An event like AT2018cow, now known as either FBOTs or Cow-like events, is thought to be the result of a breakout shock from a cocooned supernova. With five such events now discovered, the hunt is on to uncover precisely what causes them, as well as what makes them so unique. (Credit: Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, China)

Record-breaking supernova manages to “X-ray” the entire Universe

The first supernova ever discovered through its X-rays has an enormously powerful engine at its core. It’s unlike anything ever seen.

Every once in a while, a stellar cataclysm occurs in our Universe, bringing the life of a star to an end. The most common type of…