Magnetars' spacetime-dragging powers superluminous supernovae

arstechnica.com

Magnetars' spacetime-dragging powers superluminous supernovae. A new model suggests rapidly spinning neutron stars, called magnetars, warp spacetime, causing observed flickering in the brightest stellar explosions. This frame-dragging effect explains previously puzzling light curve modulations. This discovery, based on observations of SN 2024afav, unifies explanations for a class of supernovae and awaits further confirmation with new observatories.


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