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the recently identified supernova, labeled SN 2021yfj, provides an extraordinary insight into the processes involved in the demise of stars. Researchers at Northwestern University made this finding. Initially detected in 2021 by the Zwicky Transient Facility, it was subsequently examined closely at the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii.
In contrast to typical supernovae, SN 2021yfj displayed spectral features primarily characterized by silicon, sulfur, and argon. These elements are usually located far within massive stars, whereas their exterior layers are mainly composed of hydrogen and helium. This indicates that this specific star had its outermost layer removed, leaving its core exposed prior to the final detonation.
The research was published in the August 2025 issue of Nature by astronomer Steve Schulze and his team. In their findings, they question established models of stellar mass loss and introduce a novel category of stellar explosion. This unusual discovery reinforces traditional theories regarding the layered structure of massive stars. Nonetheless, it raises new inquiries about how much matter stars can shed before their explosive end.
