Chapter 1: A Cosmic Fascination

From a young age, I’ve had a strong passion for science, so when my wife presented me with an article about Betelgeuse, I was immediately intrigued. The prospect of witnessing a naked-eye supernova in my lifetime was thrilling! However, the author quickly reminded readers that the timeline for such an event is estimated at around 100,000 years, which tempered my excitement about watching the sky.

On our drive home from a Hanukkah celebration with family, my wife expressed her inability to see Betelgeuse's characteristic red hue. I suggested we find a spot to stop and look at the stars, especially since the night was particularly clear. Unfortunately, she didn’t share my enthusiasm for astronomy and waved off the idea. Once we were home, I attempted to coax her outside to observe it with me, but she gave me that familiar look of exasperation and went inside.

I found myself unable to tear my gaze away from the sky. To my surprise, Betelgeuse appeared brighter than I remembered, contradicting the information I had read about its gradual dimming. Was I imagining this increase in brightness? Or could it be that I was witnessing a supernova in real-time? I compared its brightness to a nearby star, reassuring myself that if their brightness levels reversed, that would signal something significant.

It must have been quite a while before my wife checked on me, finding me still craning my neck toward the sky. She cleared her throat, asking if I would be coming in soon, hinting that my behavior seemed unusual. “I’m observing something!” I whined back. With a dismissive sound, she returned inside. Yet, I continued to watch, and sure enough, the star’s brightness relative to the other star had changed! I couldn’t look away.

When Amy woke up the next morning, she found me still fixated on Betelgeuse. She had always known about my passion for science, which she found somewhat endearing but also a bit tedious. Early in our marriage, she had asked me to be mindful of her need for quiet, as she wasn’t as captivated by science as I was. For the most part, we had managed to navigate this understanding.

However, when she turned on her laptop that morning, news about Betelgeuse's rapid brightening was everywhere. “Scientists puzzled by the sudden luminosity of Betelgeuse,” and similar headlines caught her attention. “Carl is going to love this,” she thought.

The moment I came downstairs, Amy greeted me with, “Good morning, you old lunatic! Turns out you were onto something.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

“It’s all over the news! Betelgeuse has exploded, and scientists can’t explain why it’s happening so quickly. Usually, this sort of event unfolds over months.”

“Really? I’m not imagining things then!” I exclaimed, but before I could delve into the theories surrounding the event, Amy shot me a look that reminded me to hold back.

I quickly verified her claim online and found the news was indeed accurate. It was expected that soon we would even see Betelgeuse during the day. I spent the entire morning reading about the event, reveling in my retirement that allowed me to indulge in such interests.

Later that evening at rehearsal, I had to suppress my excitement as several people mentioned the supernova. Once the rehearsal concluded, I stepped outside and noticed a few individuals gazing up. Following their gaze, I was struck by how bright Betelgeuse was that night!

As I stood there transfixed, our stage manager approached me. “Are you alright, Carl?” he asked, slightly concerned.

“Uh, yeah. Just enjoying the view,” I replied, still mesmerized by the star.

Amy, a devoted reader of The Skimm, later saw another segment about the Betelgeuse phenomenon, which discussed how some individuals were becoming so obsessed with the event that they were neglecting their daily responsibilities. She couldn’t help but think of me.

The CDC had even received reports of individuals so enthralled by the Betelgeuse supernova that they were abandoning chores, loved ones, and jobs, a condition they termed Betelgeuse Fascination Syndrome (BFS). If that didn’t describe my behavior, what did? She felt a pang of worry as she continued reading about it.

Of course, she called the helpline. After a lengthy wait, she finally reached someone. “Hello, my husband is definitely experiencing BFS. He’s been outside for hours, staring at it. He can’t seem to stop talking about it, and I’m genuinely concerned. Is he losing his mind?”

“I understand your concern, ma’am. We’re primarily advising patience. How long has this obsession been ongoing?”

“Since just before the news broke. It’s almost as if he sensed it was happening!”

“It’s crucial for him to know that you care. Would he be open to calling us?”

“Why would he want to do that? It would just take him away from Betelgeuse!”

“I get your frustration, but we’re trying to find opportunities to communicate with those affected. Between you and me, it seems to be predominantly a male issue, and it sounds like your husband is quite affected.”

“I’ll try,” she replied reluctantly.

As I finally came inside a few hours later, I noticed she had already gone to bed, and I felt a pang of guilt.

The next morning, I rummaged through my things, found my phone, and began dialing the number Amy had given me.

“Hello, this is Carl Betelgeuse—uh, Carl Beyersdorf.”

“Thank you for calling, Mr. Beyersdorf. We understand you have a keen interest in the Betelgeuse supernova, and we would like to invite you to join a community of fellow enthusiasts.”

“Sure, I mean, why wouldn’t I? This is the most significant scientific event in centuries!”

“Would 2:30 work for you? We’d love to discuss it further.”

“Sounds great! Where?”

“Our office is located at 325 Point Street, a short bike ride from you.”

“I’ll be there!”

I informed Amy of my plans, but I sensed her unease as I prepared to leave. It was evident that my obsession with Betelgeuse was becoming a point of contention in our relationship.

Later, when Amy realized I hadn’t returned home, she grew increasingly worried. After a frantic call to the theater, she discovered I hadn’t shown up for rehearsal.

“Amy? I’m sorry! I lost track of time; everyone here is so into Betelgeuse!”

“When will you be home?”

“Home? It feels like I’ve found my tribe. I am home!”

“What? I’m your wife, Carl! Does that mean nothing? You’re not here; therefore, you’re not home!”

I could sense her frustration, but I was lost in the excitement of my newfound community. After our heated conversation, she hung up, overwhelmed by the situation.

The next call she made to the CDC was met with alarming news. “Ma’am, the Betelgeuse fascination is more serious than we thought. We’re preparing a press release about a possible biological cause. Have you heard of prions?”

“Are you saying my husband has mad cow disease?”

“No, not exactly. We’re still trying to determine what’s happening. For now, we need to quarantine those affected.”

“What?!”

“Yes, we must take precautions. We don’t yet know how this is transmitted. Perhaps once the supernova dims, they will return to normal. We’ll keep you updated.”

As she hung up, shame washed over her for considering leaving me. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her. Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from the clinic.

Prion.

Quarantine.

Unknown factors.

She couldn’t bring herself to answer, letting the voicemail take the call.

End of Part 1

Our story continues.

Isaiah 9:2, KJV

Chapter 2: The Consequences of Obsession

The first video titled "Scientists Now Believe Betelgeuse Has Consumed a Companion Star Making it Look Like Pre Supernova" discusses the latest research on Betelgeuse and the implications of its behavior.

The second video titled "New study claims Betelgeuse supernova IMMINENT (decades not centuries!) | Night Sky News June 2023" explores the urgency surrounding the potential supernova event and its implications for astronomy enthusiasts.