@property --glow-one{syntax:'<color>';inherits:true;initial-value:#c08039}
@property --glow-two{syntax:'<color>';inherits:true;initial-value:#427fbf}
@property --glow-three{syntax:'<color>';inherits:true;initial-value:#7947a5}
:root{color-scheme:dark;--paper:#eeeade;--muted:#e0e5e5;--line:#ffffff25;--accent:#d6b877;background:#071219;color:var(--paper);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif}*{box-sizing:border-box}html{scroll-behavior:smooth}body{margin:0;background:transparent;isolation:isolate}a{color:inherit;text-decoration:none}a:focus-visible,button:focus-visible{outline:2px solid #f1ce80;outline-offset:5px}button{font:inherit;color:inherit;background:transparent;border:1px solid var(--line);cursor:pointer;min-height:44px}button,a{-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent}[hidden]{display:none!important}.skip{position:fixed;top:-100px;left:20px;background:#071219;padding:14px;z-index:10}.skip:focus{top:15px}.site-header{margin:0 5%;height:90px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:24px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}.brand{font-size:17px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.06em;white-space:nowrap}.brand span{font-size:31px;color:var(--accent);vertical-align:middle;margin-right:10px}.site-header nav{display:flex;gap:24px;font-size:14px}.site-header nav a{padding:12px 0}.site-header nav [aria-current]{border-bottom:1px solid var(--paper)}.page-tools{margin:22px 5% 0;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:16px;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.13em;color:var(--muted)}.page-tools button{font-size:13px;letter-spacing:0;border-radius:30px;padding:10px 17px}main{width:90%;max-width:1500px;margin:auto}h1,h2,h3{font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:-.035em;margin:0;line-height:1.15}h1{font-size:clamp(44px,5.3vw,88px)}h2{font-size:clamp(35px,4.1vw,68px)}h3{font-size:28px}em{color:#d5dfdb;font-weight:400}.eyebrow{font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.15em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.8;margin:0 0 18px;color:var(--muted)}figure{margin:0}img{display:block;max-width:100%;height:auto}figcaption{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;gap:20px;font-size:13px;line-height:1.75;color:var(--muted);margin-top:15px;overflow-wrap:anywhere}figcaption>a{white-space:nowrap;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);align-self:start}section{scroll-margin-top:25px}.opening{padding:34px 0 40px}.opening-copy{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.5fr 1fr;align-items:end;gap:40px;margin-bottom:27px}.intro{font-size:18px;line-height:1.8;margin:0 0 5px;max-width:380px;justify-self:end}.hero img{width:100%;max-height:45vh;object-fit:contain}.hero{width:max-content;max-width:100%;margin:auto}.hero img{width:auto}.prose{font-size:18px;line-height:1.85}.prose p{margin:0 0 22px}.prose h2{margin-bottom:28px}.prose h3{margin:28px 0 16px}.prose a{font-size:14px;line-height:1.8}.source-link,.original-link{border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);display:inline-block;padding-bottom:6px}.original-link{font-size:13px;margin-top:12px}.lede{max-width:820px;margin:32px auto 0}.section-head{margin-bottom:34px}.birth{border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding:46px 0}.birth-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:7%;align-items:start}.pillars{max-width:580px}.annotated-image{position:relative}.annotated-image img{width:100%;height:auto}.hotspot{position:absolute;left:var(--x);top:var(--y);transform:translate(-50%,-50%);width:44px;height:44px;border:1px solid #eeeadeab;border-radius:50%;background:#071219b3;font-size:13px;box-shadow:0 0 0 5px #0712192b;display:none}.js-ready .hotspot{display:block}.hotspot[aria-expanded=true]{background:#e2c384;color:#071219;border-color:#e2c384}.image-note{margin:0 0 24px;border-left:2px solid var(--accent);padding:16px 22px;min-height:190px;background:linear-gradient(90deg,#ffffff05,transparent)}.image-note h3{margin:0 0 14px}.image-note p{font-size:16px;line-height:1.75;margin:0}.image-note .eyebrow{font-size:11px}.life{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.1fr .9fr;align-items:center;gap:8%;padding:52px 0;border-top:1px solid var(--line)}.sun{max-width:430px;justify-self:center}.sun img{width:100%}.evolution{padding:52px 0;border-top:1px solid var(--line)}.diagram-intro{max-width:850px}.branch-controls{display:flex;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:28px 0 30px}.branch-controls button{padding:10px 18px;border-radius:28px;font-size:14px}.branch-controls button[aria-pressed=true]{background:#ffffff0c;border-color:var(--accent);color:#f2d497}.life-diagram{max-width:1100px;margin:auto;--progress:1}.shared-flow{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);position:relative;height:125px}.shared-flow svg{position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%}.track{stroke:#ffffff30;stroke-width:1.5;fill:none;vector-effect:non-scaling-stroke}.lit{stroke:#e1c990;stroke-width:.35;fill:none;stroke-dasharray:1;stroke-dashoffset:0}.js-ready .lit{stroke-dashoffset:1}.node{position:relative;text-align:center;display:flex;align-items:center;flex-direction:column;justify-content:start;gap:9px}.node-dot{width:10px;height:10px;border:1px solid #e3c98a;background:#071219;border-radius:50%;margin-top:15px;box-shadow:0 0 14px #d6b87744}.node-index{font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.14em;color:var(--muted)}.node h3{font-size:clamp(23px,2.2vw,32px);line-height:1.2}.fork{position:relative;height:95px}.fork svg{height:100%;width:100%;display:block}.fork span{position:absolute;left:0;top:55px;color:var(--muted);font-size:12px}.branches{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:40px}.branch{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:2px;padding:22px 30px 15px;transition:border-color 350ms,background-color 350ms}.branch>.eyebrow{text-align:center;color:#d9c392}.branch.massive>.eyebrow{color:#a5cbd7}.branch-flow{position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-rows:repeat(3,100px)}.branch-flow svg{position:absolute;left:0;top:0;width:100%;height:100%}.branch-flow .node{flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;align-items:center;gap:12px}.branch-flow .node h3{padding:7px 8px;background:#0c1920;border-radius:3px}.branch-flow .node-dot{margin-top:0;position:absolute;top:6px;left:calc(50% - 5px)}.massive .lit{stroke:#a9d5df}.massive .node-dot{border-color:#a9d5df;box-shadow:0 0 14px #90c4d344}.branch-copy{font-size:14px;line-height:1.75;color:var(--muted);text-align:center;margin:15px 0 0}.life-diagram[data-selection=sunlike] .sunlike{border-color:#e1c990;background:#e1c99008}.life-diagram[data-selection=massive] .massive{border-color:#a9d5df;background:#a9d5df08}.diagram-credit{font-size:13px;line-height:1.85;color:var(--muted);margin:28px 0 0;max-width:850px}.diagram-credit a{border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}.endings{padding:52px 0;border-top:1px solid var(--line)}.ending-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:6%}.ending figure{margin-bottom:32px}.ending figure img{width:100%;height:clamp(280px,32vw,430px);object-fit:contain}.ending-title{font-size:clamp(31px,3vw,45px)!important;margin:0 0 22px!important}.ending figcaption{min-height:72px}.closing{border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding:50px 0 70px}.closing .prose{max-width:820px}.onward{font-size:19px;display:inline-flex;gap:50px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);padding:14px 0;margin-top:10px}.embed-only{display:none}.embed .direct-only,.embed .site-header{display:none}.embed .embed-only{display:block}.embed .page-tools{margin-top:24px}footer{margin:0 5%;padding:25px 0 35px;border-top:1px solid var(--line);display:flex;justify-content:space-between;gap:30px;font-size:12px;color:var(--muted);line-height:1.8}footer p{margin:0;max-width:510px}.stars-ambient{--glow-one:#c08039;--glow-two:#427fbf;--glow-three:#7947a5;position:fixed;inset:0;z-index:-1;pointer-events:none;opacity:.78;transition:--glow-one 550ms ease,--glow-two 550ms ease,--glow-three 550ms ease;background:radial-gradient(ellipse at 0% 85%,var(--glow-one) 0%,color-mix(in srgb,var(--glow-one) 65%,transparent) 32%,transparent 68%),radial-gradient(ellipse at 100% 0%,var(--glow-two) 0%,color-mix(in srgb,var(--glow-two) 70%,transparent) 30%,transparent 66%),radial-gradient(ellipse at 80% 100%,var(--glow-three) 0%,color-mix(in srgb,var(--glow-three) 65%,transparent) 26%,transparent 65%)}.reveal{opacity:1;transform:none}.js-ready .reveal{opacity:0;transform:translateY(12px);transition:opacity 900ms ease,transform 900ms ease}.js-ready .reveal.shown{opacity:1;transform:none}.motion-reduced .reveal{opacity:1!important;transform:none!important}.motion-reduced *{transition:none!important;scroll-behavior:auto!important}
@media(max-width:1000px){.site-header nav{gap:14px;font-size:12px}.brand{font-size:14px}.opening-copy{gap:25px}.intro{font-size:16px}.birth-grid{gap:5%}.prose{font-size:17px}.branch{padding:20px 16px}.branch-flow .node h3{font-size:24px}}
@media(max-width:760px){.site-header{height:auto;min-height:90px;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:12px;padding:18px 0}.site-header nav{flex-wrap:wrap;gap:4px 18px}.site-header nav a{min-height:44px;padding:12px 0}.page-tools{font-size:10px}.opening{padding-top:30px}.opening-copy{display:block}.opening h1{font-size:clamp(36px,8.8vw,54px)}.intro{margin-top:23px;max-width:none;font-size:16px}.hero{width:100%}.hero img{width:100%;max-height:none}.lede{margin-top:26px}.birth-grid,.life,.ending-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:30px}.birth,.life,.evolution,.endings{padding:35px 0}.section-head{margin-bottom:25px}.pillars{max-width:540px;margin:auto}.birth-grid>.prose{margin-top:8px}.prose{font-size:17px;line-height:1.85}.prose h3{font-size:26px}.sun{max-width:350px;width:100%}.shared-flow{display:flex;flex-direction:column;height:280px;gap:12px;border-left:1px solid #e1c99077;margin-left:15px;padding-left:22px}.shared-flow .node{display:block;text-align:left;min-height:72px}.shared-flow .node-dot{position:absolute;left:-27px;top:5px;margin:0}.node-index{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px}.shared-flow h3{display:inline;font-size:23px}.shared-flow h3 br{display:none}.shared-flow svg,.fork{display:none}.branches{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:22px}.branch-flow .node h3{font-size:25px}.branch-controls{gap:8px;margin:20px 0}.branch-controls button{font-size:12px;padding:10px 12px}.diagram-credit{font-size:13px}.ending figure img{height:auto;max-height:390px}.ending figcaption{min-height:0}.ending-grid{gap:36px}.closing{padding:35px 0 45px}figcaption{font-size:12px;gap:12px}.image-note{min-height:165px}footer{display:block}footer p{margin-bottom:12px}}
@media(prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){html{scroll-behavior:auto}*,*::before,*::after{transition:none!important}.reveal{opacity:1!important;transform:none!important}}

/* Node illumination shares the route progress; no pulse or animation loop. */
.node-dot{position:relative;--node-color:#e3c98a;box-shadow:none}.massive .node-dot{--node-color:#a9d5df;box-shadow:none}.node-dot::after{content:"";position:absolute;inset:0;border-radius:50%;background:var(--node-color);box-shadow:0 0 5px var(--node-color),0 0 18px var(--node-color);opacity:var(--node-light,1)}

/* Richer editorial grouping; native image ratios and the route timing stay intact. */
.opening{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1.45fr) minmax(0,.8fr);gap:28px 4%;padding-bottom:48px}.opening-copy{grid-column:1/-1;margin-bottom:0}.hero{width:100%;margin:0;min-width:0}.hero img{width:100%;max-height:54vh;object-fit:contain}.lede{margin:0;max-width:520px;align-self:center}.lede.prose{font-size:18px}.lede p{margin:0}.birth-grid{grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) minmax(0,1fr);gap:5%}.pillars{max-width:540px;margin-inline:auto}.birth .original-link{display:block;width:max-content;max-width:100%;margin-inline:auto}.image-note{min-height:160px;background:none;padding:12px 0 12px 20px;margin-bottom:28px}.image-note h3{font-size:27px}.life{gap:6%;padding:46px 0}.sun{max-width:390px}.evolution{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:24px 5%}.evolution>.section-head{margin:0}.diagram-intro{align-self:end}.diagram-intro p{margin:0}.branch-controls,.life-diagram,.diagram-credit{grid-column:1/-1}.branch-controls{margin:0}.life-diagram{width:100%;max-width:1180px}.fork{height:78px}.fork span{top:43px}.branches{gap:28px}.branch{padding:24px 22px 20px;background:#07121918;border-color:#ffffff3b}.branch-flow .node h3{background:none;text-shadow:0 2px 12px #071219b3}.branch-copy{font-size:15px;color:#d0d8d9}.life-diagram[data-selection=sunlike] .sunlike{background:#e1c99018}.life-diagram[data-selection=massive] .massive{background:#a9d5df18}.diagram-credit{margin:0;max-width:none}.ending-grid{gap:5%}.ending:nth-child(2){border-left:1px solid var(--line);padding-left:4vw}.ending figure{margin-bottom:24px}.ending figcaption{font-size:13px;min-height:90px}.closing{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1.4fr) minmax(0,.6fr);gap:5%;align-items:end}.closing>.prose{max-width:780px}.closing>.onward{justify-self:end;align-self:end;font-size:17px;gap:25px}.closing>.embed-only{margin-bottom:18px}figcaption>a{min-height:44px;display:inline-flex;align-items:center}
@media(min-width:1001px) and (min-height:760px){.birth-grid>div:first-child{position:sticky;top:24px;align-self:start}}
@media(max-width:1000px){.opening{grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1.2fr) minmax(0,1fr);gap:24px 4%}.lede.prose{font-size:17px}.evolution{grid-template-columns:1fr}.evolution>.section-head,.diagram-intro{grid-column:1}.branch-flow .node h3{font-size:24px}}
@media(max-width:760px){.opening{display:block;padding-bottom:34px}.opening-copy{margin-bottom:25px}.hero img{max-height:none}.lede{margin-top:24px}.lede.prose,.prose{font-size:18px;line-height:1.85}.pillars{max-width:540px}.birth-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:26px}.image-note{min-height:150px}.life{gap:28px;padding:35px 0}.sun{max-width:310px}.evolution{display:block}.evolution>.section-head{margin-bottom:22px}.diagram-intro{margin-bottom:24px}.branch-controls{margin-bottom:26px}.branches{gap:22px}.branch{padding:22px 18px}.branch-flow .node h3{font-size:25px}.diagram-credit{margin-top:22px}.ending:nth-child(2){border-left:0;border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding-left:0;padding-top:32px}.ending figcaption{min-height:0;font-size:13px}.closing{display:block}.closing>.onward{margin-top:18px;font-size:17px}.opening figcaption,.pillars figcaption,.sun figcaption{font-size:13px}.branch-copy{font-size:14px}}

/* Broad feathering behind reading blocks keeps the brighter ambient readable. */
.prose{position:relative;isolation:isolate}.prose::before{content:"";position:absolute;inset:-64px max(-72px, -4vw);z-index:-1;pointer-events:none;background:radial-gradient(ellipse closest-side at center,#07121955 0%,#07121940 55%,transparent 85%)}
@media(max-width:760px){.prose::before{inset:-38px -4vw}}

/* Image-inspired display tints, lightened for readable lettering; scoped away from Black Hole. */
body:has(.stars-ambient) .opening{--type-a:#bfd9ff;--type-b:#e3c5e9;--type-c:#f1c3a2;--type-solid:#d7d8f5}
body:has(.stars-ambient) .birth{--type-a:#bed7fa;--type-b:#e5c5bb;--type-c:#efd3ac;--type-solid:#d6d9ef}
body:has(.stars-ambient) .life{--type-a:#fff0c1;--type-b:#f1d393;--type-c:#eac58e;--type-solid:#f4dda7}
body:has(.stars-ambient) .evolution{--type-a:#edd8b0;--type-b:#d7dce0;--type-c:#b7dfea;--type-solid:#d4dfe6}
body:has(.stars-ambient) .endings{--type-a:#bbdef2;--type-b:#e3c1e5;--type-c:#f3c2a4;--type-solid:#e3cfe6}
body:has(.stars-ambient) .closing{--type-a:#c1ddf5;--type-b:#d8d0e8;--type-c:#edc5b5;--type-solid:#d8d3e8}
body:has(.stars-ambient) .palette-region em{color:var(--type-solid)}
@supports(background-clip:text){body:has(.stars-ambient) .palette-region em{background-image:linear-gradient(110deg,var(--type-a),var(--type-b) 52%,var(--type-c));background-clip:text;-webkit-background-clip:text;color:transparent}}
@media(forced-colors:active){body:has(.stars-ambient) .palette-region em{background:none;color:CanvasText}}