Scientists confirm details of stellar explosion, providing insights into the nature of our universe

Scientists, including CIFAR’s Lars Bildsten of UC Santa Barbara, have now confirmed details of a dazzling star explosion that happened 21 million light years away last August. Dubbed SN2011fe, it has been called the “supernova of a generation.” And, since scientists were able to zero in on the explosion just 11 hours after it happened, they were able to gain rare and essential insight into how the stellar explosion took place. The team discovered that the explosion was due to a white dwarf star exploding because of matter spilling over from its companion star, most likely a star in the main stage of its life. The scientists were also able to see how these explosions mix and release elements that are essential to the make-up of Earth and the cosmos. Studying and understanding type 1a supernova is exciting because their predictable production of light allows astronomers to measure the expansion of the universe. The team’s findings were published in the journal Nature.Read more