This supernova is too bright – now astronomers might know why

Supernovae are colossal explosions triggered as ancient stars come to the end of their lives.

Scientists have done huge amounts of work to identify and understand these cosmic fireworks but, in the last 20 years or so, astronomers have spotted some supernovae that don’t make sense.

Superluminous supervnovae are 10 to 100 times brighter than expected, and while different theories exist, no-one is quite sure how that’s possible.

Now the wobbling signal from one of these super bright explosions has provided a possible answer.

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