A Star Begins to Explode (IMAGE) University of Chicago Caption During the first tenths of a second after a slightly off-center ignition in a stellar white dwarf, a hot bubble of nuclear ash grows slowly as the nuclear flame burns slowly through the center of the star. (The rings seen at the surface of the star in all of the images are an artifact of the visualization of the simulation, and are not present in the simulation itself.) Credit University of Chicago Flash Center Usage Restrictions This image may be used to illustrate news reports in connection with the findings described in this news release. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.