In a certain corner of the universe, a star named J0931+0038 is challenging our understanding of interstellar life in an unprecedented way. Do you think that all giant stars will eventually turn into black holes? Let me tell you, the universe doesn’t see it that way! Scientists recently discovered this strange star, whose chemical composition hints at a bizarre supernova explosion that in theory should not happen – an explosion that would be more shocking than a Hollywood blockbuster.
The story begins with a giant star that is at least 50 times the mass of the sun. According to the general consensus in the scientific community, such a star should collapse directly into a black hole when it dies. But J0931+0038 chose a more dramatic ending: a supernova explosion.
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Like a plot twist from a Hollywood blockbuster, the discovery stunned astronomers. Alex Ji, an astronomer at the University of Chicago, said: “We have never seen anything like this. This star must have been a star in the universe. Its nucleosynthesis showed a spectacular scene. Scientists even gave it a name. Nickname: ‘Barbenheimer Star’.”
Very low content of odd elements
Artist’s depiction of the supernova explosion of “Barbenheimer’s Star”. (Photo/Melissa Weiss) Advertisement (Please continue reading this article)
Stars are more than just tiny, twinkling dots in the night sky; they are real factories of elements. Since the Big Bang, these objects have been busy in the cosmic kitchen, fusing the basic ingredients of hydrogen and helium into heavier elements. But when these celebrity chefs tried fusing iron into heavier elements, they found the dish too energy-intensive and called it a day.
Spectral analysis of J0931+0038 shows that the star is surprisingly low in odd elements, but extremely rich in elements close to iron, such as nickel and zinc. The content of elements above iron, such as strontium and palladium, is far above normal levels. It’s like going to a restaurant and ordering a salad, only to receive an oversized burger loaded with strange toppings.
This research not only provides us with a completely new way to understand the formation of elements in the universe, but also shows us the diversity and complexity of stellar life. Now, scientists will continue to track these interstellar wonders to uncover more amazing secrets in the universe.
The research was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
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First image source: Melissa Weiss cc By4.0
Reference papers:
1.Spectacular nucleosynthesis from early massive stars. arxiv
Further reading:
1.Astronomers say they have developed an ‘early warning system’ for supernovae
