Astronomers discover new way to destroy stars

June 22, 2023
by Tuhin Hosen



In a groundbreaking discovery, an international team of astrophysicists may have stumbled upon a previously unseen phenomenon that could lead to the destruction of stars. While investigating the origins of a powerful gamma-ray burst (GRB), the researchers found evidence suggesting that GRB 191019A resulted from the collision of stars or stellar remnants in the dense environment surrounding a supermassive black hole at the core of an ancient galaxy. This unexpected revelation sheds light on a long-theorized but never-before-observed method of demolishing a star and generating a GRB.

Published in the journal Nature Astronomy, the study was led by Radboud University in the Netherlands, with the participation of astronomers from Northwestern University. The team’s findings challenge the conventional understanding that most GRBs originate from the explosions of massive stars or neutron-star mergers. Instead, this extraordinary GRB appears to have emerged from the chaotic collisions occurring within the crowded vicinity of a supermassive black hole in an ancient galaxy.

Wen-fai Fong, an astrophysicist from Northwestern University and a co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of such exceptional events, stating, “For every hundred events that fit into the traditional classification scheme of gamma-ray bursts, there is at least one oddball that throws us for a loop. However, it is these oddballs that tell us the most about the spectacular diversity of explosions that the universe is capable of.”

Giacomo Fragione, another co-author from Northwestern University, expressed enthusiasm for the discovery, noting, “This remarkable discovery grants us a tantalizing glimpse into the intricate dynamics at work within these cosmic environments, establishing them as factories of events that would otherwise be deemed impossible.” Fragione also highlighted the potential of these findings in unraveling the mystery of other phenomena, such as the generation of gravitational waves detectable on Earth.

More:
https://www.thedailyscience.org/astronomers-discover-new-way-to-destroy-stars.html