An early outburst portends a star’s imminent death
Scientists spotted the first early warning sign of a standard type of supernova
![illustration of a red supergiant](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/011122_ec_supernova_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Scientists observed the last gasp of a type of star called a red supergiant (illustrated). The star brightened before exploding, probably signaling that it had cast off some of its outer layers.
W.M. Keck Observatory, Adam Makarenko