A stellar explosion that occurs when a massive star (>8 solar masses) exhausts its nuclear fuel, causing its iron core to collapse catastrophically and rebound in a shock wave that destroys the outer layers. This process can leave behind a neutron star or black hole and enriches the interstellar medium with heavy elements.
Term emerged in the 1960s combining 'core' (Latin 'cor', heart) and 'collapse' (Latin 'collapsus', fallen together). The mechanism was theorized by Baade and Zwicky in the 1930s but not fully understood until computer simulations in the latter 20th century revealed the complex physics of stellar core collapse.
Core collapse supernovae are the universe's ultimate alchemists! In just seconds, the collapsing core reaches temperatures of 100 billion Kelvin and creates most elements heavier than iron through rapid neutron capture - the calcium in your bones and iron in your blood were forged in these cosmic furnaces.
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