Astronomers have witnessed a black hole violently shredding a massive star, creating one of the most energetic stellar explosions ever observed. The event, nicknamed “the Whippet,” briefly released about 400 billion times the Sun’s energy and sent a shock wave racing outward at one-fifth the s peed of light. Months later, scientists spotted unexpectedly fast-moving helium, suggesting that some structure may have survived the destruction. ...read more read less