nova

"They are so dense that when they accrete material on their surface they can undergo runaway nuclear reactions, which we detect as novae."

But critics have lavished praise on the record, calling it a "jaw-dropping" and "brutal" act of "personal exorcism", while praising Allen's gift for melody, on songs that span flamenco, bossa nova, and "infectious pop".

Over time, the material it grabs from the other star gets crushed and compressed - until eventually it triggers a nuclear explosion, releasing a huge amount of energy - a process known as going nova.

A nova outburst is expected to take place at some point before September, Robertson said.

The theory suggests a type of stellar explosion known as ONe novae as a major source of phosphorus.