A new study suggests hypothetical primordial black holes (PBHs) could be causing white dwarf stars to explode as Type Ia supernovae. These explosions, if triggered by PBHs passing through white dwarfs, might explain observed chemical patterns in Milky Way stars.

Researchers, led by Shing-Chi Leung, compared models of PBH-triggered supernovae with known supernova remnants and nearby supernovae. Their findings indicate that this mechanism can replicate characteristics observed in these cosmic events, including the abundance of certain radioactive isotopes and stable elements like nickel. This suggests PBHs could play a role in galactic chemical enrichment.

The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, proposes that a fraction of observed supernovae could be a result of PBHs. While PBHs remain elusive and are candidates for dark matter, their effects might be observable through these stellar explosions. The team plans further research into how PBH-triggered explosions could impact overall supernova rates.