How the Universe Works

Supernovas are the violent death of giant stars, releasing immense energy and scattering stellar material across space. New discoveries reveal how these cataclysmic events synthesise, through nuclear fusion, the elements that are ultimately essential to all life in the universe.

When Supernovas Strike is a programme episode that looks at one of the most dramatic events in the cosmos. The title tells you straight away that the focus is on supernovas, and the format is that of a television programme rather than a film or series. The episode explains that supernovas represent the violent death of giant stars. Recent scientific findings show how these cataclysmic explosions forge the chemical elements that are required for life throughout the universe. These findings show that the very atoms that make up living organisms are forged in the explosion. By detailing the process, the programme highlights that each supernova disperses freshly‑made atoms into space, seeding future stars, planets and, ultimately, the building blocks of living organisms. The episode also points out that without this distribution of elements, planets like Earth would lack the chemistry needed for biological processes. This chain of events links the death of massive stars directly to the creation of material essential for life. The new discoveries presented in the episode give viewers a clearer picture of how the elements forged in these explosions become part of the cosmic inventory that supports life. Consequently, the programme underscores the idea that the very matter composing our cells was once part of a massive star's final outburst.