Astronomy current events question: radioactive decay in supernova remnant 1987A

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

Markus Bauer, Sergei Grebenev, and Christoph Winkler, "Radioactive Decay of Titanium Powers Supernova Remnant," October 18, 2012
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMBK54S18H_index_0.html

The European Space Agency INTEGRAL (INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) spacecraft has observed high energy x-rays given off by __________ produced in a type II supernova explosion in 1987.
(A) radioactive heavy elements.
(B) a black hole.
(C) neutron star pulsar beams.
(D) a white dwarf.
(E) dark energy.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 22 students
(B) : 9 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 2 students