Gamma-Ray Bursts: The Universe’s Most Powerful Explosions

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most energetic explosions in the universe, outshining entire galaxies.
A long GRB can release more energy in seconds than our Sun will in its 10-billion-year lifetime.
GRBs are often triggered by the collapse of massive stars into black holes.
Short GRBs usually come from the merger of neutron stars.
Detected first in the 1960s by satellites monitoring nuclear tests, GRBs shocked astronomers.
Their bursts last from a fraction of a second to several minutes, followed by fading “afterglows.”
GRBs are so bright they can be detected across billions of light-years, making them cosmic lighthouses.
If one occurred nearby, its radiation could strip Earth’s atmosphere—but none are close enough to threaten us.
GRBs help scientists probe the early universe, since their light travels from extremely distant galaxies.
Each detection is a race: telescopes worldwide scramble to capture the fleeting afterglow before it fades.