressed and discussed here. The book contains a comprehensive overview of neutron star gamma ray bursts and of pulsar-wind nebulae. The final chapter is devoted to an account of the contributions of the scientific polymath George Gamow to physical cosmology and astrophysics, much of which was based on the foundational work of the pioneers of the physics of stellar structure and evolution, Arthur Eddington, Ralph Fowler, and Subramanian Chandrasekhar.