AI Summary

A dead white dwarf star, lacking any detectable disk, has generated a powerful shock wave that appears to have lasted at least 1,000 years. The shock wave’s persistence is unusual for a remnant that should have cooled and faded. Astronomers suggest the star’s magnetic field may contribute to the phenomenon, but they also point to an unexplained “mystery engine” that could be driving the shock. The discovery challenges current models of white dwarf evolution and the mechanisms that can sustain such energetic outflows.

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