How ‘Gravitational Lensing’ Made One Supernova into Four—‘Einstein Cross’

Medicine & Technology Mar 08, 2015

Nicknamed the “Einstein Cross” after the famous physicist who predicted the possibility of the phenomenon as a result of his theory of relativity more than a century ago, the formation was made possible by a strange occurrence known as gravitational lensing. When a galaxy or cluster is large enough, they can often bend light that passes through it. And when they are rather perfectly aligned with Earth, even small events too far to be seen can be magnified so that researchers are able to detect them.

Stellar Duo Fated to Meet a Supernova End—Twin Stars Discovered in Henize 2-428

Feb 10, 2015

Doomed for an end 700 million years in the making, a pair of white dwarf stars will inevitably merge and meet their doom and researchers are saying that the violent fate is unlike any that they’ve seen before.

Dust on the Ocean Floor Reveals Ancient Supernova

Jan 21, 2015

Scientists have made a startling discovery while exploring the ocean floor that could change how we understand supernovae. Researchers now believe that exploding stars, often far beyond the confines of our solar system, have deposited extraterrestrial dust at the bottom of the oceans, and that could give us better insights into the composition of far off galaxies.

Mystery of Constellation Carina's Massive Explosions Revealed in 3D Models

Jan 09, 2015

Within 10,000 light-years lies the constellation Carina, which contains one of the most impressive and mysterious star systems we know. Two massive stars, known as Eta Carinae have erupted twice in the 19th century for reasons astronomers still do not understand. And now, astronomers from the 225th meetings of the American Astronomical Society weighed in on the system with new findings, which include 3D printed models that show never-before-seen features of the interactions between the two stars.

Astronomers Capture Stellar 'Fireball' on Camera

Oct 27, 2014

For the first time ever, astronomers have recorded a time lapse of a thermonuclear explosion emanating from a nova star.