Spectacular UV flash may explain how white dwarfs explode – Phys.org

For only the second time ever, astrophysicists have spotted a spectacular flash of ultraviolet (UV) light accompanying a white dwarf explosion.
An extremely rare type of supernova, the event is poised to offer insights into several long-standing mysteries, including what causes white dwarfs to explode, how dark energy accelerates the cosmos and how the universe creates heavy metals, such as iron.
“The UV flash is telling us something very specific about how this white dwarf exploded,” said Nor…

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