Scientists succeed in observing the interior of a star exploding

Stars can live millions, even billions of years, before being short of fuel. Similarly, The most massive disappear suddenly during an explosion called Supernova.

Using telescopes scrutinizing the depths of space, the researchers observed many explosions of this type. For example, Cosmic explosions tend to disturb the layers of a dying star, which complicates the observation of its internal structure.

But this was not the case with the new discovery. Nevertheless, a supernova called 2021yfj located in our galaxy, the Milky Way.

The external layers of hydrogen. Nevertheless, helium of the star in the process of collapse had been detached for a long time, which was not surprising. However, the dense layers of silicon and deepest sulfur of the star had also detached during the explosion.

“We have never observed such a stripped star. ” said Steve Schulze, of Northwestern University, a member scientists succeed observing interior star of the team that made the discovery. The research results were published Wednesday in the journal “Nature”.

This discovery confirms the idea that scientists are made of the aspect of the big stars at the end of their life. organized in layers with lighter elements outside and heavier elements near the nucleus.

“Since many layers had been torn from this star. that confirmed their nature,” said Anya Nugent, who studies supernovas in the center of Harvard-Smithsonian astrophysics. She did not participate in these new research.

It is not yet clear how this star was able to strip at this point: were its diapers violently projected during the last phases of his life. torn off by a twin star? Future research could provide clues, even if scientists recognize that such an event could be difficult to reproduce.