Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
A composite image of a supernova remnant. Photo: MPIA / NASA/ Calar Alto Observatory
Supernovae are usually the death of stars but for at least one, explosion didn't mark the end, scientists report today in Nature.
What they saw: Supernova iPTF14hls was first observed in 2014. Unlike other supernovae that typically shine for about 100 days before fading, this one — about 500 million light-years away — grew brighter and then dimmer five times over 600 days. Even more peculiar, archives showed another explosion was observed in the same location in 1954.
Why its happening: Unclear. According to one theory, repeated explosions can occur in stars 95 -130 times more massive than the Sun. They, too, would end in a supernova and ultimately collapse into a black hole.
Yes, but: The supernova's constant temperature doesn't fit with the theory and it released more energy than theory predicts.
What's next: Supernova iPTF14hls may finally be fading, reports Lisa Grossman in Science News. "I am not making any more predictions about this thing," study author Iair Arcavi told Grossman. "It surprised us every time."