Superman isn't the only one with X-ray vision. Plenty of exploding stars are also adept at blasting outbursts of this high-energy light. Now, thanks to a chance discovery, scientists are aware of an entirely new explosive stellar source of X-ray radiation. These outbursts' light output didn't resemble any previous cosmic explosion. Meet the "millinovas," a term that will now undoubtedly make its way into the lexicon of space enthusiasts!
In a new study, astronomers discovered 28 of millinovas in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), two satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. They then discovered that the first of these explosions may have been spotted eight years ago but wasn't identified.
