GIZMODO
By Isaac Schultz
June 29, 2021
A team of astronomers discovered a supernova they believe was formed after the star’s electrons were consumed by other elements in its core. That would make the supernova an electron-capture supernova, a theorized type of stellar explosion first proposed 40 years ago. This may not be the first of these rare explosions documented by humans, though: The famous supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers on July 4, 1054 may also have been an electron-capture supernova, the researchers say.