The recent deaths of two white dwarf stars are challenging our understanding of both novae and the powerful physics underlying star death. According to astronomer John Monnier, the initial analysis of these often dramatic novae offers an “extraordinary leap forward” for the field. Scientists at Georgia State’s CHARA Array captured images of Nova V1674 Herculis—one of the fastest stellar explosions on record. Images of Nova V1674 Herculis obtained 2.2 days (left) and 3.2 days (middle) after the explosion. Credit: CHARA ArrayThese same flows from Nova V1674 Herculis and Nova V1405 Cassiopeiae were also observed by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.