Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of a new type of supernova that appears to have stripped its star “to the bone” before exploding in a brilliant display of light. The event, designated SN2021yfj and located 2.2 billion light-years from Earth, has left scientists stunned as it reveals a unique chemical signature unlike anything seen before.
The team used spectroscopy to analyze the supernova’s chemical elements, revealing strong signals of heavier elements like silicon, sulfur, and argon that originate from deeper within the progenitor star. This suggests that the star underwent a violent process prior to its explosion, stripping away its outer layers and exposing inner, iron-rich core.
“This is the first time we have seen a star stripped to the bone,” said team leader Steve Schulze. “It shows us how stars are structured and proves that stars can lose a lot of material before they explode.” The discovery highlights that current models of stellar life and death may not fully capture everything produced in nature, leaving room for more exotic pathways for massive stars to end their lives.
The star, which was detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) in September 2021, stands apart from other supernovas due to its unique chemical signature. The team’s research, published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, suggests that SN2021yfj may have experienced multiple episodes of “pair instability” during which nuclear fusion was reignited, causing powerful bursts of energy.
The discovery provides a rare glimpse into the interior of a star prior to it exploding in a supernova. While scientists are still uncertain about the exact cause of this event, they believe that it highlights the need to uncover more rare supernovae to better understand their nature and formation.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/astronomers-discover-strange-new-type-of-supernova-this-is-the-first-time-we-have-seen-a-star-that-was-essentially-stripped-to-the-bone