Chandra Finds 11 of 22 M83 Supernova Remnants Vary in X-Rays Over 14 Years
Updated
Updated · Science@NASA · Jun 15
Chandra Finds 11 of 22 M83 Supernova Remnants Vary in X-Rays Over 14 Years
3 articles · Updated · Science@NASA · Jun 15
Summary
About half of 22 X-ray sources tied to supernova remnants in Messier 83 showed dramatic brightness swings across 2000-2014 Chandra observations, overturning expectations that century-old remnants should fade only gradually.
14 years of data point to high-mass X-ray binaries as the leading explanation: a surviving massive star may be feeding a black hole or neutron star left by the supernova, producing highly variable X-rays.
SN 1957D offers one simpler case—its flares likely come from debris slamming into surrounding material—but researchers said that mechanism cannot explain the broader sample.
More than 20 strong candidates in one galaxy would be unprecedented, and the variable remnants sit in star-rich regions, strengthening the link to vigorous star formation.
A follow-up study in the nearby galaxy M51 found a similar population, suggesting these variable remnant systems may be common in actively star-forming galaxies.
Why are stellar 'graveyards' in a nearby galaxy suddenly flaring, defying all astronomical expectations?
Could a star's own debris feed its newborn black hole, creating a 'cosmic zombie' system?
Variable X-ray Emission in M83 and M51 Supernova Remnants: Implications for Stellar Evolution and Galactic Feedback
Overview
In June 2026, astronomers announced the surprising discovery of unexpected X-ray brightness changes from supernova remnants in the spiral galaxy M83. This finding challenges the long-held belief that supernova remnants have stable X-ray emissions, as they were previously thought to show more consistent output. Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory over 14 years, researchers detected subtle but significant variations in X-ray intensity from several remnants. These puzzling fluctuations have sparked intrigue and excitement in the scientific community, opening new questions about the dynamic processes at play in these cosmic structures.