Integral catches dead star exploding in a blaze of glory
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - 14:00
in Astronomy & Space
Astronomers using ESA’s Integral gamma-ray observatory have demonstrated beyond doubt that dead stars known as white dwarfs can reignite and explode as supernovae. The finding came after the unique signature of gamma rays from the radioactive elements created in one of these explosions was captured for the first time.