EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Only a tiny fraction of the 100 billion stars in a typical galaxy have the capacity to become a supernova, being restricted to those having high mass and rare kinds of binary stars containing white dwarfs.

Detailed explanation-2: -Only stars that contain more than about 8 to 10 times the mass of our Sun will go supernova. Why do massive stars go supernova? A star s core is an element factory.

Detailed explanation-3: -They will universally go on to burn heavier elements and undergo core-collapse resulting in a supernova. Less massive stars may develop a supergiant spectral luminosity class at relatively low luminosity, around 1, 000 L ☉ when they are on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) undergoing helium shell burning.

Detailed explanation-4: -Supernovae add enriching elements to space clouds of dust and gas, further interstellar diversity, and produce a shock wave that compresses clouds of gas to aid new star formation. But only a select few stars become supernovae. Many stars cool in later life to end their days as white dwarfs and, later, black dwarfs.