Astronomers have discovered what remains after two stars collide and merge in an explosion known as a luminous red nova. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists studied these rare events and found that the merger creates a huge, cool star similar to a red supergiant. The research team analyzed nine past luminous red novas and focused on two well-documented cases, AT 2011kp and AT 1997bs, which occurred in galaxies tens of millions of light-years away. Years after the explosions, JWST’s powerful infrared vision was able to see through thick clouds of dust thrown out during the merger. The observations showed that the remaining object is hundreds of times larger than the Sun but much cooler at its surface. This result surprised scientists, who expected a smaller, hotter star. The team also found that the surrounding dust is rich in carbon-based compounds, which are essential for life. Because luminous red novas produce large amounts of this dust, they may have helped spread the raw materials needed for life throughout galaxies, including our own. Credit: A. Reguitti, A. Adamo/NASA/ESA/CSA
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