Galaxies don't really explode like fireworks or bombs. That would be way too crazy, even for space.
What we're talking about here is when galaxies have a lot of stars that go supernova, which is when a massive star collapses and blows up in a huge explosion.
Supernovae are super bright and super powerful, and they can create and spread all kinds of elements, like iron, gold, and even uranium.
They also make black holes and neutron stars, which are some of the most extreme objects in the universe.
Some galaxies have more supernova than others.
You see, younger galaxies tend to have more massive stars, which live fast and die young. They burn through their fuel quickly and then collapse into supernovae.
Older galaxies have fewer massive stars, but they can still have supernovae if they have a lot of white dwarfs, which are the cores of dead stars.
White dwarfs can explode if they steal too much mass from a companion star or merge with another white dwarf.
These are called type Ia supernovae, and they're very useful for measuring distances in space.
Dust and gas are the raw materials for making new stars, so galaxies that have a lot of them can have bursts of star formation, which means more massive stars and more supernovae.
Dust and gas can also block the light from supernovae, making them harder to see.
That's why some galaxies look brighter than they should be: they're hiding a lot of supernovae behind their dusty veils.
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