Primordial Black Holes Could Be Triggering Type Ia Supernovae

Type 1a supernovae occur in binary stars where at least one member is a white dwarf. It draws material from its companion until a limit is reached and an explosion occurs. But new research shows that primordial black holes may trigger Type 1a supernovae when they fall onto white dwarfs. Image Credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick

A new article published in The Astrophysical Journal explores a new theory of how Type Ia supernovae, the powerful stellar explosions that astronomers use to measure distances across the universe, might be triggered. Traditionally, these supernovae occur when a white dwarf star explodes after interacting with a companion star. But this explanation has limitations, leaving open questions about how these events line up with the consistent patterns astronomers actually observe.

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