Astronomers find evidence of rare exploding stars that may explain a gap in black hole masses

Researchers found evidence of rare exploding stars, potentially explaining a gap in observed black hole masses. Gravitational wave data reveals a scarcity of black holes between 50 and 130 solar masses, a range predicted to be absent due to pair-instability supernovae. This phenomenon destroys stars completely, leaving no black hole behind, though some exceptions suggest prior mergers may form these rare objects.