Astronomers may have seen a star gulp down a black hole and explode

It’s the first firm evidence of a rare cosmic phenomenon

illustration of a supernova

Jets of energy explode from a star that has cannibalized its dead companion in this artist’s illustration.

Chuck Carter

For the first time, astronomers have captured solid evidence of a rare double cosmic cannibalism — a star swallowing a compact object such as a black hole or neutron star. In turn, that object gobbled the star’s core, causing it to explode and leave behind only a black hole.