1. What is a Nova: A nova is a sudden and dramatic burst of light in the night sky that makes a dim star look like a brand-new, super bright star: it comes from the Latin word for "new."

2. Teamwork in Space: Novas don't happen to just any star; they occur in binary star systems where two stars are locked in an orbit and closely neighbors: it takes a cosmic duo to create one.

3. The Greedy White Dwarf: One of the stars in the pair is usually a white dwarf, which is the super-dense, collapsed core of a dead star with a massive gravitational pull: it acts like a hungry space vacuum.

4. Stealing Gas: The white dwarf uses its strong gravity to steal gas, mostly hydrogen, from its companion star until it builds up a huge layer on its surface: it's a cosmic thief.

5. A Giant Space Explosion: Once the white dwarf gets too hot and crowded with stolen gas, a massive nuclear explosion triggers on its surface: it becomes a giant celestial fireworks show.

6. Not the End of the Star: Unlike a supernova, which completely destroys a massive star, a nova just blows away its outer layers while leaving the white dwarf alive to steal gas and explode all over again: it gets a second chance at life.

7. Creating Space Dust: The huge explosions of novas shoot heavy elements and gas out into space, helping to build the raw materials for future planets and new generations of stars: they help recycle the universe.