Black Holes May Trigger Supernova Explosions

For decades, scientists believed supernovas were simply the natural end-of-life stage for massive stars.

However, new research suggests that external forces—specifically black holes—can act as cosmic triggers for these explosive events.

First, scientists theorize that 'primordial black holes' (PBHs), remnants from the early universe, may pass through white dwarf stars.

As a PBH traverses a star, its immense gravitational force creates internal heat, triggering an uncontrolled thermonuclear explosion.

Because PBHs are candidates for dark matter, identifying these specific supernova signatures could provide a way to detect this mysterious substance.

Secondly, astronomers have observed 'merger-triggered' supernovae in binary systems.