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Big boom
Scientists believe to have witnessed the explosion of the most massive star ever created in a supernova.
Scientists at the European Space Agency spotted the stellar explosion dubbed SN2016iand in 2016 – but it took them three years of analysis and follow-up surveys to understand that they had seen it, CNN reports. This is because SN2016iet has totally contradicted scientists' understanding of how supernovas are supposed to behave.
Missed
The giant supernova lasted longer and released more energy than a typical supernova. According to a study published Thursday in the journal, the researchers also had a weird chemical signature, with less metal than any other supernova. The astrophysical journal.
"When we realized for the first time how unusual SN2016 was, my reaction was:" Something went wrong with our data? "" Said Sebastian Gomez, a Harvard graduate student CNN.
Solitary Survivor
Scientists suspect that supernovas like SN2016iet are more common, but that the old-school giant stars who would be causing them have all died. This gives them a unique opportunity to probe this latest explosion to better understand the chaotic past of the universe.
"Most supernovas disappear and become invisible in a few months to the brightness of host galaxies. But because SN2016iet is so bright and so isolated, we can study its evolution for years to come, "said Gomez. CNN. "These observations are already underway and we can not wait to see what other surprises this supernova has for us."
READ MORE: This is the most massive star ever destroyed by a supernova[[[[CNN]
More about supernovas: The most powerful laser in the world is about to simulate a supernova
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