NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists for the first time have spotted the insides of a dying star as it exploded, offering a rare peek into stellar evolution. Stars can live for millions to trillions of years until they run out of fuel. The most massive ones go out with a bang in an explosion called a supernova.

A completely new supernova variant finally shows a glimpse of a star’s innermost “guts” moments before its destruction. Detailed in a study published August 20 in the journal Nature, their study confirms a longstanding theory about the internal structure of massive stellar objects,

Scientists have witnessed the inside of a dying star as it exploded for the first time, providing an unprecedented glimpse into how stars evolve. Stars can survive for millions to trillions of years before their fuel runs out.