Could Two Dead Stars Create a New Kind of Star?
Could Two Dead Stars Create a New Kind of Star? This artist’s illustration shows two white dwarf stars merging. Usually, the merger creates a supernova, but new research concludes that two separate and unusual white dwarfs are best explained as merger remnants. The researchers say they are a new class of object. Image Credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick Have you ever wondered what happens when two dead stars crash into each other? What if, instead of exploding, they create something entirely new — something we’ve never seen before? Welcome to FreeAstroScience, where we break down complex science into words that actually make sense. Today, we’re bringing you one of the most exciting discoveries in stellar astrophysics in years. A team of researchers just announced that two strange white dwarfs — nicknamed Gandalf and Moon — don’t fit into any known category of star or stellar remnant. They share five bizarre properties that se...
