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supernova
Sat Nov 13 1999 at 10:01:02
A massive, explosive outburst of a star. The best-known form of supernova, a type-2 supernova, is a result of runaway gravitational collapse of a giant-class star, resulting in a neutron star or theoretically in a black hole. A type-1 supernova may be a result of the collapse of accreted matter on the surface of a white dwarf.
Mon Aug 21 2000 at 3:10:11
Arthur C. Clarke suggests, in a half joking manner, that supernovae may be industrial accidents of alien civilizations who were tinkering with a technology they didn t understand.
It reminds me of the time that there was an advance in particle physics, and some new TeV collider was being built. Some people thought that if a certain particle would be created there would instantly be a massive black hole where Earth was. After checking the figures vigorously, they realized that that conclusion was false.