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Science 31 March 2000:
Vol. 287. no. 5462, pp. 2430 - 2431
DOI: 10.1126/science.287.5462.2430
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Perspectives

ASTRONOMY:
Stars at the Edge of Stability

Norbert Langer

The most massive stars known in the universe may erupt to form so-called luminous blue variables (LBVs). LBVs may hold clues for the formation of massive black holes and gamma ray bursts, and understanding the eruption mechanism is therefore important. As Langer explains in this Perspective, the eruption may be caused by inherent instabilities caused by the enormous luminosity of the parent star. Alternatively, a companion star may be the cause of the eruption. Current evidence supports the former mechanism.

The author is at the Astronomical Institute, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, Utrecht NL-3584 CC, Netherlands. E-mail: N.Langer{at}astro.uu.nl

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)