What We’re Learning from the Brightest Supernova Ever Seen - SciShow News

The video explores the differences between novas and supernovas, focusing on the mechanisms that cause their brightness. Novas occur in binary systems where a white dwarf accumulates gas from a companion star, leading to a thermonuclear explosion. Recent studies suggest that shockwaves, rather than the initial explosion, are the main source of light in novas. The video also discusses the discovery of the brightest supernova, potentially explained by the pulsation pair instability hypothesis, where a super giant star undergoes repeated ejections of matter before collapsing into a supernova.

How do shockwaves contribute to the brightness of a nova?

Discuss the significance of the discovery of the brightest supernova recorded.

What role does the James Webb Space Telescope play in studying supernovas?