Uranium ‘snowflakes’ could set off thermonuclear explosions of dead stars
White dwarfs could go supernova in response to nuclear fission caused by uranium crystals
![remnant of a 1a supernova](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/032521_ec_-uranium-snowflakes_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Stellar explosions called type 1a supernovas (remnant of one shown) could sometimes be triggered by the buildup of uranium “snowflakes” in the cores of dead stars, a new study suggests.
MPIA, NASA, Calar Alto Observatory