An artist’s illustration depicts silicon, argon and sulfur releasing from a massive star. - Adam Makarenko/W. M. Keck Observatory Astronomers have observed what they are calling a new type of ...

Astronomers have observed what they are calling a new type of supernova, which has provided an unparalleled glimpse into what happens deep within a star just before it explodes. A study detailing the ...

An illustration of SN2021yfj enveloped in a layer of heavy elements during its supernova explosion W. M. Keck Observatory / Adam Makarenko In September 2021, Steve Schulze, an astrophysicist at ...

SN2021yfj is a new kind of supernova, challenging our understanding of stellar evolution. Its progenitor lost its outer shells well before the supernova happened and only consisted of its ...

A novel type of supernova, SN2021yfj, has been discovered, exhibiting an unusual spectral signature rich in silicon, sulfur, and argon, unlike typical supernovae which display lighter elements.

This powerful side-by-side comparison shows just how bright a star explosion is. Recently, the Hubble Space Telescope captured a before-and-after image of a star exploding brightly. With the images ...

When astronomers observe a supernova, they typically see strong indications of light elements like hydrogen and helium. Layers of elements including carbon, oxygen, neon, and magnesium are also ...

An international team of scientists, led by Northwestern University astrophysicists, has detected a never-before-seen type of exploding star, or supernova, that is rich with silicon, sulfur and argon.