The nova explosion ejects the material into space in gaseous filaments. But the region around
white dwarfs is dominated by the star's powerful magnetic fields, which can be millions of times stronger than Earth's. The force of the nuclear explosion and the magnetic fields twist the gaseous hydrogen filaments into trails and streamers, and eventually, they loop back on themselves and form spiral patterns.
We can only see this nebula of gaseous filaments because the radiation from both stars strips electrons from the hydrogen, turning it into ionized gas. The ionized hydrogen glows brightly and creates a beautiful natural display.