New study unlocks how and why stars die Published: Share Tweet Recipient's Name Send Contrary to the past practice of simplifying studies by studying one flavor while ignoring the other two, the researchers in the new study created a non-linear simulation of a fast conversion when three neutrino flavors are present, where a fast conversion is marked by neutrinos interacting and changing flavors. File Photo Chicago: Researchers from the Northwestern University (NU) has found that by studying all three "flavors" involved in a supernova, they have unlocked more clues as to how and why stars die. Contrary to the past practice of simplifying studies by studying one flavor while ignoring the other two, the researchers in the new study created a non-linear simulation of a "fast conversion" when three neutrino flavors are present, where a fast conversion is marked by neutrinos interacting and changing flavors.