Scientists are stunned by a giant gamma-ray burst (GRB) that lasted over 24 hours, defying the universe’s most powerful outbursts. Recorded on July 2, 2025, this GRB is the longest of its kind ever observed, lasting longer than normal bursts which typically last mere milliseconds to minutes.
The unusual event repeated itself multiple times, leaving astronomers baffled. “This event is unlike any other seen in 50 years of GRB observations,” says astrophysicist Antonio Martin-Carrillo. GRBs are catastrophic events that usually occur once, but this one showed periodic activity and was puzzlingly bright.
Theories suggest two main mechanisms behind GRBs: a massive star collapse or the collision of neutron stars. However, the unusual nature of this new detection makes it challenging to explain. The event was discovered by NASA’s Fermi gamma-ray telescope, which detected multiple bursts over several hours before other telescopes confirmed its existence.
Further analysis revealed that the source was emitting X-rays almost a full day before the initial observations. A galaxy with an unusual shape in the background suggests that the progenitor of this event may be unique. While scientists can’t pinpoint how far away it is, they’re still trying to calculate its distance and brightness.
The discovery is significant because it could reveal clues about dark matter or new types of black holes. With further research, scientists hope to uncover what caused this extraordinary GRB, a phenomenon that’s “extremely unique” and challenging to understand.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/astronomers-just-saw-a-gamma-ray-explosion-defy-all-known-space-logic