How the Universe Works

Tonight on How the Universe Works, the show turns its eye to the deadliest stars in the sky. Using fresh NASA data, the team ranks six cosmic killers. First up are the so‑called vampire stars that siphon gas from nearby suns, starving them to death. Then we see a supernova that erupts with the force of billions of nuclear bombs, blasting everything in its path. The list also includes a pair of white dwarfs that trigger runaway thermonuclear explosions, turning whole worlds into ash. Experts explain how each object could, in theory, wipe out a planet like Earth. The episode mixes crisp CGI with on‑screen interviews, making the science easy to follow. At 42 minutes, it’s a quick, hard‑hitting look at the universe’s most violent players. Rated TV‑PG.