Astronomers have observed a black hole violently destroying a massive star in an exceptionally energetic event nicknamed “the Whippet.” The destruction released immense energy and a powerful shock wave. Surprisingly, fast-moving helium was detected months later, suggesting some portion of the star may have survived.
A black hole has been witnessed shredding a massive star, creating one of the most energetic stellar explosions ever observed, according to astronomers. This event, nicknamed “the Whippet,” briefly released about 400 billion times the Sun’s energy and sent a shock wave racing outward at one-fifth the speed of light.
The observation is significant because months after the initial explosion, scientists spotted unexpectedly fast-moving helium. This discovery suggests that some structure may have survived the black hole's destructive forces. The source does not elaborate on what this surviving structure might be or how it managed to persist through such a violent event.
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