Astronomy Today@astronomytodayNASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory may have explained AT 2016blu, a star that flares like a supernova repeatedly yet survives. The observations suggest a hidden black hole or neutron star orbiting it is driving the behaviour.
The star, about 30 million light-years away, has produced at least 27 bright outbursts since 2012, roughly one every 113 days. In March 2026 Chandra caught one, with X-rays at least 100 times brighter than before the eruptions began. The companion appears to pull in gas from the star during close passes, and that gas heats up and glows.
