Stripped star explosion reveals heavy elements

physicsworld.com

Astronomers observed a supernova revealing heavy elements, indicating a star shed outer layers before exploding. The supernova SN 2021yfj showed spectral signatures of silicon, sulfur, and argon, elements typically hidden deep within a star's core. This suggests the star was significantly stripped before its death. This discovery challenges current models of stellar evolution, showing stars can die in more extreme ways than previously understood.


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