A new study reveals that a giant dying star, identified as SN 2023zkd, exploded because of its interaction with a black hole. This finding marks the first instance where astrophysicists have observed a supernova resulting from a black hole’s gravitational effects on a star. The intense gravitational pull attempted to “swallow” the star, ultimately causing it to explode in a supernova — one of the universe’s most enormous explosions. This phenomenon may be more common than previously thought; advanced observational tools could uncover additional cases where black holes ignite supernovae, potentially reshaping our understanding of stellar deaths, according to study lead Alex Gagliano.
Published in the Astrophysical Journal, the study was part of the Young Supernova Experiment, conducted by a collaborative team from Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and MIT. A compelling aspect of the discovery was the use of artificial intelligence, which flagged the star’s unusual behavior early on, allowing researchers to monitor its decline and subsequent baffling second peak in brightness.
Prior to the explosion, archival data showed that the star had been brightening for four years due to the black hole’s influence. When the star and black hole drew too close, the gravitational stress caused the supernova. Following the initial explosion, the subsequent peak in brightness occurred due to the explosion interacting with a leftover gas and dust cloud.
This finding emphasizes the significance of interactions between stars and their companions in shaping their destinies, a concept previously underestimated in astrophysics. The study highlights AI’s increasing role in helping researchers navigate complex data to uncover groundbreaking astronomical phenomena.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
