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Explosive neutron star merger captured for first time in millimeter light

A team led by Northwestern University captured millimeter-wavelength light from a neutron star merger for the first time, revealing one of the most energetic short-duration gamma-ray bursts. The discovery opens up new study areas, as scientists can now observe more of these events with ALMA and other telescope arrays.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateAug 3, 2022

Out with a bang: Explosive neutron star merger captured for the first time in millimeter light

Researchers recorded millimeter-wavelength light from a fiery explosion caused by the merger of a neutron star with another star, confirming it as one of the most energetic short-duration gamma-ray bursts ever observed. The results reveal that the explosion left behind one of the most luminous afterglows on record.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 3, 2022

Gemini telescopes help uncover origins of castaway gamma-ray bursts

Astronomers have found that short gamma-ray bursts did not originate as castaways, but instead occurred in distant galaxies up to 10 billion light-years away. The discovery suggests that these events may have been more common in the past than expected and could have seeded the Universe with precious metals.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2022

Space scientists solve a decades-long gamma-ray burst puzzle

A team of UK scientists has confirmed a decades-long theoretical prediction about gamma-ray bursts. They measured the magnetic field in a far-off Gamma-Ray Burst and found it was scrambled after the ejected material crashed into, and shocked, the surrounding medium. This discovery sheds new light on these extreme cosmic blasts.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 16, 2021

Black hole seeds key to galaxies behemoths

A newly discovered 'Goldilocks' black hole, approximately 55,000 times the sun's mass, provides insight into how supermassive black holes form and grow. The finding may indicate that these behemoths have ancient relics as seeds, potentially leading to a greater understanding of the universe.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalNature Astronomy·DateMar 29, 2021

In the eye of a stellar cyclone

Apep, the newest star to join an elite club of elegant binary pairs, has been found to break all rules. Its dust spiral is expanding four times slower than the measured stellar winds, a phenomenon unheard of in other systems. This discovery makes Apep a strong contender for producing a gamma-ray burst when it does finally explode.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 11, 2020

Stars need a partner to spin universe's brightest explosions

Researchers have discovered that tidal effects from a close binary companion can cause a star to spin fast enough to launch material into space, forming a gamma-ray burst. This phenomenon is necessary for creating the most luminous events in the universe, observable from Earth when their jet of material is pointed directly at us.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJan 13, 2020

The tera from outer space

Researchers discovered the most energetic gamma-ray burst ever recorded, emitting 1 tera-electron-volt of energy. This breakthrough confirms theoretical predictions and opens new avenues for understanding these powerful cosmic events.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateNov 20, 2019

The orderly chaos of black holes

Researchers discovered that photons emitted during black hole creation appear to be disordered, yet highly ordered within short time slices. This contradicts theories of either complete polarization or randomness, presenting new challenges for understanding the birth environment of black holes.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 14, 2019

Scientists discover new 'pinwheel' star system

Researchers have discovered a new massive star system dubbed 'Apep,' featuring a slow-moving dust pinwheel that defies current theories on how large stars die. The system's unusual rotation is thought to cause the star to collapse at its poles before the equator, producing a gamma-ray burst.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 19, 2018

Ghost objects in the sky

Astronomers have found a new type of gamma-ray burst that could not be detected by traditional telescopes. The discovery was made using archived radio data and suggests that these 'orphan' bursts may be related to the collapse of massive stars.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 4, 2018

Gamma-ray burst captured in unprecedented detail

A team led by University of Maryland astronomers has constructed one of the most detailed descriptions of a gamma-ray burst to date, shedding light on the initial 'prompt' phase and the evolution of large jets of matter and energy. The data suggest that both magnetic fields and matter play key roles in shaping the jets.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature·DateJul 26, 2017

Biggest explosions in the universe powered by strongest magnets

A study reveals that a massive star's collapse may power ultra-long gamma-ray bursts with the help of magnetars, rewriting our understanding of these cosmic events. Researchers observed a rare case where a supernova was linked to an ultra-long GRB, finding evidence of a magnetar at the source.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateJul 8, 2015

Unravelling the mystery of gamma-ray bursts

Researchers at Cardiff University are exploring a new method to detect the origins of gamma-ray bursts using giant space 'microphones' that can pick up gravitational waves created by black holes. By analyzing these waves, scientists may uncover information about the mass and collision history of star and black hole systems.

SourceCardiff University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 20, 2014