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Webb locates dust reservoirs in two supernovae

Researchers use Webb to detect large amounts of dust within supernova ejecta, supporting the theory that supernovae supply dust to the early universe. The study reveals over 5,000 Earth masses of dust in one supernova, rivaling previous measurements and suggesting dust can survive internal shocks.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 5, 2023

Researchers discover chemical evidence for pair-instability supernova from a very massive first star

A new study has identified a chemically peculiar star in the Galactic halo as clear evidence of the existence of pair-instability supernovae (PISNe) from very massive first stars. The star's low sodium and cobalt abundances are consistent with predictions for primordial PISN from first-generation stars with 260 solar masses.