SMRTR Science & EngineeringJan 11, 2026Science News

A double cosmic explosion could be the first known ‘superkilonova’

SMRTR summary

Astronomers detected gravitational waves from merging neutron stars 1.8 billion light-years away, but one neutron star appeared unusually lightweight, defying physics predictions. Follow-up observations revealed red light that initially resembled a typical kilonova but then brightened again with hydrogen signatures characteristic of supernovas, suggesting the first potential "superkilonova" discovery.

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