Hypernovae
How a collapsing star is one of the most destructive forces in the universe
© NASA, GSFC, Dana Berry
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hypernova, also known as a collapsar, is an extremely energetic supernova. The two are not to be confused, even if their formation is very similar. In a supernova, a star shears off its outer matter but leaves a new star at its centre, often a neutron star. In a hypernova, the force of the explosion tears the inner star apart too.