"Countdown to Cataclysm: Betelgeuse's Impending Supernova"

A preprint study suggests that Betelgeuse, a red giant star, is nearing the end of its carbon-burning phase and could explode in a few decades. The study reinterprets long-standing patterns in Betelgeuse's variability and argues that it is not only burning carbon but starting to run out. The star's pulsations and changes in brightness support this conclusion. However, there is uncertainty about Betelgeuse's size and distance, which affects the timeline for its explosion. Despite the potential for a spectacular fireworks display, Betelgeuse is expected to be far enough away to not cause any damage to Earth.