#supernova

All articles tagged with "supernova"

Diagram of surrounding stars and artist's conception of the Local Interstellar Cloud (Credit : Kevin Jardine)

A faint rain of supernova dust appears to be falling on Earth now

Researchers analyzing Antarctic ice cores found changing levels of iron-60 over the last 80,000 years, strengthening the case that Earth is currently being dusted by material preserved in the Local Interstellar Cloud.

Key Takeaways

Iron-60 found in Antarctic ice cannot have originated on Earth and must come from stellar explosions.
Researchers found changing iron-60 levels over the last 80,000 years, consistent with the Solar System moving through the Local Interstellar Cloud.

DT Editorial Team·May 17, 2026·via universetoday.com

NASA's IXPE Finds Expansion Mystery Solved in 2,000-Year-Old Supernova

NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer has revealed a 'reflected shock effect' at the outer edge of RCW 86 that explains why this 2,000-year-old supernova remnant halted its unusually fast expansion.

Key Takeaways

NASA's IXPE detected a 'reflected shock effect' at the rim of RCW 86 where its unusually rapid expansion has halted
The Chandra observatory had previously found a low-density cavity surrounding the remnant that caused abnormally fast expansion

DT Editorial Team·Mar 25, 2026·via nasa.gov