concept

Core-collapse supernova

The death of a star more than about eight times the Sun's mass: the iron core can no longer support itself, collapses to nuclear density and rebounds, flinging the entire outer star into space. Over ninety-nine percent of the energy leaves as neutrinos - the remaining one percent is enough to unbind the whole star. This is the chief source of the oxygen, magnesium and silicon in Pandora's mantle.