A strange explosion detected by NASA’s Einstein Probe spacecraft in April last year has left scientists baffled. The event, known as EP240408A, was initially thought to be a gamma-ray burst or the death of a massive star. However, its unusual characteristics couldn’t be explained by these theories.
Researchers have proposed that EP240408A could be a tidal disruption event (TDE), where a supermassive black hole shreds a star too close. But this scenario doesn’t fit perfectly with typical TDEs. Brendan O’Connor, a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, noted that the event “doesn’t tick all the boxes for any known phenomenon.”
Scientists have also suggested that EP240408A could be a rare cosmic event known as a “jetted TDE.” In this scenario, a black hole’s magnetic fields launch powerful jets of energy into space while devouring a star. The event’s short duration and high luminosity are characteristics that are difficult to explain by conventional theories.
Observations from NASA’s NuSTAR and NICER instruments revealed that EP240408A lasted only briefly and was extremely bright. This points to the possibility of an entirely new phenomenon. An international team of astronomers is currently studying the event using both ground-based and space telescopes to uncover its physics.
If confirmed, EP240408A could represent a new kind of cosmic phenomenon, expanding our understanding of black holes and the extraordinary forces at play in the universe.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/10-billion-suns-mysterious-cosmic-blast-may-reveal-new-black-hole-phenomenon-208738-11-02-2025