Scientist found that turbulence may be the driving force behind the detonation of explosions.

They tested their theory by setting off small explosions in a five-foot-long tube.

Understanding these explosions could reveal insight into the formation of the universe and provide more efficient and powerful means of air and space propulsion.

Some of the smallest explosions in the universe are helping scientists unravel mysteries about the single largest: the Big Bang. Just how exactly do supernova explosions detonate? All explosions, no matter the size, are bound by the same rules, according to a new study in the journal Science. It’s all related to turbulence.

There are two ways through which explosions release energy: deflagration, where flames release pressure waves that move slower than the speed of sound, and detonation, where pressure waves are shot out faster than the speed of sound. Often, deflagration can spark detonation, and, as the researchers note in their paper, this can spur explosions like supernovae. Turbulence, previous studies have shown, can actually propel these pressure waves to even faster speeds.

To test this theory, the scientists created a series of controlled chemical blasts in a five-foot-long, two-inch-wide tube called a turbulent shock tube to understand more about how explosions spontaneously ignite. So they filled the tube with different amounts of hydrogen gas and lit a flame. As the flames shot toward the tube’s opening, they went through several small grates that increase turbulence, and, eventually, caused a small explosion.



The scientists then created a model to simulate how a supernova explosion might detonate under similar conditions, according to LiveScience . Their simulations revealed that white dwarfs with the right composition and density of matter inside could generate waves turbulent enough to spark a massive explosion.

These findings could also shed light on ways to improve air and space travel and could reveal more efficient methods of power generation.

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