"Stellar Transformation: Celestial Body's Astonishing Weight Loss Precedes Spectacular Supernova"

A newly discovered Type II supernova, SN 2023ixf, challenges the standard theory of stellar evolution as it exhibited unexpected behavior prior to its explosion. Observations revealed that the shock breakout of the supernova was delayed by several days, indicating extreme mass loss close to the mass of the sun in the final year before the explosion. This sheds light on the instability and potential nuclear burn-off of high-mass elements in the star's core. The discovery provides valuable insights into the evolution of massive stars and their supernova explosions.