Scientists are making progress in understanding the mechanisms behind the brightest gamma-ray bursts in the universe. A new study published in Nature Astronomy reveals the mechanism behind the most luminous gamma-ray bursts ever detected. These bursts, known as long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), release more energy in a few seconds than our sun does in its entire lifetime.

This new research offers insights into the mysterious phenomena that causes these extraordinary events. The team of scientists used data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to identify the most luminous GRBs ever observed. They then used multiple telescopes to observe the afterglow of these events and analyze their properties. The team found that these events were powered by a relativistic jet of material that is ejected from the GRB source. This jet interacts with the surrounding environment, producing the bright gamma-ray emission that makes these events so fascinating.

The new findings offer an important step forward in understanding these powerful cosmic events, and could help scientists better understand the physics of GRBs. The study also provides an exciting new opportunity to explore the mechanisms behind the brightest gamma-ray bursts in the universe.

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source: Phys.org