Astronomers have recorded an extraordinary space explosion, dubbed SN 2023zkd, which defies the typical behavior of a supernova. Initially thought to be a normal supernova, it flared into detectors in July 2023, only to brighten again six months later.
Data collected since its initial discovery revealed anomalies that suggested the explosion might not be from a star’s death. Further analysis by researchers at the NSF Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions suggests a catastrophic encounter with a black hole companion sparked the blast.
According to Alexander Gagliano, the team’s lead researcher, the explosion is the strongest evidence yet of close interactions between stars and black holes triggering supernovae. The research supports two possible scenarios: either the massive star swallowed the black hole or vice versa, leading to an explosive collision.
This discovery opens up new possibilities for understanding how stars live and die. With advancements in technology, astronomers can now detect these rare events as they happen, allowing them to study the interplay between stars and black holes more thoroughly.
The research will be published in The Astrophysical Journal, providing further insights into this extraordinary phenomenon and its implications for our understanding of the universe.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/star-trying-to-swallow-a-black-hole-may-have-triggered-a-new-type-of-supernova