ScienceAugust 20, 2026

supernova

SOO-per-no-vuh

Definition

A powerful and luminous stellar explosion that occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star.

Etymology

The term combines the Latin 'super' (above or beyond) and 'nova' (new), reflecting that such events were historically seen as the sudden appearance of 'new' stars in the sky.

In the news

The article mentions a supernova remnant as a source of X-rays, which scientists study using laboratory instruments to understand the composition and behavior of extreme space objects.

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