--- title: "Scientists Astounded When Two Stars Collide in Brain Melting Explosion" description: "Astronomers have observed a whole new mechanism by which stars can die — by smashing into each other in the most explosive fashion." date: "2023-06-27" modified: "2023-06-27" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/gamma-ray-burst-stars-collide" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "gamma ray burst" - "supermassive black holes" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Astounded When Two Stars Collide in Brain Melting Explosion ![Astronomers have observed a whole new mechanism by which stars can die — by smashing into each other in the most explosive fashion.]() *\Image: ESO/M. Kornmesser\* ## Demolition Derby For the first time, astronomers have observed a whole new mechanism by which stars can die — by smashing into each other in an extremely turbulent environment. A [new study]() published in the journal *Nature Astronomy* details how astronomers have finally seen evidence of a long-hypothesized type of stellar death that could be described as a "demolition derby," according to a [press release](). The researchers were looking for the source of a powerful [gamma-ray burst]() (GRB) when they realized something was amiss. While most GRBs, explosive outbursts of energy, occur when massive stars merge or explode in a supernova, the newly identified GRB dubbed 191019A seems to have come from the collision of neutron stars or stellar remnants — inside the chaotic environment of a supermassive black hole that sits at the center of an ancient galaxy. The conclusion could allow us to glean insights into the evolution of stars and the many unexpected ways they meet their spectacular demise. "Most stars in the universe die in a predictable way, which is just based on their mass," Radboud University astronomer and lead author Andrew Levan [told *Reuters*](). "This research shows a new route to stellar destruction." ## Born to Be Wild This new pathway to star death is significantly more explosive than the other already known ones. "Our results show that stars can meet their demise in some of the densest regions of the universe, where they can be driven to collide," said Levan in a statement. The research could also shed light on some of the observations we make back on the surface. "This is exciting for understanding how stars die and for answering other questions, such as what unexpected sources might create gravitational waves that we could detect on Earth," Levant added. Observed by the National Science Foundation’s Gemini South telescope in Chile, the discovery "confounds almost every expectation we have," explained coauthor and Northwestern astronomy doctoral candidate Anya Nugent, a specialist in gamma-ray bursts, in the statement. "For every hundred events that fit into the traditional classification scheme of gamma-ray bursts, there is at least one oddball that throws us for a loop," Northwestern astrophysicist and study coauthor Wen-fai Fong added. "However, it is these oddballs that tell us the most about the spectacular diversity of explosions that the universe is capable of." **More on GRBs:** [*Gamma Ray Burst Was So Bright It Blinded Almost All Equipment to Detect It*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()