New research by Professor Kate Maguire from Trinity College Dublin reveals that white dwarf stars can explode in a greater variety of ways than previously understood. This range includes explosions that are faint and nearly invisible to those that are visible for extended periods, significantly impacting studies of dark energy and the universe's expansion. By analyzing these stellar explosions, scientists can measure their brightness and distance, aiding in calculations of the universe's expansion rate. The research emphasizes both the mechanics of these explosions and their utility as cosmic measurement tools.
"The diversity of ways that white dwarf stars can blow up is much greater than previously expected, resulting in explosions that range from being so faint they are barely visible to others that are bright enough to see for many months to years afterwards."
"Up to now it was thought that the white dwarf stars exploded in a particular way... there are lots of different ways that the stars can die, and we can measure how many different types are occurring."
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