Articles tagged with Supernovae
A new study suggests that neutrino flavor conversion plays a significant role in determining the fate of dying massive stars. The research found that neutrino behavior can alter the outcome of stars, particularly for those with masses between 16 and 30 solar masses, potentially explaining the supernova rate problem.
Researchers have gained new insight into supernovae and X-ray bursts, shedding light on the nuclear reactions that power these cosmic events. The studies improved our understanding of titanium-44 production and the nickel-copper cycle's role in X-ray bursts.
Researchers have identified a unique case of a massive star's demise, marked by an exceptionally faint X-ray burst and the absence of high-velocity jets. This discovery challenges current supernova theories, which typically associate such events with gamma-ray bursts.
The Super-Kamiokande observatory has detected an indication of the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background (DSNB), a flux of neutrinos from many different supernovae over time. This breakthrough achievement provides a crucial clue for understanding the history of cosmic star formation and nucleosynthesis.
A physicist at Mississippi State University has received a prestigious CAREER Award to study stellar explosions and their role in forming elements. The five-year project aims to improve computer models of supernovae and neutron stars, shedding light on the universe's elemental composition.
The new facility enables scientists to observe and measure detonation forces in unprecedented detail, shedding light on industrial safety risks and potential breakthroughs. Researchers aim to develop safer designs and protocols by examining detonation disasters like the Buncefield Fire.
Astronomers have confirmed the connection between magnetars and superluminous supernovae, finding definitive evidence for a magnetar forming in the core collapse of a recent supernova. The discovery corroborates a theory proposed 16 years ago and establishes a new phenomenon in exploding stars.
A team of international researchers led by a UC Santa Barbara graduate student has confirmed a long-standing theory of stellar death by applying the principles of general relativity to a superluminous supernova. The discovery suggests that a magnetar, a rapidly spinning neutron star with a massive magnetic field, powers the supernova, ...
Researchers discovered a star in the Andromeda Galaxy that vanished without going supernova, instead collapsing directly into a black hole. The team's analysis revealed the process of stellar collapse and provided evidence for convection's role in shaping a black hole's outer layers.
Researchers at Kyoto University observe a peculiar supernova explosion, SN 2022esa, which reveals the birth of a black hole binary. The study provides new direction for understanding massive star evolution and black hole formation.
A team of researchers at Kyoto University used X-ray spectroscopy to measure the amount of chlorine and potassium inside a supernova remnant, revealing that these elements were created in intense environments deep inside stars. The study suggests that strong mixing inside massive stars can enhance the production of these elements.
Researchers at RIKEN successfully simulated the Milky Way Galaxy with over 100 billion individual stars, far surpassing previous state-of-the-art models. This achievement demonstrates the power of AI-accelerated simulations in tackling complex multi-scale problems in astrophysics and beyond.
Astronomers have observed the unique shape of a supernova explosion in unprecedented detail using ESO's VLT. The shape, resembling an olive, was revealed through spectropolarimetry, which allows for the measurement of polarisation and inference of object geometry.
A Northwestern University-led team of astronomers used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to capture the most detailed glimpse yet of a doomed star before it exploded. The study reveals that massive red supergiants rarely explode due to thick clouds of dust, but JWST's new capabilities can pierce through the dust to spot these phenomena.
The scientific program includes presentations on new research in exotic and radioactive nuclei, quark-gluon plasma, nucleosynthesis, neutrinos, and more. Registration is now open for news media with valid APS press credentials.
A team of researchers developed an AI-powered tool, called the Virtual Research Assistant (VRA), to filter through thousands of data alerts and identify genuine signals caused by supernovae. The VRA successfully filtered over 30,000 alerts while missing fewer than 0.08% of real supernovae alerts.
A new study published in Nature Astronomy has discovered a clean pathway for the origin of hypervelocity white dwarfs, which are stars hurtling through space at speeds exceeding 2000 km/s. The research reveals a dramatic sequence of events involving a merger between two rare hybrid helium–carbon–oxygen white dwarfs.
A new type of supernova has been discovered, offering a rare glimpse into the depths of massive stars. The star, dubbed SN2021yfj, had lost its outer layers while still 'alive,' revealing a previously unknown inner layered structure and exposing hidden sites where heavy chemical elements are formed.
Astronomers discover stripped-down supernova with unusual chemical signature, providing evidence for the layered structure of stellar giants and unprecedented glimpse into a massive star's interior. The study reveals that stars can lose extensive material before exploding, challenging current theories on stellar evolution.
Astronomers have developed a protocol to detect supernovae within 24 hours of their explosion, using high-cadence sky surveys. The method involves rapid searches for candidates based on light signal absence and galaxy location, followed by spectroscopic observations to determine the type of supernova.
The Gemini North telescope has detected the long-predicted companion star of Betelgeuse for the first time. The companion star is six magnitudes fainter than Betelgeuse and has an estimated mass of around 1.5 times that of the Sun, confirming the presence of a stellar companion orbiting the red supergiant.
Using a combination of telescopes, an international team studied the closest FXT associated with a supernova, tracing it to a 'trapped' jet that produced high-energy particles. The findings explain the historically elusive phenomena and mark a significant step in understanding cosmic explosions.
Roman will scan a large region of the cosmos every five days for two years, detecting around 27,000 type Ia supernovae and 60,000 core-collapse supernovae. These observations will help scientists understand dark energy, the universe's expansion, and fill gaps in our understanding of cosmic history.
A team of astronomers found that fast X-ray transients are associated with the explosive death of massive stars, including supernovae. The International Gemini Observatory and SOAR telescope observed the event, providing insight into its mechanisms.
A recent study suggests that supernovae may have caused abrupt climate shifts in Earth's history by interacting with the atmosphere and degrading greenhouse gases. The research matches known supernovae to climate shifts preserved in tree ring records and predicts potential effects on human society.
Astronomers have discovered the most energetic cosmic explosions yet discovered, named 'extreme nuclear transients' (ENTs), which occur when massive stars are torn apart after wandering too close to a supermassive black hole. ENTs release vast amounts of energy visible across enormous distances and remain luminous for years.
The Einstein Probe mission aims to probe X-ray transient sources and explosive astrophysical phenomena, contributing significantly to astronomical research. The mission's sophisticated observational instruments will enhance the detection of sudden X-ray transients and monitor variability in known celestial sources.
A new dataset of nearly 4,000 nearby supernovae has revealed a surprising diversity in the explosive transients of white dwarf stars, with multiple exotic ways they can blow up. These discoveries have implications for measuring distances in the Universe and understanding dark energy.
Researchers identified a new process leading to formation of low-field magnetars, solving the mystery that puzzled scientists since their discovery in 2010. The team used advanced simulations to model magneto-thermal evolution of neutron stars, finding that a specific dynamo process can generate weaker magnetic fields.
Researchers at SISSA used a backward approach to derive the mass of newly formed stars from observations of supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. The result is surprisingly similar to that measured in regions closest to us, suggesting a possible universal initial mass function. This discovery will be tested by future telescope observations.
The discovery provides a unique way to investigate the extreme phase of stellar evolution, bridging the gap between the earliest and final stages of binary star systems. This breakthrough could help explain cosmic events like supernova explosions and gravitational waves.
Astronomers have observed a black hole triple system for the first time, featuring a central black hole consuming a star and a distant companion that orbits every 70,000 years. The discovery raises questions about the origins of the black hole itself.
A new study suggests that Betelgeuse's pulsing is due to an orbiting companion star known as the 'Betelbuddy'. The star acts like a snowplow, pushing light-blocking dust out of the way and making Betelgeuse appear brighter. Researchers used computer simulations to confirm this hypothesis, ruling out other possible causes.
Researchers have proposed a new scenario for rapid neutron capture process (r-process) nucleosynthesis in common envelope jet supernovae (CEJSNe), producing the greatest abundance of elements heavier than lanthanides. This finding suggests that CEJSNe is critical for explaining the characteristics of r-enhanced metal-poor stars.
Researchers at China Institute of Atomic Energy have developed a more sensitive method to detect iron-60 in lunar samples, allowing for deeper understanding of cosmic events. The new technique has improved detection sensitivity better than 4.3 × 10−14 and potentially reaching 2.5 × 10−15.
Astronomers at Macquarie University have successfully tested a new technique for observing celestial objects during the day using the Huntsman Telescope. The array of camera lenses can accurately measure stars, satellites, and other targets even when the Sun is high overhead, allowing continual monitoring of bright stars like Betelgeuse.
Scientists propose a new nucleosynthesis process, νr-process, which operates when neutron-rich material is exposed to high neutrino flux. This process can produce rare isotopes present in the solar system, including p-nuclei, previously poorly understood.
Researchers have discovered a rare dust particle trapped in an ancient meteorite that formed from a star other than the sun. The particle contains exceptionally high levels of magnesium isotopes, which can only be explained by formation in a hydrogen-burning supernova.
Researchers from Lehigh University have successfully mapped 15 orphaned stars to their birth clusters in the Milky Way using Gaia Mission data. The study provides new insights into the galaxy's history and star cluster dynamics.
Astronomers have found a direct link between massive star explosions and the formation of compact objects like black holes and neutron stars. The study used ESO's VLT and NTT to observe a supernova explosion in a nearby galaxy, revealing evidence for a compact remnant left behind.
Researchers believe radio wave circles are shells formed by outflowing galactic winds, possibly from massive exploding stars. The team studied massive starburst galaxies that drive ultra-fast winds, which can travel at up to 2,000 kilometers/second.
Researchers have identified a population of massive stars stripped of their hydrogen envelopes by their companions in binary systems. These hot helium stars are believed to be the origins of hydrogen-poor core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers, shedding new light on a long-theorized phenomenon.
Researchers have uncovered a population of 25 intermediate-mass helium stars that bridge the gap in knowledge about hydrogen-poor supernovae. These stars were found using UV photometry and optical spectroscopy, with strong spectral signatures of ionized helium confirming their composition.
Scientists have observed bright, brief flashes months after a stellar explosion, confirming that the engine of the LFBOT is a black hole or neutron star. This unprecedented behavior shows that the object emitted multiple supernova-strength optical flares on timescales of less than a minute.
Astronomers combined the Webb and Hubble telescopes to capture a detailed portrait of the cosmos, revealing a galaxy cluster about 4.3 billion light-years from Earth. The image showcases magnified supernovae and individual stars, providing insights into the universe's first stars and the forces driving its expansion.
Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf are studying near-Earth cosmic explosions to understand their potential impact on the Earth's biosphere. They found that ejected debris can reach our solar system, with some isotopes, such as iron-60 and plutonium-244, potentially coming from supernovae or other galactic events.
A new approach using deep learning speeds up supernova simulation by 99%, enabling more accurate modeling of galaxy evolution. This breakthrough could also apply to climate and earthquake simulations, providing valuable insights into complex phenomena.
A team of astrophysicists at Northwestern University has successfully simulated the process of a black hole-neutron star merger, which is believed to have produced the unprecedented gamma-ray burst GRB211211A. The simulation reveals that the post-merger black hole launches jets of material from the swallowed neutron star.
A record-breaking team of 123 citizen scientists contributed data to the study of supernova SN 2023ixf, a cosmic cataclysm in the Pinwheel Galaxy. The observations, conducted using Unistellar's eVscope, provided valuable insights into the behavior of this supernova.
A new calculation shows that a molecular gas filament protected the young Solar System from a nearby supernova explosion, allowing it to capture radioactive isotopes found in meteorites. The filament acted as a buffer, protecting the nascent Sun and helping to channel the isotopes into the forming Solar System.
Researchers discovered a gravitationally lensed supernova named SN Zwicky, which was magnified nearly 25 times by a foreground galaxy. This discovery presents an opportunity to study the inner cores of galaxies, dark matter, and the mechanics behind universe expansion.
Researchers discovered a star with a unique chemical composition matching theoretical expectations for first-generation stars. This finding strongly supports the theory that stars over 140 times the Sun's mass formed in the early Universe.
Astronomers from Stockholm University detected the first radio emission of a Type Ia supernova, providing evidence for helium-rich circumstellar material. The discovery sheds light on the origins of these explosions and their role in measuring the expansion of the Universe.
A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota has successfully measured the expansion rate of the Universe using data from a magnified supernova. Their findings provide new insight into the problem and bring scientists closer to obtaining the most accurate measurement of the Universe's age.
The explosion, known as AT2021lwx, is more than ten times brighter than any known supernova and has lasted for nearly three years, compared to most supernovae which are only visibly bright for a few months. The researchers believe that the explosion is a result of a vast cloud of gas being violently disrupted by a supermassive black hole.
A new study from NASA's Chandra program reveals that exploded stars can pose a significant risk to nearby planets due to intense X-ray radiation, potentially altering atmospheric chemistry and causing mass extinctions.
A team of researchers used machine learning to analyze elemental abundances in over 450 extremely metal-poor stars. The study found that 68% of these stars have a chemical fingerprint consistent with enrichment by multiple supernovae, providing the first quantitative constraint on the multiplicity of the first stars. This challenges th...
A new study finds that supernovae have a persistent influence on marine life's biodiversity, with variations in nearby exploding stars closely following changes in marine genera. Supernovae may regulate climate through cosmic rays, influencing nutrient transport and primary bioproductivity.
Researchers have discovered a supernova that exhibits unusual rebrightening at millimeter wavelengths, offering insights into the evolution of massive stars. The study suggests that interaction with an intermediate-distance binary companion created a hollow shell of circumstellar medium, leading to the observed rebrightening.
Researchers studied a Type 1a supernova in a faraway spiral galaxy, NGC 1566, to understand how certain chemical elements are emitted into the surrounding cosmos. The study confirms that ejecta doesn't escape the confines of the explosion, validating many assumptions about how complex entities work.