Endless Facts, One Snippet at a Time
Supernovae: Explosions That Seed the Universe With Elements
- A supernova is the explosive death of a massive star.
- These blasts shine brighter than entire galaxies for weeks.
- Supernovae forge and scatter heavy elements like iron, gold, and uranium.
- Earth—and we—are made from material created in ancient supernovae.
- Type II supernovae occur when massive stars collapse under their own gravity.
- Type Ia supernovae happen in binary systems when a white dwarf ignites runaway fusion.
- Astronomers use Type Ia supernovae as “standard candles” to measure cosmic distances.
- The 1998 discovery of accelerating expansion came from studying distant supernovae.
- Supernova shockwaves trigger new star formation in surrounding gas clouds.
- Neutron stars and black holes are often born in these stellar explosions.