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Finally, Unraveling the Mystery of the “String of Pearls” in Supernova 1987A

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Following the explosion of Supernova 1987a, astronomers were eager to understand how it would evolve over time. Predictions ranged from the appearance of a pulsar to the interaction of the expanding gas cloud with earlier material ejected from the star. The resulting collision was expected to create a dazzling display reminiscent of sparkling diamonds. However, what astronomers observed instead was a peculiar string of pearls surrounding the site of the supernova.

Today, as scientists continue to study the aftermath of the stellar explosion, they have identified the cause behind the formation of the string of pearls. Known as the “Crow Instability,” this phenomenon occurs when vortexes off the wingtips of airplanes interact with engine contrails, breaking them up into a series of vortex rings. Michael Wadas, a graduate student at the University of Michigan, explains that this instability could be responsible for the unique appearance of the pearls surrounding Supernova 1987a. Wadas, who is now pursuing post-graduate research at CalTech, highlights the intriguing parallel between airplane wakes and the formation of the ghostly pearls.

The expanding ring-shaped remnant of SN 1987A and its interaction with its surroundings, seen in X-ray and visible light. The star that became SN 1987a expelled concentric rings of material during its red and blue supergiant phases, and the shockwave from the supernova lit them up. Image: Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=278848

About 1978a and its String of Pearls

Supernova 1987a, originating from the star Sanduleak -69 202 located approximately 168,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, marked a significant event in astronomy. It was classified as a Type II supernova, providing researchers with valuable insights into the mechanisms of core-collapse phenomena. As astronomers tracked the aftermath of the explosion, they observed a ring of ejected material and a shockwave expanding into space. Subsequently, the collision of this material with earlier stellar emissions resulted in the formation of the luminous pearls encircling the explosion site. The discovery of a neutron star at the center in 2019 further enriched our understanding of this cosmic event.

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Capturing the attention of astronomers worldwide, the Hubble Space Telescope revealed bright rings surrounding Supernova 1987a months after its explosion. These rings, originating from the stellar wind of the progenitor star, were ionized by the ultraviolet light emitted during the supernova. The subsequent collision with the expanding ejecta in 2001 heated the inner ring, contributing to the emergence of the string of pearls. The shockwave generated from the explosion extended beyond the rings, leaving behind warm dust pockets and glowing gas clouds. The turbulent nature of this shockwave and its impact on the inner ring led to the creation of the mesmerizing pearls.

Competing Theories for the String

Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the formation of the pearls around Supernova 1987a. While the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, arising from the interaction of fluids or plasmas of different densities, has been considered, it fails to fully account for the observed phenomenon. Instead, the Crow Instability, as suggested by Wadas and his colleagues in a recent publication in Physical Review Letters, offers a more compelling explanation. By simulating the effects of wind on a model cloud and its subsequent fragmentation, the researchers demonstrated how the Crow Instability could lead to the formation of a string of evenly spaced clumps, akin to the pearls observed around the supernova.

explaining a supernovas string of pearls figure5 — A simulation demonstrates the evolution of a gas cloud into distinct clumps, resembling the string of pearls seen around Supernova 1987a. Credit: Michael Wadas, Scientific Computing and Flow Laboratory

As astronomers continue to unravel the mysteries of Supernova 1987a and its intriguing string of pearls, the Crow Instability emerges as a promising avenue for further research. With recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope revealing additional clumps within the ring, the potential for predicting similar formations in other cosmic scenarios, such as planetesimal formation around stars, becomes increasingly compelling. The evolving understanding of this cosmic phenomenon exemplifies the dynamic nature of research in astrophysics, offering new insights into the mechanisms underlying stellar explosions.

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For More Information

Explaining a Supernova’s “String of Pearls”
Hydrodynamic Mechanism for Clumping along the Equatorial Rings of SN1987A and Other Stars

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.