Speed Demons of the Galaxy

Get ready to be awed! Researchers at the Technion-Israeli Institute of Technology have made a groundbreaking discovery about some of the fastest stars in our Milky Way: the hypervelocity white dwarfs. These stellar remnants are reaching speeds nearly four times that needed to escape our galaxy's gravitational grip!

What Are Hypervelocity White Dwarfs?

White dwarfs are dense remnants of stars that have exhausted their nuclear fuel. When these white dwarfs collide and merge, they can create hypervelocity white dwarfs—stars that race through space at astonishing speeds. Until now, the mechanics behind these high-speed cosmic bodies were shrouded in mystery, but the latest scientific study shines a light on their explosive origins.

The Science Behind the Speed