Researchers have discovered that supernovae, the explosive deaths of massive stars, are the most powerful particle accelerators known.
These stellar explosions release immense energy, acting as natural laboratories for extreme physics. Observations across radio, infrared, and gamma rays confirm supernovae accelerate particles to near-light speed.
This discovery has major implications for understanding matter under extreme conditions and could reshape models of stellar evolution. Supernova-accelerated particles, reaching Earth as cosmic rays, offer insights into galactic magnetic fields and the structure of space. These cosmic accelerators provide a unique opportunity to test relativity and quantum physics at scales unattainable on Earth.