Several evolutionary paths can lead to a supernova explosion. One is the death of a supermassive star. When a supermassive star runs out of its hydrogen fuel, it begins a stage where it fuses the remaining elements to heavier and heavier ones. These final fusion reactions generate less and less outward force (radiation pressure) to balance the star’s gravitational...
![Hubble Spotlights a Supernova – NASA Science](https://www.newsnpo.com/core/views/024c12a4fb/assets/img/trawell_default.jpg)