Brightest Gamma-Ray Burst Ever Unveils Cosmic Mysteries

Gamma-ray bursts are explosions so powerful they outshine our entire galaxy. Find out how scientists detected the brightest gamma-ray burst ever observed, and what it means for our understanding of the universe.

One of the rewards of being a stargazer is that, whatever our circumstances, the night sky is always freely available. When we combine our knowledge of the starry skies with an understanding of the science behind what we’re seeing, the rewards are even greater.

For example, whenever I notice a particular star, I’m reminded of its complex and fascinating life cycle. It begins as a cloud of gas and dust that collapses from its own gravity.

Then, it passes through its main sequence, winding up as a red giant, like Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion. Finally, the star will collapse as a hypernova or supernova.

Super-Energized Jet of Particles Releasing Gamma Rays

When one of those collapsing stars has a strong magnetic field and rotates rapidly, it can produce what scientists call a gamma-ray burst (GRB). The collapsing material forms a super-energized jet of particles that release enormously energetic…