None of the statements provided are true regarding nuclear fusion in stars. Here’s a breakdown:
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The process combines heavier elements to form lighter elements - This is incorrect. Nuclear fusion in stars typically combines lighter elements, such as hydrogen, to form heavier elements, like helium, and in later stages, it can involve elements like carbon and oxygen.
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The process releases great amounts of energy over millions or billions of years - While fusion does release vast amounts of energy, the timescale for energy release is not always in millions or billions of years. Fusion occurs rapidly in the cores of stars.
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The process occurs near the stars' surfaces, but not inside their cores - This statement is also false. Most nuclear fusion occurs in the cores of stars, where the temperatures and pressures are extremely high.
Given the analysis, the correct answer is that none of these statements are true.