The chances of witnessing a Supernova explosion first-hand are slim. Therefore, scientists have simulated their formation: While the centre of the dying star shrinks to a neutron star, the outer shell of gas expands like a bubble. Do its oscillations really cause an initial implosion to turn into a giant explosion? An explosion that lights up the universe as brightly as an entire galaxy?

Concept: Starting point is a scientific computer simulation. The film tells the “story behind”.

Production: for Max Planck Society
Author: Nicola Wettmarshausen
Length: 5.35 min.