Team Led by Israeli and American Scientists Discovers Silicon and Sulfur at Supernova Core

An international team led by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science and Northwestern University reports the first-ever observation of a supernova’s core rich in silicon, sulfur, and argon. The star—designated SN2021yfj—had outer layers suddenly stripped away, revealing blazing inner depths before the explosion itself.

“We now have evidence that there are heavier elements inside stars,” said Prof. Avishay Gal-Yam of Weizmann, noting that while scientists have long theorized this, direct evidence had been lacking. The findings, published Wednesday and featured on the cover of Nature, involved collaborators across multiple countries.

The discovery comes two months after a destructive Iranian missile attack on the Weizmann Institute that damaged dozens of labs. Despite the blow, researchers pressed ahead, piecing together spectral data to identify the heavier elements lurking at the star’s heart.

By catching the event early and analyzing its spectrum, the team could peer deeper than usual into a “stripped” star, offering a rare window into how the universe forges the heavy elements that make up our world.
(TOI/VFI News)

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1